UNION STEAM SHIP CO.

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24983, 18 September 1946, Page 5

UNION STEAM SHIP CO.

EXPANSION OF FLEET PLANNED MONOWAI TO ENTER TASMAN SERVICE (P.A.) AUCKLAND, September 17. Plans for a great expansion of the fleet of the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., to meet the post-war demands on the Dominion coast, and the intercolonial, Pacific, and Eastern trade and to replace war losses, were announced by its managing-director, Mr J. N. Greenland, on his return to Auckland from a visit to Britain and North America. Mr Greenland said it was proposed to build a new Tasman liner, but a shortage of berths in British yards was delaying the matter. As vicepresident of the Canadian-Australas-ian Line he had discussed the replacement of the lost Niagara with the line’s chairman, Mr D. C. Coleman, in Canada. This was receiving close consideration, but many difficulties were being faced. In the meantime, the Tasman service would be maintained by the Monowai, which would be ready in from nine months to a year after reconversion at Sydney from war accommodation. The liner would be entirely redesigned internally. The Canadian-Australasian liner Aorangi, also, refitting at Sydney, would be ready for service by June.

Orders had been placed in Britain for the construction of eight cargo ships for the company’s intercolonial and coastal services. There were three 6000 tons gross motorrships—the Komata, which was to have been launched to-day, the Koromiko, to be delivered in October, 1947, and the Kaitoke, to be delivered in May, 1948. Four 3000-ton motor-ships were the Kaitangata, to be ready in October, 1947, the Konui, in December, 1947, the Kaitawa, in July, 1948, and the Kaiapoi, in September, 1948. One 2000-ton vessel wa« the Kamona, to be delivered in October, 1946. These ships were in addition to the new ferry, Hinemoa, and the 3000-ton oilburning steamer, Kaimanawa. The Kaimanawa was built in 1944 and was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport. From Canada the company had recently purchased the 10,000-ton oilburning steamer Waitemata, a cargo vessel with good accommodation for 12 passengers. She would be delivered next month.

Mr Greenland stated that negotiations had been proceeding in Washington for the purchase of two 10,000ton 15-knot Liberty ships, one of which would be used in the Pacific service, and the second vlould run with the Narbada, developing the export trade to Java, Singapore, and India, a trade maintained by the company for 62 years. Mr Greenland said that, with four Canadian Government ships recently purchased., by the Canadian-Aus-tralasian Line, the Kaimanawa, and a Liberty ship, the company would have interests in six freighters in the Pacific service. He expected very extreme competition on this trade, and although he thought his company would have sufficient ships, it was prepared to continue its policy of chartering vessels from the English market.