At around 10.30pm on Saturday, 7 May, the Holcim cement carrier "Westport" eased away from her berth in her home port, carried out the time-honoured "Westport Turn" and headed down the Buller River into the Tasman Sea, bound once more for Onehunga. But this latest call to her northernmost discharge point was a special one, and the last 25 minutes of the voyage were filmed for posterity. When her lines were secured alongside at 12.30pm on Monday, 9 May, it was the 1100th time "Westport" had called at Onehunga in her 41 years of service - an unprecedented milestone in New Zealand shipping circles, with Westport the only port she has visited more often. On this occasion, she'll be discharging 2800 tonnes of cement before heading south once more on Tuesday, this time to load another 2900 tonnes earmarked for the Auckland market - to pinch a line from the most successful movie franchise in history, "Westport" will return. That said, the opportunities to see both 'La Grande Dame' of the New Zealand coastal shipping scene and fellow Holcim cement

carrier "Milburn Carrier II" alongside at Onehunga are numbered. Between them, they will make around ten more calls in total before freight operations at the Port conclude in mid-June. As well, the "Anatoki", which calls infrequently at Onehunga as bulk cargo demands require, is confirmed to make a final visit before the

Port closes to shipping activity, laden with gravel from Greymouth. Holcim's "minion" - the dome-shaped silo they have constructed on the Auckland waterfront - comes on line later this month, and within the following four weeks, the two ships which, between them, have called at Onehunga over 2000 times, will both sail down the Manukau Harbour for the last time. Their final calls at Onehunga will also signal the closure of the Westport cement works at Cape Foulwind, with the loss of around 120 jobs, and the end of "Westport"'s operational life. As happens to so many ships the world over, she will likely be sold to shipbreakers. The Port of Onehunga will continue to serve as a haven for the inshore fishing fleets of Sanford, Moana Pacific and the various independent operators who guide their vessels into port, most frequently in summer. And while its closure to freight operations is imminent, the history of shipping at the Port will never be lost, thanks to a tribute website this writer has set up to acknowledge same. Contributions to the site, which can be found at www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/Onehunga, are most welcome.