Built as a ro-ro passenger ferry under yard No 1502 by William Denny & Bross Ltd, Dumbarton, Scotland for the New Zealand Government.
24 November 1961 launched as the ARAMOANA what means in Maori Sea Pathway.
Tonnage 4,160 grt, 3,960 nrt, 1,050 dwt Dim. 112.2 x 18.6 x 4.54 m (draught), length bpp 104m.
Powered diesel electric by 6 English Electric 16-cyl. 4 stroke turbocharged 16 CSVM diesel, 10,500 shp, twin shafts, speed 17 knots.
Accommodation for 788 passengers, 30 railroad cars and 70 automobiles.
Crew 90.
June 1962 completed.
The ARAMOANA’s big stern door transformed domestic transport in 1962. Prior to then, double-handling had made it too costly and slow for rail to compete with coastal ships, but roll-on, roll-off ships seamlessly connected the islands.
23 June 1962 sailed from the yard to New Zealand.
26 July 1962 arrived at Wellington, her homeport.
13 August was her maiden voyage between Wellington and Picton in the Cook Strait ferry service linking the rail network between the North and South Island of New Zealand.
10 April 1968 took part in the rescue of the passengers from the ferry WAHINE which foundered on Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour.
01 July 1977 sailed from Wellington via Cairns, Australia to Singapore where she was rebuilt at the Sembawang Shipyard to carry 800 passengers to meet the increased passenger traffic between the two islands.
16 December 1977 again in the service between Wellington and Picton.
09 March 1983 laid up in Wellington after she was replaced by the ARAHURA.
October 1984 sold to Najd Trading and Construction Establishment, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and renamed in CAPTAIN NICOLAS V.
06 November 1984 transferred to the new owners, with port of registration, Panama.
09 November 1984 sailed from Wellington to Singapore for a refurbishment.
10 November 1985 arrived at Jeddah, hereafter used in a service between Jeddah - Aqaba and Suez.
23 January 1986 renamed in NAJD II.
February 1986 in a service between Madras – Port Blair, Andaman Island and Singapore to Jeddah.
30 August 1992 laid up at Singapore.
November 1992 sailed from Mombasa, Kenya.
June 1993 laid up at Ajman, United Arab Emirate.
October 1994 sold for scrapping to India. Renamed NIAXCO III
November 1994 under tow left for Alang, India where she arrived on 03 December 1994, work of scrapping commenced on 23 December 1994 by Virendra & Co., Alang, India.
New Zealand 2012 0.70c, sg?, scott?
Source: Marine News. http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/aramoana_1962.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramoana_(ferry)
Information from Capt A Palmhof.