Big Port Visitor

The biggest vessel to turn in the harbour basin in four years, the 372ft Japanese freighter Shinyo Maru, berthed at No. 6 wharf last month.

Because of the size of the ship, the port's fishing fleet was ordered to sea to make room in the basin for the vessel to turn. It had a minimum of 15 feet clearance during the manoeuvre.

The Shinyo Maru loaded a cargo of frozen mutton for direct shipment to Japan.

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Waiting in the roadstead, the Shinyo Maru is surrounded by the ousted fishing boats.

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Assisted by the tug Hikurangi, the Shinyo Maru eases slowly up the inner harbour channel.

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The ship moves up the outer harbour channel as the fishing fleet waits at sea to return to its berth