Click
the logo above to reach the ssMaritime FrontPage for News Updates
& “Ship of the Month”
With
Reuben Goossens
Maritime
Historian
As
Founder and President of the …
“Save
the Classic Liners Campaign”
I
am proud to present a very special Australian ship for
preservation
MV
MV
Cape Don and the ex
Photograph © mvcapedonsociety.org.au
Introduction:
Like the famed historic Sydney Harbour ferry, the MS Baragoola, which I strongly support in saving and preserving, and I am now adding the delightful 1963 built MV Cape Don, which is a unique all Australian vessel that should, and must be retained at all costs!
The
MV Cape Don is under the tender care of the excellent “MV
Cape Don Society Inc” and she is berthed at Balls Head
Drive in Waverton, Sydney located just forward of the Baragoola.
I highly suggest that you visit their excellent webpage at www.mvcapedonsociety.org.au
and read all about this fascinating ship, including their news
updates and view the many photographs online of her interiors and
exteriors. These photographs cover her throughout the years at
sea as well as in ports around the country and as she is today.
Although thanks to Mr. Warwick Riddle who is the curator of the
MV
MV
Cape Don was built at the Newcastle State Dockyards, NSW, and
completed in January 1963, one of a unique class of ships
purpose-built to service navigational aids (including manned
lighthouses) around Australia, thus she was part of the
“Commonwealth Lighthouse Service.”
To fulfil these tasks, she was built as a mini-liner, with excellent passenger accommodation necessary to carry officials, technicians, relief lighthouse crews and their families, at times for prolonged periods at sea. She is powered by a 5 cylinder Australian Polar M65T diesel engine developing 2,000 BHP at 250 RPM, driving a 4-blade, 5 tonne Kamewa controllable pitch propeller, 9.2 ft (2.75 m) in diameter. For cargo handling she is equipped with one Clark Chapman electric crane SWL 12.5 ton (12.7 metric tonnes).
This
is an excellent postcard of the MV Cape Don seen at Broome
Western
This
postcard was kindly provided by Andrew Mackinnon
Above Image: The MV Cape Don is seen
during low tide sitting on the mud which was quite a regular
occurrence in this port and ships of the Blue Funnel lines such
as the one seen alongside being the passenger cargo liner SS
Gorgon or the SS Charon has hardened steel bottoms to cope. Their
later ship the popular MV Centaur also had a strengthened hull to
cope with having to sit on the mud at several ports on the
Western Australian ports. The photograph was obviously taken
sometimes between Feb 1963 when the
Preservation
of the MV
Having been long retired, the MV Cape Don
Society is now responsible for restoring this superb ship and
they will be setting up a museum on board her to tell the story
of her many years of dedicated service. The MV Cape Don Society
has thankfully received a great deal of assistance from AMSA, as
well as past crew members and the public who have donated
artefacts, uniforms and a great number of photographs, etc. The
museum will be set up on board the ship after the restoration has
been completed inside.
Most
images below were provided by Mr. Warwick Riddle
WR-Cape-Don-Sea-trials
The
The
ships Bridge as seen today
The
passenger smoke room
The
Dinning Saloon
The
engine room
The
propeller shaft
The
ships workshop
The
delightful MV Cape Don is seen here at her current berth at Balls
Head, Sydney in 2010
However, The MV Cape Don NEEDS YOUR HELP tight NOW, and I ask for all ship lovers to give a hand, be it by the means of assisting be it by the giving of a donation, and you can use the link provided hereunder for that purpose, or on their website, as well as assisting as a volunteer and you will be made most welcome!
----
---
Please Note: The two
links above will take you directly to …
www.mvcapedonsociety.org.au
- appeal / their volunteer page
Click
the IMAGE above to enter - http://mvcapedonsociety.org.au.
The
Photographer
unknown - *Please see photo notes at the bottom of page
****************************************
MV
|
The
MV
---
----
Please
Note: The two links above will take you directly to …
www.mvcapedonsociety.org.au
- appeal / their volunteer page
Reuben
Goossens.
Maritime
Historian & Author
ssMaritime:
Featuring over
390 classic Liners:
Founder &
President "SCLC" (Founded February
1999)
"Save the
Classic Liners Campaign"
Ships that have
been Saved in 2009/2010:
MV Royal Star,
built in 1956 as the MS San Giorgio.
Currently the PV
Ocean Mist cruising out of
1914 built MV
Doulos, now named Doulos Phos she is based
in
She is now a
Hotel in
MV Mona Lisa ex Kungsholm
built in 1966 is now a hotel in
Founder of the "Save
the SS Rotterdam Campaign" - built in 1959.
Photograph
© mvcapedonsociety.org.au
Use
the Back button on your browser or Close the Page to return to
the previous page
or go to our INDEX
***********************************
Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
Also
visit my …
“Save The
Classic Liners Campaign” & “Classic Ocean Voyages”