FORTY YEARS AT SEA
WELL-KNOWN SHIPMASTER RETIRING. CAPTAIN KEMPSON, OF THE ATHMIC. It is reported that Captain Charles H. Kempson, of the White Star liner Athenic, and one of the best known and most popular commanders in the ShawSavill passenger service, is about to retire from his active sea-going career* He is at present in New Zealand waters on what is understood to be his last voyage. On his return to England it is understood t that he Will take up the shore appointment of Marine Superintendent for the White Star Line at Plymouth. Few shipmasters in the ftew Zealand trado have had a longer or more successful career than Captain Kempson. Over forty years ago he started as cadet on board the Liverpool training-ship Conway, and later he served his sea-going apprenticeship in one of the sailing ships belonging to the White Star Line. After gaining his second officer's certificate he continued for a time in the firm's sailing ships, and then served as junior officer in several of the steamers. He was third officer of the Coptic in the early eighties, the late Captain E. J. Smith, of the ill-fated Titanic, being second officer. After serving Borne time in the White Star mail steamers between San Francisco and China, Cap* tain Kempson was engaged in the New Zealand trade as an officer in the Coptic. When Captain Bence, of that steamer, died on the passage to London, Captain Kempson, who was then chief officer, took command. In 1902 the Athenic, the first of the three big 12,000 ton liners built by the White Star line for tho New Zealand trade, was commissioned, and Captain Kempson, who was then in command of the Runic in the Australian trade, was appointed commander of the new ship. How successful his career in that vessel i »c» c , n *? cvid enced by the fact that the- Athenic, which has been trading constantly between London arid New Zealand for twelve years, and is now on | her 27th round voyage, has never met, with a single accident, . and has never had an.y other commander during that long uenoil. As master of the Athenic. I^PJSti?, Xcm P stin has travelled over 600,000 khots between London and New Zealand, and has carried many.-thou-
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 12, 15 January 1913, Page 7
Word Count
377FORTY YEARS AT SEA Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 12, 15 January 1913, Page 7
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