MS Princess of Tasmania
{{Short description|Ferry of the "Australian National Line"}}
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{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image=Princess of Tasmania.jpg | Ship caption=Princess of Tasmania on the slipway of the State Dockyard about to be launched in December 1958 }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header= | Ship name=*1959-1975: Princess of Tasmania
| Ship owner=*1959-1972: Australian National Line
| Ship operator= | Ship registry= | Ship route= | Ship ordered= | Ship builder=State Dockyard, Newcastle, New South Wales | Ship original cost= | Ship yard number=61 | Ship way number= | Ship laid down=15 November 1957 | Ship launched=15 December 1958 | Ship completed= | Ship christened= | Ship acquired= | Ship maiden voyage=23 September 1959 | Ship in service= | Ship out of service= | Ship identification={{IMO Number|5284986}} | Ship fate=Scrapped, Alang, India, March 2005 | Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header= | Header caption= | Ship class= | Ship tonnage={{GRT|3964}} | Ship length={{convert|113.32|m}} | Ship beam={{convert|17.73|m}} | Ship height= | Ship draught={{convert|4.74|m}} | Ship depth= | Ship decks= | Ship deck clearance= | Ship ramps= | Ship power= | Ship propulsion=Two 9-cylinder Nydquist & Holm Polar M69TS diesels, {{convert|8600|hp}} | Ship speed={{convert|17.75|kn}} | Ship capacity=334 passengers, 142 vehicles | Ship crew=67 | Ship notes= }} |
MS Princess of Tasmania was an Australian-built roll-on/roll-off passenger ship. She was built by the State Dockyard in Newcastle, New South Wales for the Australian National Line. Laid down on 15 November 1957, she was launched on 15 December 1958. As built, the ship had a tonnage value of {{GRT|3964|disp=long}}, was {{convert|113.32|m}} long, had a beam of {{convert|17.73|m}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.74|m}}. Two 9-cylinder Nydquist & Holm Polar M69TS diesels supplied {{convert|8600|hp}} to the propellers, allowing a maximum speed of {{convert|17.75|kn}}. Up to 334 passengers and 142 vehicles could be carried. Princess of Tasmania was given the {{IMO Number|5284986}}. The ship was the first RO/RO passenger ship in the southern hemisphere, and at the time of launch, the largest vessel built in Australia.{{cite book|last=Plowman|first=Peter|title=Ferry to Tasmania: A Short History|date=2004|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|location=Dural|isbn=1-877058-27-0|pages=100–107}}[http://www.afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2012/january-2012/The_long_long_story_of_the_Princess_of_Tasmania#.V1HqLRwxU18 The long, long story of the Princess of Tasmania] Afloat Magazine January 2012
File:Princess of Tasmania promo.jpg
Princess of Tasmania sailed on her maiden voyage on 23 September 1959. On entering service, she was used on the Devonport to Melbourne route across Bass Strait. The ship continued operating until 1972, when replaced by the Empress of Australia.Re-shuffle of Bass Strait cargo services by ANL Freight & Container Transportation February 1972 page 6 She was sold to Bahamarine Ltd, then to the Canadian Ministry Of Transport later that year. In 1975, she was renamed Marine Cruiser. Two years later, the ship was sold to Rideau Shipping Co Ltd, which operated her until 1984.
Over the course of 1984, the ship was renamed twice (Majorca Rose, then Equator) and changed hands three times (to Dolphin International Shipping, then Equator Shipping Co Ltd, then Comeret). In 1985, the ship came into the ownership of Adriatic Ferries, and was renamed Adriatic Star. Three years later she was sold to Traghetti delle Isole and renamed Lampedusa.
Traghetti continued to operate her until 1991, when she was acquired by Fayez Trading & Shipping under the name Shahd Fayez. A year later, the ship was sold to Al Mahar Marine Co and renamed Al Mahrousa. Al Maher owned the ship until 2000, when she was sold to Nouran Navigation and named Tebah 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/princess_of_tasmania_1959.htm |title=M/S Princess of Tasmania (1959) |accessdate= |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish }}
The ship was scrapped at Alang, India in March 2005, after 46 years of service and 10 names.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://users.nex.net.au/~reidgck/bass-s.htm Bass Strait Passenger Ships]
- [https://ferriesoftasmania.com/princess-of-tasmania/ Princess of Tasmania, Ferries of Tasmania]
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{{Australianferries|state=collapsed}}
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