'La Grande Dame' of NZ's Shipping Scene by Jeremy Ruane She arrived from Hamburg in March '76. 'Twas a rainy Saturday when we got our first fix Of a near sister ship to 'Milburn Carrier', As the pair of them tied up at Onehunga. Milburn's new recruit was named 'Westport', In honour of the town which would be her home port. The home of Cape Foulwind's cement factory, Source of the product she'd ship round 'EnZee'. From Westport she'd turn right and head north, Destination Onehunga, otherwise New Plymouth. Or nip round the corner to sunny Nelson, Else cross Cook Strait to windy Wellington. Occasionally she'd keep sailing right on, Past Cape Palliser to Napier and Gisborne. Unless she was off on a southern run - Cue stops at Lyttelton and/or Dunedin. Every so often, the opposition would call, "Could 'Westport' fill in for 'Golden Bay' at all?" Off she would sail, bound for Whangarei, Thence to Auckland, Tauranga or down Picton way. Upon berthing, her derrick would swing into action, Her power line and hoses the centre of attention. Once linked up wharf side, and switch flicked to 'go', Holcim's finest would swiftly fill the nearby silo. 3000 tonnes later, holds empty at last, Time to head for home apace, laden with ballast. At Onehunga, this meant 'the Westport turn', Till November '02, when the Bridge met her stern. 'Twas the lone blemish on her stellar career, One spent delivering cement round Aotearoa. I'm sure I'd be a rich man if I had a fiver For every tonne of cement 'Westport' has delivered. For 41 years now, she's plied our shores - They don't make 'em like 'Westport' anymore. She's called 1100 times at Onehunga alone - Without question, a quite staggering milestone. Sadly, upon this Kiwi icon the sun will soon set, Now that Holcim has commenced importing cement. The time is nigh to bid fair winds and following seas To 'Westport', 'La Grande Dame' of NZ's shipping scene. Milburn Memories     Poets' Corner