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MV Benguela Stream has carried enough bananas for everyone in Britain to have 36 each has celebrated the start of her 100th voyage.

She set sail for the Caribbean this week (Tuesday, September 15) after a ceremony to mark the occasion at Albert Johnson Quay in Portsmouth.

A celebration lunch was held aboard the Dutch-registered 150m vessel and the company’s Financial Director Chris Roberts presented a commemorative plaque to her new Captain, Paul Hagendoorn and previous Captain, Arno Durkstra.

In her 100 round trips for Geest Line the 9,300-tonne Bengeula Stream has transported 2.3 billion bananas and travelled more than a million miles – equal to more than 400 times around the world. Geest Line has been the premier cargo shipping company linking Europe and the Caribbean for more than 60 years.

Mr Roberts said: “I am delighted that Bengeula Stream has reached this landmark. She was purpose-built for the ocean transport of perishable cargo and that she carries out this role perfectly is testament to the expertise of her 20 crew and Geest Line staff.

“She is versatile and absolutely suits Geest Line’s needs. She has a big capacity in four temperature-controlled holds, a highest speed of 21 knots and only needs to refuel in Portsmouth.

“I must emphasise that Geest Line is about much more than just bananas. We pride ourselves at the company on the diversity of the products and cargo we carry – any break bulk cargo from personal effects and furniture on pallets to race horses and supplies for major cruise ships in the Caribbean.”

Benguela Stream, fitted with her own crane, can carry 324 20-foot containers and, unusually for a major shipping line, will also accommodate 10-foot containersBengeula Stream’s 28-day round voyage takes in Le Havre, Martinique, Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Antigua, St Kitts and the Dominican Republic – carrying freight to the Eastern Caribbean, operating inter-island services and returning across the Atlantic laden with millions of bananas and other tropical fruit.

She is one of four similar specialist refrigeration ships on charter by Geest Line from Dutch company Seatrade since 2008. That charter has just been extended to December 2017. Sister vessel Klipper Stream completed her 100th voyage last month (August) with Timor Stream and Agulhas Stream to follow suit in the next few months as Geest cements its position as the only shipping line sailing direct from the UK to Eastern Caribbean with no transhipment.

On August 24, 2015, Tropical Storm Erika caused devastating loss of life and destruction of property on the island of Dominica. Geest Line has a long and proud association with this beautiful and resilient country and we would like to convey sincere condolences to the people of Dominica for the heavy toll that the storm has taken.

12 inches of rain fell within in just a 12-hour period, flooding and mudslides washed away infrastructure and property on the island-nation of approximately 72,000 people. Today there are significant numbers of displaced people who have lost their homes, and many communities remain inaccessible as a result of destruction to roads and bridges.

A full assessment of the impact of the storm can be found here https://www.cdema.org/

On behalf of the people of Dominica Geest Line would like to make you aware that it is possible for you to help.

You can send Donations to:

Cash donations can be made to the Red Cross of Dominica (where you can also view more photographs of the distruction) https://www.youcaring.com/red-cross-of-dominica-421257

You can send Goods by shipping them to:

Items most needed are as follows:

Bradfest is an annual open air live music event which takes place in the grounds of Woodlands Park, Otterbourne near Winchester.

On the 14th June 2000, Bradley was tragically killed in a road accident near his home in Hampshire, just four days after his 9th birthday. Bradley’s Foundation was formed by Tina and Gary Dine with some close friends to commemorate Bradley’s 21st birthday on the 10th June 2012. This year the one-day festival raised £12,000 for cancer charities which included the Teenage Cancer Trust appeal.

BBC DJ Nelson topped a bill on Saturday 05 September 2015, which also included Southampton songstress Charley Macaulay, pop singer Danielle May and indie rockers The Novatones, fresh from local Hampshire sets at Common People and Blissfields this summer.

Geest Line have proudly sponsored this charity since it’s birth and has provided limitless time and effort to help support the cause. MD Peter Dixon says: “Geest Line have been delighted to support Bradley’s Foundation for the last three years and to see the success in raising funds in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. It is always a challenge keeping large amounts of food and refreshments cool at such events and our 40 Foot Refrigerator (in the form of a Geest Line Reefer Container) performed the task admirably!”

We are delighted to see the success of Bradfest and look forward to future events.