Businessman seeks clean-living cargo for luxury vessel

A CLEAN tenant is required for a luxury ship lovingly restored to its past glory by a caring owner.

The 30-year-old Stella Maris has been moored at Albert Quay in Cork for almost six months, but the ship's owner is willing to let his baby go, if the right tenants come along.

Kildare businessman Pat McCormack splashed out 317,000 on the twin deck cargo ship four years ago and he has spent thousands restoring the vessel.

Now the ship is ready for action Pat said: "It has been a labour of love. I'm fussy I want a nice cargo, one that's clean."

There is a full-time crew of 14 working on the ship and everyone has to obey Pat's big rule no one on board is allowed drink or smoke.

Every crew member has a cabin, shower and toilet, and the officers have their own work area.

The Stella Maris was formerly known as La Luna del Mar, and the Cambodian-registered ship has been undergoing renovations since 1999.

It was tied up at the Limerick Port of Foynes before being taken into dry dock.

These days the grand ship doesn't just look good, it's also fully decked out with new navigation equipment.

The comforts are so great Pat comes down to Cork twice a week just to soak up the atmosphere on the old ship that once attracted the interest of shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

The vessel even had a picture of Onassis on its bridge at one time.

Pat always eats on board and even has a full-time cook to prepare the finest food on his salubrious floating residence.

He said: "I don't drink or smoke or gamble on the horses. Some people would go out and buy an old car. I bought an old ship, but I suppose I could have got something smaller."

Pat is not yet suffering from cabin fever and has no definite plans for the cargo ship that was built in Norway in 1962.

If the vessel ever leaves port he intends to sail with it.

The businessman, who is chief executive of the Kildare property and construction company Clayborne Properties, has no maritime experience.

It was a love for steel and mechanics that attracted him to the vessel.

He believes the perfectly restored vessel would make a great nautical school and is willing to part with it if one of the national training bodies is interested.

If that doesn't happen he will keep his floating labour of love anchored until another clean-living captain comes along to take Stella on the high seas.