Built as a reefer-dry-cargo vessel under yard No 1347 by Smith’s Dock Co. Ltd., South Bank, Middlesbrough for Geest Industries Ltd., Spalding U.K.
28 August 1981 launched under the name GEESTPORT, and registered in Boston, U.K.
Tonnage 7.729 grt., 4.445 net, 9.970 dwt., dim. 159.04 x 21.37 x 8.83m. (draught), length bpp. 143.7m.
Powered by two 7-cyl. B&W oil engines, manufactured by J.G. Kincaid & Co. Ltd., Greenock, 13.100 shp. twin screws, speed 21 knots.
Accommodation for 12 passengers, crew 40.
Reefer capacity 435.000 cubic feet, banana capacity 3.500.000 kilos, Container capacity 72 TEU’s.
February 1982 completed. Homeport Boston, U.K.
She was special built for the Geestline for the trade between the U.K and the West Indies Island, general cargo westward, return voyage tropical fruit, mostly bananas.
15 February 1982 sailed from the Tees for her maiden voyage to Grenada.
April 1982 when the Falkland War broke out she was taken on charter by the British Government, (Ministry of Defence) as a store ship, and was modified for her roll in the Falkland Conflict.
09 May 1982 her modification work commenced at Portsmouth, a helipad aft, RAS gear, freshwater generating plant, two garages for mechanical handling equipment and additional accommodation were added.
20 May store out and dock work was completed, and she sailed on 21 May for Ascension for offloading and loading some stores. From there she sailed for South Georgia where she arrived 11 June.
After arrival there she transferred stores to a number of warships and merchantmen. Her derricks were used to lift four 7-ton moorings for the anchor handling tug WIMPEY SEA HORSE.
Ten day later she joined the carrier battle group to the east of the Falkland Islands, but was sent to San Carlos waters to disembark more stores.
A week later was she moved to Port William and continued unloading. 18 July she was back in San Carlos. She received then stores for her homeward voyage, and then via Port Williams she sailed on 03 August to the north.
It was found out that by transferring stores at sea, it was always very dangerous when the ship was rolling, the heavy balls near the hooks on her cranes creating a pendulum effect which was difficult to control. (Transferring cargo on the high seas is often done, mostly frozen fish from trawlers to reefer vessels, and the only way that works is with double derricks, cranes are not suitable for that work.)
The pallets loaded in the forward holds of the GEESTPORT could not be taken to the helicopter platform behind the bridge structure without being broken down, and after passing the obstruction again reassembled.
During her stay at the Falklands she made 58 separate stores transfers of 2566 pallets load by helicopter, boat or alongside ship-to-ship transfer.
In de Geest passenger waiting room at Barry, a nice painting of the vessel was hanging on the wall, showing her during an air attack while in the Falkland Island waters, where the painting now is I am wondering, the Geest terminal in Barry has closed down.
After returning to the Geestline used in the banana and tropical fruit trade from the West Indies Islands to England, first to Barry, Bristol Channel, when this terminal was closed to Southampton.
1993 Under Bahamas flag.
November 1994 sold to Ocean Activity S.A., Panama, renamed in BAHIANA REEFER Managed by International Reefer Services S.A. Piraeus, Greece.
15 May 2003 Sold to Trod Shipping S.A., Piraeus, renamed AMFITRITE under Panama registry. Managed by Target Marine S.A., Piraeus.
03 October 2005 renamed by owners in AMFITRITE I, managed by Amer Shipping Ltd.
19 February 2007 sold and managed by Golden Trust Carriers SA, Piraeus, not renamed.
2008 As given by http://www.equasis.org same owner and manager, IMO No 8003773.
Barbados 1994 10c sg1076, scott 873.
St Vincent 1982 45c sg 706, scott?