July 1 - 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.
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. On arrival in Hong Kong the anchor was transported by crane barge to the Government Shipyard for storage by Wilhelmsen Ships Service Hong Kong.
