Cruise News & Reviews

May 03,  2010
Author: Terry Hutson
 

Saga Rose mystery moves to Mozambique

Picture Terry Hutson

Just when we thought the mystery of the SAGA ROSE had been cleared up, the ship takes another turn and confuses everyone.

When we last reported the cruise ship’s movements, Saga Rose was in Richards Bay to load bunkers and water. Earlier she had confounded ship watchers by calling at Port Elizabeth for the same reason. Port Elizabeth is not a regular bunker port.

While the ship lay at her berth alongside the coal terminal in Richards Bay, PORTS & SHIPS received word that the vessel had been sold to Chinese interests. Some of the mystery solved, but not her strange choice of ports for loading fuel and supplies. Durban or Cape Town would have been quicker and cheaper.

While in Richards Bay the vessel operators requested permission to wait over another day. This was apparently turned down on the ground that the berth was required for a coal ship, and Saga Rose sailed that same day, Thursday.

Then comes the revelation that after sailing from Richards Bay she put in to the port of Maputo, further up the coast. Why? The only thing we can think of is that some mechanical work was necessary while in Richards Bay, hence the request for another day in port, and when this was turned down the operators decided to take the ship to the Mozambique port.

Of course, the way this mystery is unfolding even that idea is likely to be shot down.