New line to be launched

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 6

New line to be launched

PA Wellington The millionaire Belgian shipowner, Mr T. V. Rosenfeld, will arrive in New Zealand this week to take part in the launching of a new New Zealand-controlled shipping venture.

Mr Rosenfeld, who controls 1.5 million tons of shipping in various parts of the world, was until recently sole owner of Maritime Carriers New Zealand, Ltd, an Auckland-based firm established to manage four ships on charter to the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd. Recently a major New Zealand firm, Waitaki-New Zealand Refrigerating, Ltd, bought a controlling interest in Maritime Carriers which will begin work in and

around New Zealand under its own name.

Maritime Carriers has two ships of the original four. The Union Company bought one and a second has left New Zealand.

The two ships are the former Union Australia, which has been renamed Waitaki, and the Union New Zealand, which will also be renamed. They are each of about 5300 tons deadweight and are ideal for bulk cargoes as well as for general cargo work. One of the ships is being converted to carry up to 80 standard containers and her lifting gear is being modified to lift standard 20ft units so that she will be able to load and discharge containers at ports which do not have quayside container cranes.