Built as a ro-ro container vessel under yard No 894 by J.J.Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co., Hamburg for the Polynesia Shipping, Nuku’alofa, (Tonga Government) Tonga.
07 October 1979 launched under the name FUA KAVENGA.
Tonnage 3.841 gross, 1.751 net, 5.536 dwt., dim. 118.67 x 19.21 x 10.60m., draught 6.85m.
Powered by two 6-cyl 4S.C.SA Vee oil engines, manufactured by Klöckner Humboldt Deutz, Koln, 4.500hp., twin screws, speed 15.3 knots.
Crew 31.
Can carry 325 TEU’s containers.
December 1979 delivered.
She was built with assistance of a German aid program.
05 December 1979 sailed from Hamburg to Australia and then to New Zealand, where she arrived at Lyttelton on 18 April 1980.
Used in the service of the Forum Line from Fiji, Western Samoa, Eastern Samoa Tonga to Australia and New Zealand. Managed by Columbus Overseas Services Pty Ltd. (Hamburg Sud).
1981 Transferred to The Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., Nukualofa.
1984 Transferred to the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga.
11 July 2000 managed by Polynesia Shipping.
27 August 2002 renamed in CAPITAINE FERN II.
15 September 2003 renamed in GOLDEN TRADER.
2005 Used in the Pacific Direct Line from New Zealand and Australia to the South Seas Islands.
2005 http://www.equasis.org gives IMO No 7820538, call sign A3CA, owned still by Polynesia Shipping, Tonga.
Managed by the Pacific Direct Line, Auckland New Zealand. Still under Tonga flag.
July 2006 sold to Pariz Global Fzco, United Arab Emirates, renamed GOLDEN TRADER I, under Panama flag and registry.
Managed K.K. Marine Consultants Ltd, Sharjah, UAE.
2009 In service, same owners and name.
Fiji 1984 $1 sg 687.
Source: some web-sites. The Hamburg South America Line by Cooper/Kludas/Pein.