The rise of the Port Star Line

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33870, 16 June 1975, Page 14

The rise of the Port Star Line

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JOHN LESLIE)

The casual announcement of the launching of the Blue Star Line’s new conventional refrigerated cargo liner Avelona Star, from Smith’s Dock. ; Middlesborough, would have evoked nostalgic memories for older seafarers. More than 40 years ago, the writer, aboard the New Zealand Shipping Company's earlier passenger liner Ruahine, watched the Sultan Star or the Tuscan Star (it is a • long time now) sail down the Royal Albert Dock for New Zealand. She was, and Lord Vestey was too, regarded as something of an intruder into New Zealand [trade. ! This feeling, originating 'from the management of the powerful New Zealand Shipping Company, permeated right through its staff, ashore and afloat. Yet this very company, which in spite of its name employed ;so few seagoing New - Zealanders, had in the previous [century forced “Paddy” Henderson’s Albion Line and Shaw - , Savill to merge, in (self-defence. But while the rather austere and even exI cusive New' Zealand Shipping Company regarded the Blue Star Line as an intruder, it was not alone. A great rival — now i Shaw, Savill, and Albion, Ltd — and also the newer , Port Line — also a product I of amalgamation — were apprehensive, too. They had good reason to be. Any mention of the Blue Star Line was frowned on. It was! sometimes referred to con-, descendingly as “the butch- 1 er’s shipping line.” Yet today, only Shaw, Savill retains any great individuality, in substance, in this trade. The Port Line is down to nine conventional vessels at last count. The splendid New Zealand Shipping Company is “buried” inside the P and O, and the proud house flag has gone.! But even Shaw, Savill, | which is itself a subsidiary [ lof the huge Furness Withy j Group, has on present information no plan for building further (conventional) ships. ! Does this mean extinction i ! eventually? We must not I forget, however, that all these major companies are themselves, interwoven, aligned, and intermarried, in mysterious, complicated ways, to form the over-all container pattern. But it is conventional shipping, surprisingly, that the Blue Star Line is still developing. i The original British Conference Group comprised the New Zealand Shipping Company; Shaw, Savill, and Albion; the Port Line; and the Blue Star Line. Today, the “intruder” Blue Star Line is! still in the conventional i shipbuilding game. The others are not. The “intruder” of 1933 has outlasted them all. The Blue Star Line had its! 1 origins in the great Vestey meat empire, hence the sobriquet “butcher’s shipping line.” Older seamen will recall the great Blue Star passenger liners of the past.

(engaged in the South Amori can tade. What a splendid sight they made in London's huge Royal Albert Dock ot the River Plate. What great "'meat waggons” they were, with luxurious passenger accommodation for discriminating South Americans. Fheit names now pepetuated stn memories — Avila Star. Andalucia Star, and (last week) Avelona Star. For a "butcher s shipping line," the Blue Star Line has done rather well. Moreovet, the company has reputedly the most attractive funnel design in the w'orld — so much so that an American group is said to have offered slm for the copyright « ARRIVALS Saturday Rangatira <7.JO am.). 9387, Capt. J. D, Cleaver. Wellington iL.S.S.i. Sunday Rangatra 710 am). 9387, Capt J D. Cleaver. Wellington (U.S.S.I. llolmdale <8.4 a.mJ. 911, Capt I. W. Sheales, Chatham Islands tU.S.Sj. DEPARTURES Saturday Rangatira 19.5 a m J, 9387. < apt. J. D. Cleaver. Wellington <V.S S i, (Daylight.) Sunday Rangatira <8.7 p.m i. 9387. Capt. .1. D, Cleaver. Wellington (U.S.S.I. EXPECTED ARRIVALS Coastal Trader, Auckland, lodai. Grand Opal. Christmas Island today ibulki. Woosung. Wellington. June 17. Menam. Wellington, June 17. Union Sydney, Dunedin. June 17. Rangatira. Wellington. June 17 Straat t'olombo. Dunedin. Jime 18. Somerset. Auckland. June 19 Natko Nodilo. Dunedin. June 19. Strath Local. Wellington. June 20. Amalric. Noumea. June 20. Paioh Maru, Japan. June 21. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Coastal Trader Dunedin, todax Union Svdney. Wellington. June 17. Rangatira. Wellington. June 17. Jlolmdale, . June 18 Woosung. Tauranga. June 19. VESSELS IN PORT Soochow. No. 1 B.W. llolmdale. No. 3 East. Vienne. No. 3 West. Vishva Bindu. No. 7 West.