I have to confess . . . come clean . . . I have a drinking habit, and the vessel below contributes to it.

Vessel name is Orange Star, ex-Fife and originally Andalucia Star when launched in 1975 on the River Tees as a Blue Star reefer.  Maybe my habit predisposes me to think her lines beautiful, colors perfect,  sheer excitingly dramatic, appearing smaller than her 580′ LOA.  Laura K. Moran escorts her out to sea lest her elegance overcome imbibing shorefolk like myself.

Further self-disclosure … my beverage of choice is orange juice, and . . .

at least twice a month, Orange Star sails into Port Newark to pipe off her delectable liquid.  For more on the intriguing history of this tanker–spanning apartheid boycotts and the Falklands War–see links here and here.

Here’s a description of cargo handling in a similar vessel, Orange Blossom.  Next time you indulge in this drink, check the provenance info on back of the carton.  And threats to Florida’s oranges, here.  And where 48% of the world’s OJ comes from?

Photos, WVD.