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Spirit Of Progress
Sourced from "Spirit Of The Coast - The Story of Pacifica Shipping", by Nick Tolerton
Built
1983
LR No.
8203567
Gross
999
Net
467
Dimensions
92.39m x 18.14m
Registered
St. John's
First Arrival
14 November 1993
Last Sailing
28 June 1998
Names
Sioman Royal
Mareike
Dorcas
Mareike
Spirit Of Progress
Alegre Feeder
Nicolas
Sloman Royal
Ute B
Marfret Mejean
Bel Divina Pastora
Coco Channel
Years
1983-88
1988-90
1990-93
1993
1993-98
1998-2001
2001-02
2002-03
2003-06
2006-08
2008-12
2012-

Built in Rendsburg, she is powered by two 1441hp Deutz diesels, producing a service speed of 12.5 knots.

An ice strengthened roll-on roll-off and general cargo vessel, she has a stern ramp and carries 278 TEU. She has two 25 tonne cranes, both of which are located on the port side.

Sourced from Ships of NZ Facebook page

Pacifica Shipping invested $700,000 in a roll-on roll-off ramp at Onehunga Wharf in 1993, and once Marine Piling & Construction had done the business in creating a 44m x 16m structure, Pacifica commenced a new service to the South Island with a newly acquired ship.


"SOP" was a steady servant on the Onehunga - Lyttelton run, reducing it by fifteen hours compared with the same journey from Auckland. But her cranes struggled to handle the heavier containers prevalent on the Onehunga to Lyttelton run, which prompted Pacifica Shipping to put her on the Onehunga - Nelson - Wellington run instead in April 1996, with the capital being dropped from that schedule within three months.

Sourced from Ships of NZ Facebook page

It wasn't the only thing that was dropped during "SOP"'s time on the run. En route from Onehunga to Lyttelton on 6 July 1994, she lost two containers overboard in five metre southwesterly swells in the Taranaki bight. The cargo duly washed ashore, and the locals gleefully stocked up on clothing, food and electrical goods!

She was moved on to South American interests in July 1998, and has changed hands on numerous occasions since, with Venezuelan owners currently enjoying her services.

Taken by Wayne A'Court, www.shipspotting.com

Information partly sourced from "Spirit of the Coast - The Story of Pacifica Shipping", by Nick Tolerton


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