A photo of M/V Treasure Lady showing stern ramp in front of the government warehouse at Potter’s Cay Dock, Nassau, probably taken from the original Paradise Island Bridge. Photo by Capt. Calum Legget c. 2000.
MAILBOAT NAME: M/V Treasure Lady
PAST NAMES: M/V Tar Heel V built in 1981 as hull #77 under this name – supposedly until March 2010, however it is likely it became Treasure Lady by 1995.
DIMENSIONS: 320 gross tons (GT), IMO # 8971360
CONSTRUCTION: by Scully Brothers Boat Builders, Morgan City, Louisiana USA
YEAR BUILT: 1981
EARLY CAREER: most likely in the US Gulf for its original intended purpose as an offshore supply vessel (OSV)
BAHAMAS CAREER: Traded to Rum Cay and San Salvador from Nassau, per below. It appears it was sold to Bahamian operators in 1997 and then sold to undisclosed interests in 2012. Though listed as presently active, I find no record of her trading in 2014.
CAPTAINS: not known
FATE: not known, sold out of Bahamian ownership in February 2012
OWNERS: not known
NOTES: aside from the photo, little is known about this vessel’s Bahamian career which appears to have spanned 17 years from 1995 to 2012.
A CV/Resume from a Honduran sailor posted on line lists his employment on the “Treasure Lady” from 1995 to 1999, suggesting the boat traded in the Bahamas during that time, though she might also have been in Honduras. However he jumped on to Treasure Lady from the Lady Roslyn, which is another Bahamian mailboat. The rentry in relevant part reads:
1995-1999: Treasure Lady, Discontinued
1989-1995: Lady Roselyn, Discontinued
1989-1995: Lady Roselyn, Discontinued
This would suggest that the Treasure Lady only traded in the Bahamas till 1999, however both vessels continued and the Lady Roslyn trades today. Also the news item below shows that the Treasure Lady was serving Rum Cay & San Salvador in 2001.
http://www.maritimeemployment.com/employer/resume.asp?resume_id=34896
This little snippet from the “Rum Cay Herald” confirms that the Treasure Lady served that island at least from San Salvador for the “Rum Cay Day” which is like “homecoming”.
RUM CAY DAY 2001 is rapidly approaching (it falls on Friday, 23 February this year). So our relatives, friends and neighbors in NASSAU and SAN SALVADOR should be alerted.
– HEAR YE! HEAR YE! The good ships Sea Hauler and Treasure Lady are scheduled to run excursions for the festive day from their respective home ports.
Details concerning Sea Hauler’s voyage, such as time of departure from Potter’s Cay, etc. are not available at press time. Those wishing to make the trip should contact Daphne – Scott, Jane Taylor or Simeon Kelly for tickets, times and details. Treasure Lady plans to sail from San Sal at six o’clock on Friday morning, expecting to arrive at Rum Cay by about 938. After all the festivities of the gala day are completed, she will depart the Port Nelson pier about 5.30, expecting to reach home by 9:00.
Those San Salvadorans wishing to celebrate the occasion with your neighbors across the briny may purchase round-trip tickets for the voyage from either Raymond Jones or Van Knowles. Rum Cay anticipates many friends and relatives from San Sal to complete the conviviality of our holiday making. We would truly miss you if you failed to get aboard for the jovial voyage and festivities.
Source: 24 January 2001, Vol. 5, Number 1 by publisher Jennifer Maycock and Editor D. B. Melville, http://www.rumcayherald.com/herald/all%20herald.pdf
Sources: http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/5small/inactive/scully.htm
http://maritime-connector.com/ship/treasure-lady-8971360/