Capitaine Bougainville being broken up at Auckland in 1977

Built 1955 as Balzac for Fred Olsen.
3614 GRT
1972 Capitaine Bougainville owned by Sofrana Lines
2/9/1975 sailed from Auckland and at approx 0240 3/9/1975 fire broke out and the ship was abandoned 15 minutes later approx 16 miles from Whangarei 3 miles off the shore. Sadly one of the lifeboats capsized and 15 lives were lost including the Captain's wife and children. Twelve hours later the Whangarei tug Waitangi attached a tow line and she arrived Whangarei 4/9/1975.
She was condemned as a CTL and broken up at Auckland where she arrived 4/8/1977.