A 36-tonne anchor belonging to a historic ship, and once the world's largest, has been transported by Wilhelmsen Ships Service from Gujarat, India, and has arrived in Hong Kong to be placed as the centrepiece in the new Hong Kong Maritime Museum.
The Norwegian ambassador in Guangzhou approached Wilhelmsen Ships Service Hong Kong in early February to arrange the transportation of the'Jahre Viking'/'Seawise Giant's' anchor, which was scrapped in India this year.
The ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carrier) was the world's longest ship until she was beached to be broken up after 35 years afloat. Gifted to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum by an anonymous donor this anchor will recognise the involvement of Norwegian shipping in Hong Kong waters since the early 19th century. The government of Norway sponsored the transportation of the anchor from India to Hong Kong.
Built for Mr CY Tung in 1979 and subsequently sold by his family, the ship was owned and operated by Norwegian shipping interests for the rest of its life.
The anchor of the 'Jahre Viking'/'Seawise Giant', has 20 links of chain, is seven metres long in the shank, 4.45 metres across the flukes and 1.13 metres thick. This represented a considerable challenge to move from the beaches of Gujarat to the Government Shipyard in Hong Kong.