SHIPPING NEWS

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 14

SHIPPING NEWS

'’Royal Mail’ vessel at Lyttelton

CBi/

JOHN LESLIE)

More than 40 years ago, when merchant seamen spoke of the “Royal Mail,” they meant the great passenger and cargo liners of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company.

They also associated it with the late Lord Kylsant, whose financial misfortunes sped the company demise. In later years, the company became Royal Mau Lines, with traditional trade from Britain to South American (east coast) ports—a glittering array, including Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and more. The refrigerated cargo liner Durango (a Spanish riven is now ■ discharging at Cashin Quay 34aa ■ tons of Liverpool general cargo. . But most noticeable of all, she has a Royal Mail (buff) funnel. ' • Rarelv is such a one seen at , Lyttelton. The explanation is „: simple. The ramifications of slnp;l owning are today so involved that ships change ownership and: 'colour schemes as often as ; women change hats. This vessel. Lis none other than Shaw Savin, > and Albion’s motor-vessel Cymric. | 'She was last at Lyttelton under; ' her old name about 18 montlis ! ago. She is a sister of the Cedric,, f which was here last year. ■ But the Durango, as she is to-: 1 day. is under Shaw Savill: • “charter,” and flies the Shaw > Savill house flag. ' Only' a skeleton Royal Mail, Lines sendee exists today. This is I maintained between Britain and, > South America by three Shaw Savill cargo vessels—the Darro • (formerly Carnatic), Drina; t (formerly Cretic), and the Dur-, , ango, which is off her usual ' track. All three are well known. here. ,• Shaw Savill. Royal Mail and: others are under the over-all con- ; trol of Furness Withy. This is. common knowledge in maritime I circles. Thus, it is easy to switch, a vessel from one trade to another bv little more than a book 1 entry. Staff get mixed up today, l too. Captain J. Ferres, of the Durango, is a Furness Withyman, from Belfast. The chief officer, paying his first visit to j Lvttelton. is a Royal Mail man,| Mr D. Petty, of Leicestershire. |He said yesterday that the Durtango’s boat crew recently won: the Auckland Regatta’s race for I ships in port. There were seven I entries. Mr Petty said that the Durango. after completing discharge ; at Lyttelton, will load milk pow-| : der a Tauranga and Whangarei; for Peru (Callao and Mataranl). After this, she will return to the River Piate. Many Canterbury former ser'vicemen will recall the Royal. ’Mail Lines, magnificent liner | Andes, which took them overseas in her wartime troopship ! grey. Toda'-. Roval Mail has no l (passenger liners. In fact, the I token service is maintained bv. I the three “disguised” Shaw Savill I ,vessels mentioned, just to keep, the Royal Mail flag showing. Older seamen will recall the ; hevday of Royal Mall’s splendid liners Alcantara and her sister Asturias. Thev will recall, too. I the tragic sight of the lovely , liner Magdalena wrecked on her ■: maiden voyage at the entrance to II Rio de Janeiro. ,: The Durango, when she fin,l ishes her charter in Peru, will •' replace the Shaw Savill house ; flag with her once-proud Royal Mail house flag. An earlier Durango called at ' j Lyttelton many years ago. She L bad limited passenger aecommo- ; dation. But Royal Mail Lines ' ships are today almost a memory, j like so manv more. ARRIVALS Hawea (6.14 a.m.), 2926. Capt. , C. R. Gay, Dunedin. (U.S.S.). Rangatlra <6.42 am.). 9387. 1 Capt. J. D. Cleaver, Wellington. (U.S.S.).

Voce (7.3 a m.), 4722, Capt. B. Botica, Auckland. (Scales). Team Vesta (10.6 a.m.). 18,651, Capt. V. Bauge, Australia. (Scales). (Tanker). Marama (10.45 p.m.). 4510. Capt. C. J. Murphy, Auckland. (U.S.S.). DEPARTURES Kopionella (8.30 a.m ). 12,146, |j Timaru. (Shell). (Tanker). Hawea (6.14 p.m.l, 2926, Capt. 1 C. R. Gay, Wellington. (U.S.S.). 1 Maritime Brilliant (6.25 p.m.), j 15,913, Capt. Son Yong Rok, New Plymouth. (Kinsey). (Bulk). ’ Rangatlra (8.5 p.m.). 9387, t Capt. J. D. Cleaver. Wellington, t (U.S.S.I. EXPECTED ARRIVALS j Japan Rimu, Wellington, today.:, ! Wanaka, Dunedin, today. ~ | Rangatlra, Wellington. Febru-! 1 I ary 22. < 'Japan Totara, Wellington, Feb-,, ruary 23. (Sinkiang, Wellington. February I ( 23. t • Rangatlra, Wellington, February , ! Athelviscount. Wellington. Feb i ruary 24 (tanker). 'Coastal Trader. Auckland, Feb-': ruary 24. ■Union Sydney. Melbourne, Feb-!' rbary 25. |1 J Hupeh. Wellington. February 27. . : Golar Fruit, Auckland, February ( 27. ( I Australia Bear. Auckland), Feb ! I ruary 28. (L.A.S.H.). :/ 1 Atrevida, Wellington. February., 28. I PROJECTED DEPARTURES ‘ ! Marama, Melbourne, today. I' ; Team Vesta, Wellington, today. - (Tanker). < i Regen• Vanda. New Plymouth. today. (Bulk). 1 Wanaka. Wellington, today. ; Iberian Reefer. Napier, February <; 22. V I Rangatlra. Wellington. February j 22. (Daylight.) I ‘ Neptune. Bluff February 23. (bulk). Rangatlra, Wellington. February ' 23 I Coastal Trader. Dunedin, Feb- r ruary 24. Voce. , February 25. Athelviscount. Bluff February 25 I (tanker). Union Sydney. Wellington. Feb I ruary 25. ■ Medic, Bluff. February 26 Leuvre Lloyd, Timaru, February 26 ! Forresbank. Port Moresby. Feb ruary 26. I Japan Rimu, Dunedin. February 26. ! Sinkiang, Tauranga. February 26 ! Japan Totara, New Plymouth. i February 27 I Durango, Whangarei, February I 28. 1 Australia Bear, Lae, February I 28. (L.A.S.H.). i VESSELS IN PORT ( Durango, No. 1 Cashin Quav. ' Regent Vanda, No. 2 Cashin i Quay. Leuve Lloyd. No. 3 Cashin Quay. 1 Marama G.P.W. I Neptune, G.P.E. Medic. No 1 B.W : Iberian Reefer No. 4 West. J i Holmdale. No. 5 East (laid up' 1 Ngapara. No. 6 West 'laid up) t Voce. No. 7 East. . Forresbank. No. 7 West. Team Vesta. OU Wharf. I CONTAINERS ( Cargo from the following con-’, . tainers is now available in E shed: l< ACT 5: 2261. ACT 3: 2263. I 5C1U2128518. Columbus New Zea- , land, 19: 5UDU2130297. ' 1NTU2826387. Columbus Australia, I <18; 5UDU2149522. J