CAPE ARNHEM

...later Iron Arnhem

Australian

1972-__

4,307 gross tons, 1,997 net, 8,518 dwt.

Lbd: 119.68 x 19.02 x 7.743 metres. General cargo vessel Ro/Ro as built by Adelaide Ship Construction, Port Adelaide as the Cape Arnhem for Australian Territory Liner Services Pty Ltd, Sydney. Diesel engine, six cylinder 4SA MAN oil engine manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan. 6,000 brake horsepower, 14 knots on 16.5 tonnes fuel per day.

Crew 32. 3 cargo holds, two decks and a starboard side door between decks. Controllable pirch propellor and bow thruster. Designed along with her sistership 'Cape York' for the Northern Australian ports trade. Short lived and on 10 October 1974 purchased by BHP. Under original name her maiden voyage for BHP was to Auckland New Zealand, arriving ther 1st November 1974 with a cargo of finished steel products from Newcastle and Port Kembla.

Kept on that service for a few runs until late November when renamed 'Iron Arnhem', re-painted from a white livery to the BHP colour scheme, and re-registered at Melbourne. Her itinary of trade also changed, under status of general cargo carrier she took in the ports of Western Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania with occassional runs to Queensland and New Zealand. Cargoes lifted were dolomite and limestone from South Australia.

Eventually became a regular on the trans-tasman service. December 1988 owners became BHP Transport Ltd. Upon completion of voyage No. 184 she was laid up at Newcastle 27 September 1990. Renamed Kota Eagle when sold December 1990 to Pacific International Lines Pty Ltd, Singapore.

She had sailed to Sydney for survey upon pending sale, passed inspection and proceeded with a cargo of scrap for Malaysia 18 December 1990. 1994 renamed Hai Feng for Hai Peng Shipping S.A. and flagged St Vincent & the Grenadines. Still in service

Details: Flotilla Australia

Photo Credits: The late Don Ross collection