THE VITI SOLD AS PLEASURE CRAFT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31087, 16 June 1966, Page 18

THE VITI SOLD AS PLEASURE CRAFT

"The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, June 14.

The Viti, a 701-ton motorship that has lain idle in Auckland since September, 1961, has been bought by a British businessman, Mr M. J. Batty, who has international interests in commercial shipping. Mr Batty intends to refit her as a pleasure yacht and floating business headquarters.

The Viti was built in 1940 as a pleasure yacht for the Governor of Fiji, at a cost of £70,000. In 1943 she was bought by a commercial shipping company and became a refrigerated cargo vessel running between Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand. About 12 years later, when a repayment of a £15,000 rehabilitation loan was not met by the company, the ship was placed in receivership to the State Advances Corporation. For a short period she was chartered to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and then sold by tender to Mr C. A. Odell, in 1961.

Toward the end of 1962 the Viti was once again offered for sale by tender. This time she was bought by Mr J. J. Enwright, of Whangarei. The initial repairs on the Viti will include mending a 2ft hole in the bow. This damage was caused on the Viti’s last voyage to Auckland, when she hit a rock off the Whangarei heads. Only repairs necessary to make the Viti seaworthy will be carried out in Auckland: then she will sail to Hong Kong for final refitting, Mr Batty said. At least 10 crew members will be flown out to Auckland to sail the Viti to Hong Kong. Mr Batty intends to use native New Zealand wood panelling in refurnishing the Viti. Mr Batty, who already owns a yacht based in London, arrived in New Zealand a fortnight ago on a business trip, with no intentions of buying a ship. “It will be Interesting to bring the new Viti, once I have finished refitting her, back to New Zealand in two or three years’ time,” said Mr Batty. He would not disclose the amount he paid for the Viti.