Final Call For Shipping At Onehunga
by Jeremy Ruane
There was barely a soul around when "Milburn Carrier II" cast off her lines for the final time at Onehunga on Queen's Birthday Monday morning, and quietly commenced her last journey down the Manukau Harbour.
The biggest ship to ever visit the Port in its history completed her 942nd and last call at Onehunga on the weekend, arriving on Sunday morning to discharge the penultimate load of cement into Holcim's silos.
Her departure was the first of three which will take place over the next eight to ten days, after which shipping at the Port of Onehunga will be consigned to the past.
As "MC2" reached Laingholm, she passed "Anatoki", both vessels marking the last time ships will pass in the Manukau with ceremonial blasts of their horns.
The tiny bulk freighter continued on to berth at 11.30am with a cargo of gravel from Greymouth, which she will be discharging over the next forty hours before leaving Onehunga for the 21st and final time at 10am on Wednesday.
It is somewhat fitting that the final ship to call at Onehunga will be the most frequent visitor in the entire history of shipping at the Port.
Her final arrival and departure times are not yet confirmed, but based on her present movements, you can expect to see "Westport" making her 1101st and last visit to Onehunga around about 5pm on Monday, June 13, departing for the very last time at approximately 3pm the next day.
When she sets sail, "Westport" will bring down the curtain on roughly 180 years of shipping activity on the Manukau Harbour, about which more information can be found at
www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/Onehunga