Vale MV Claudia 1

[On Air]

A familiar sight to anyone crossing the Anzac Bridge and more so for those with even a passing interest in ships is the bulk carrier MV Claudia 1, a self discharging conveyor of gravel that made a regular trip between the Hanson Cement terminal at Blackwattle Bay and Bass Point Quarry on the South Coast since 1998 and originally owned by Pioneer Cement.
Others may be more knowledgeable on the subject that perhaps with the demise of Claudia she may have been one of the last bulk carriers to regularly work Sydney Harbour?

Claudia 1 was due for survey in 2012, but unfortunately the current owners, Hanson Cement have decided to let her go for scrapping in China. Below is a company release on their decision and a few statistics and background on MV Claudia 1.

The following is quoted from the Hanson website.

"Since 1998, the MV Claudia 1 has played an integral role in Hanson’s logistical capabilities.
She was purchased after an extensive world wide search for a suitable ship. Originally trading in the Baltic Sea area, she was converted from a general cargo ship to a self discharging aggregate carrier in China” says Steve Williams, Transport Manager - Marine and Administration.

Over the last 14 years, she has delivered over 2.8 million tonnes of aggregate into the Sydney market.

Three times a week, the MV Claudia makes the return journey from Blackwattle Bay Concrete Plant to Bass Point Quarry. Here she is loaded at the Bass Point Jetty with 3800 tonne of crushed basalt by conveyors fed direct from Bass Point Quarry at a rate of up to 900 tonnes per hour.

The ship has 3 separate holds and can handle 3 different materials in any one voyage. The journey, there and back takes approximately 8 hours. To transport this amount of material via road it would require over 100 truck journeys.


In her spare time, MV Claudia 1 has made regular appearances on the small screen. She features in a Navy advert, still aired today, and has had many cameo roles in TV productions, the last being the series, ‘Gangs of Oz’.
She has also been used as a training base for Sydney Ferries, Australian Federal Police, Australian Customs, Australian Armed Forces and NSW Police Tactical Repsonse Group.


“The old girl is quite famous locally.”
“At 29 years old the MV Claudia 1 is rapidly approaching retirement age. She is due for Dry Docking Survey in January 2012 and Special Survey in June 2012. There would need to be a significant amount of capital funds expended to allow the ship to continue trading past January 2012” Says Steve.
“After careful and detailed consideration by the Board it was decided to retire MV Claudia1.”

“July will see our ship make her final voyage after some 14 years of service to the company. The existing crew have all expressed a desire to take Claudia to her final port, with only 2 crew members sadly unable to make the last voyage."

“Whilst it is always a sad occasion to see a ship go to the recyclers, MV Claudia 1 will be recycled in an environmentally considerate manner with high levels of safety in a registered Chinese ship yard – perhaps a little bit of Claudia will come back to us in a future purchase of Chinese made equipment” adds Steve.

In the short term Hanson will have to rely on road transport to supply its Sydney market. In the longer term maritime transport still figures strongly in Hanson’s logistics strategy. The world wide search for a replacement for Claudia continues."

What's the betting that we'll never see a replacement for MV Claudia?

MV Claudia 1 arriving at Blackwattle Bay Cement wharf

[captainch]

yes many a time on the midday shift at rydem was on the last trip just after 7pm to race out of town to beat her comming thru the old glebe island bdge,and get held up! its sad to see a working piece of history go! hope the t v news covers it! i suppose the dev will but high rise allong the treminal now,and we will have more semis on the princes highway in its place! thanks for posting on air!

[tonyp]

I think they've been planning this for some time. There has been a special truck road out of Bass point to separate their traffic from the housing estates for a few years.

[On Air]

I think they've been planning this for some time. There has been a special truck road out of Bass point to separate their traffic from the housing estates for a few years.

Case closed

It is interesting that the spiel by Mr Williams "talks up" the benefits of using a bulk carrier for transporting its products and seemingly "talks down" adding more trucks to our already strained road network, whilst all the while the company has been planning to shaft the ship and clog the roads in and out of Bass Point with trucks- no doubt of the variety driven by fanatical sub-contractors that drive flat out as they're paid by the load. same ol' same ol'.

BTW, I profane at the statement that the ship will be recycled in an environmentally sound manner-in China? A country that has scant regard for our environment, for if one visits the Great Wall it is best to study the weather and plan for a windy day, such is the pollution haze that obscures this treasure for at least 300 days per year.

[Doc68]

I have heard from a reliable source the concrete plant at Blackwattle bay is reliant on a ship, apparently the government have said "no ship no plant" as part of the site's operation

[On Air]

I have heard from a reliable source the concrete plant at Blackwattle bay is reliant on a ship, apparently the government have said "no ship no plant" as part of the site's operation

Hmmmm, an interesting point as today On Air observed a large crane at work adjacent to the unloader that takes the aggregate from a ship. Perhaps someone who passes the site close by could relate what they are up to and whether the unloader is being dismantled? Maybe Hanson is pulling the pin from its Blackwattle Bay operation. On Air hasn't seen many Hanson cement trucks around lately, come to think of it

[TW10]

On Air hasn't seen many Hanson cement trucks around lately, come to think of it

I saw one leaving the Thornleigh plant last Saturday morning.

[Simes]

There was one disgorging it's contents to form up a driveway across the road this week

I believe the construction of the Anzac Bridge kept that concrete plant open and after that was complete the building boom in the city again kept it open - I wonder if they'll mothball the site?
Also happenings at the fish market might have a bearing on it's future too