MV Holmlea 1967-1989

The 1,053-ton, slab-sided Motor Vessel Seaway Princess was built in 1967 for the Northern Steam Ship Company and delivered to Auckland. In 1968 it entered service between Auckland and the South Island. It could carry 800 tonnes and had a speed of 11 knots.

In 1969 the MV Holmlea was bought by the Wellington-based Holm Shipping Company and renamed Holmlea. In 1970 it began a Lyttelton/Wellington service on charter to Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand.

In 1971 the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) sold their interest in the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand to Tasman Union Ltd, therefore the vessel was no longer in the Group service.

It was sold to AMAL SpA, Messina in 1975, and renamed Annarita Seconda. It was again renamed Gabbiano in 1978 without a change in ownership.

In 1983 it was sold to Mediterranea Marittima SpA di Nav, Genoa (Soc Cooperative di Nav Garibaldi SRL, Genoa, managers). 

In 1989 it was demolished at San Giorgio di Nogaro, Italy, by Italian shipbreakers Eurofer SpA.