Danish Vessel, Morelia, At Lyttelton

Press, Volume C, Issue 29566, 15 July 1961, Page 15

Danish Vessel, Morelia, At Lyttelton

The third ship of the East Asiatic Company's merchant fleet to call at Lyttelton since last September is the Morelia (8437 tons), commanded by Captain E. J. Prause, of Copenhagen. The Morelia, which carries 12 passengers, and is now discharging Continental cargo at Lyttelton, is one of 40 ships owned by this famous Danish company, which also operates five oil tankers.

The Morelia has already called at Auckland, Mount Maunganui. Napier, Wellington, and Nelson and after discharge here will proceed

to Dunedin and Bluff, after which she will load in Australia for Europe Nearly all thb vessels of the East Asiatic Company carry some passengers. At present, the Morelia has aboard an American couple who are making a quiet round trip. Officers and crew number 42. all being Danish. Captain Prause. who spent some of the war years In the service of allied shipping, including British vessels, when Denmark was occupied, was trained in the East Asiatic Company. He recalled yesterday that he had served

part of his apprenticeship aboard the 30-year-old motor-vessel, India, of the sdme line. The handsome India, which was in Lyttelton last February, attracted much favourable comment at the time.

Another vessel of the same line, the Samoa, called at Lyttelton last September. Recently, the Morelia has been trading to the Far East, but the ships of the East Asiatic Company have been operating a service for many years to Australasian ports. It is expected that the Morelia will sail for Dunedin today.