This Strider Class vessel was built by Kagoshima Dockyard as Strider Isis for Sea Containers. Shipping Corporation of New Zealand chartered her in 1980 as its contribution to Pacific Forum Line. The Strider Class were strange ships: the gantry crane could only work containers aboard the ship and not to the wharf. Containers were loaded on low loaders towed by tractor units through the tunnel under the accommodation and positioned by the on board gantry. This must have been a nightmare when planning cargo stowage as only one hatch could be open at a time. Forum New Zealand spent her time witn SCONZ on the New Guinea service where stevedores reckoned her ideal and the fastest working ship on the run.
As can be seen, the class also had enormous flare forward and I believe a number suffered structural damage through being driven into head seas
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