Rough Ferry Ride

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Ships_Cat

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I have been on the lookout for a photo of a passenger/vehicle ferry in heavy seas in Cook Strait, our home waters, that I remembered it appearing in the newspaper around 20-25 years ago.

By chance I have come across what I believe is the same photo plus an artists rendition, I believe of the same scene. I thought some may be interested in them, so here they are:
aramoana2.jpg
aramoana1.jpg


The vessel is the Aromoana which was 370 foot long and that gives an idea of the size of the seas and the conditions they sometimes sail in. She was in service from 1962-1983 (so the photo was taken in that period, towards the end I think).

If I remember correctly the photo was taken just outside the entrance to Wellington Harbour - if it wasn't then there is another very similar photo floating around for me to find.

I do not know if the photo is still subject to copyright, but given the age and poor quality of the photo and the possible interest I trust that would not be an issue. The images will be automatically deleted from this post once 1 month elapses with no hits on it.

John
Images hosted by xs.to
 
I seem to remember that the ferry in question was an Ex-Calmac ship, the Suilven. Put 'Suilven' and 'Ferry' into Google and you'll find a very similar picture to the one you posted. I don't have the technical knowhow to post the link myself.

TLOM
 
The Suilven ran on Cook Strait from 1995 to 2004 for Strait Shipping and is not the ship in the photo I posted. There are photos of her in heavy weather at http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Strait.html#anchor139855 - same set as posted above by MacHurley22, I believe those are all taken in Cook Strait as they are Strait Shipping photos (probably taken just outside Wellington Harbour I would think, or perhaps in the rips along the coast a bit).

Regarding the Hoo question about the ferry that was lost, that was the 490 foot Wahine in 1968 with loss of 51 lives. She was lost right within the entrance to Wellington Harbour during a storm and a good description is on http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/wahine.htm.

There are no photos of her when first distressed as the visibility was nil in the storm. Within a very short time conditions changed to the calm seen in the photos on the site and even canoes were searching for survivors. She was so far into the harbour that survivors were coming ashore on the beaches in front of the houses. I have been told that the next day was racing for the Javelin Class dinghies (a NZ 14 foot class much like a bigger Cherub, designed by same designer, and their NZ Championships) they apparantly were asked to watch out for bodies in the harbour.

John
 
Just shows how stupid professional skippers can be, or is it commercial pressure

I think that you will find it is neither, but perhaps more a case of what one is used to. Those vessels effectively operate a continuous bridge between North and South Islands and transport is totally dependant on them, rough conditions in the Strait are very frequent.

For an idea of what they carry, vessels such as the Aramoana and her today's sisters will carry a mix of rail wagons and road vehicles (some are two decked) and up to 800 - 1000 passengers capacity, but usually less on a particular sailing. The Strait shipping vessels (eg Suilven) mainly carry trucks, cars and passengers, depending on the particular vessel, and no rail. Occasionally vehicles come loose, but not often.

John
 
I remember a rather rough trip accros here as a small child - seem to remember that the wind dropped to a Force 11 - so the ferry would run.

Only question was whether we would make it over the bar (?) into Wellington - or whether we would have to steam up and down the cost until conditions improved (we made it much to everyones relief!)

Personally I have always found NZ a refreshing change from our overly regulated and blame laden culture. Long may they retain it ! I don't think their track record on lost ferries is much worse than ours in the UK.
 
I remember back in the mid 70s taking the car accross the English Channel on the old Princess Anne hovercraft one winter. We got caught out in very lumpy conditions when cars broke loose on the vehicle deck and we had to settle in the water and wait for a tow back to Blighty. I seem to remember it got up to gale force before we arrived back safely but somewhar queesy and fatigued. My company Hillman Avenger, very sadly, was totally unharmed by the episode and I had top put up with it for another couple of years !
 
I was in Wellington that night when the Wahine sank. She cleared the entrance,just, then was forced to anchor as she wasn't making any head way, and she then dragged backwards over the reef, and capsized. We launched the ships's lifeboat but couldn't get anywhere near her. As you say, by daybreak it was flat calm. Not good memories.
 
Re: As a ferry regular

on the N.Sea routes I'm quite used to a bit of a chop. You know your in for fun if they need tugs to get the thing out of the berth, it took three one day. Other clues are, if the crew look nervous, if they've tied up the furniture with roller towels or if they serve your drinks in plastic glasses. I sat at the Hook of Holland one night waiting to board the St Nicholas, I believe she's on an Irish run these days, it was so windy I couldn't sit in my van it was leaping about so much. We sailed 20 minutes late and it was an experience. I spent the night wedge under a bunk backrest watching the furniture dance around the cabin and listening to waves hit the portholes. I was on deck nine so it was quite rough. We arrived in Harwich three hours late.

Nothing compares to a heavy weather trip in a hovercraft. They have a motion unlike anything else and they sound like the end of the worlds upon you. We once left Calais for Dover arrived somewhere with white cliffs, did a 90 degree left turn and went on for 40 minutes with the seas on our port beam and surf breaking on the cliffs on our starboard beam. The whole trip took two hours.
 
Re: As a ferry regular

That all sounds so familiar!

It took me six bookings on the big hovercraft in the seventies before I actually boarded one that sailed (flew?) !

I also remember a frightful trip on the Sheppey Island Vlissigen service when the dining saloon was empty except for me on one table and another chap at the opposite end on another. The master, head chef and sundry crew were on another table when the master said to us "Gott, you Brits, why can't you at least sit together! come and join us and have a beer!!". Needless to say a splendid impromptu party ensued. It was on the same route I shared a cabin with three other people in heavy weather. Apart from the ship crashing about, one of the chaps snored for England but slept soundly through it all. When he got up he didn't even know there'd been a strom - [--word removed--]! (Wasn't you was it ?? !!)
 
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