Built in Kochi, she is powered by one 2900hp Akasaka diesel, producing a service speed of 12 knots. Her crew was Korean, and officers Japanese.
She carried 259 TEU for Warner Pacific Line, and has two 25 tonne cranes.
The first fully containerised ship to serve Warner on their Pacific Island trade, she served a 21-month charter for the company, and was probably the most modern ship to visit the Islands over the course of two decades.
Warner discovered that three sets of containers were required - one set onboard, one set being loaded at the export country, the other set being devanned at the receiving port, a few of which disappeared inland over time, never to be used for their intended purpose again. Monitoring the containers was a full-time job, while on board "Rex Star", Tongan captain Eduati Lemoto sailed as Cargo Superintendent to oversee operations.
Her charter concluded with her departure from Onehunga in August 1987, and after discharging at Nuku'alofa, she sailed for Hong Kong before heading to Busan, Korea Republic. She is now operating in Indonesian waters.
Some of the information above is sourced from "Ocean Of Light", the autobiography of Peter Warner, and is used with his kind permission.
Taken by John Regan, www.shipspotting.com
|