2010 Jul 02

Main Anchor of the Jahre Viking/ Seawise Giant arrives in Hong Kong

 A 36 ton anchor belonging to a historic ship, once the world’s largest, has been transported by Wilhelmsen Ships Service from Gujarat and has just arrived in Hong Kong, to be placed as the centrepiece in the new Hong Kong Maritime Museum.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service Hong Kong was approached by the Norwegian ambassador in Guangzhou in early February to arrange the transportation of the anchor of the Jahre Viking/Seawise Giant which was scrapped in India this year.

The ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carrier) was the world’s longest ship until she was beached to be broken up after 35 years afloat. Gifted to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum by an anonymous donor this anchor will recognise the involvement of Norwegian shipping in Hong Kong waters since the early 19th century. The transportation of the anchor from India to Hong Kong was sponsored by the government of Norway.

Built for Mr CY Tung in 1979 and subsequently sold by his family, the ship was owned and operated by Norwegian shipping interests for the rest of its life.

The anchor of the Jahre Viking/ Seawise Giant, has 20 links of chain, is 7m long in the shank, 4.45m across the flukes and 1.13m thick. This represented a considerable challenge to shift from the beaches of Gujarat to the Government Shipyard in Hong Kong. The India office of Wilhelmsen Ships Service arranged for the purchase, documentation and land transportation of the anchor onboard a 40 foot flat rack container from the scrapyard in Alang to Pipanav port and thereon onboard the Nedloyd Barentz to Hong Kong. The anchor arrived in Hong Kong on 17 June and was transported to the Government Shipyard for storage by Wilhelmsen Ships Service Hong Kong using a crane barge.

Tormod Capellan Endresen, the Norwegian Ambassador in Guangzhong acknowledged the efforts of Wilhelmsen Ships Service: “Thank you very much for all your efforts in arranging the transport of the anchor and chain. I have seen from the few mails on which I have been copied – and heard – that you have done a very professional and good job in sorting out all the details!”

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