Wikipedia

Australian National Line

Australian National Line (ANL) was a coastal shipping line established by the Government of Australia in 1956. It was sold in 1998 by the Howard government to CMA CGM.

Australian National Line
IndustryMaritime transport
Founded1 October 1956
Headquarters
Melbourne
,
Australia
ParentCMA CGM
Websitewww.anl.com.au

History

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In 1957 the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission took over all 13 of the "A"-class cargo steamships that had been built for the Australian Government in the 1940s. This is River Loddon, which remained in the fleet until 1963.

Australian National Line was formed on 1 October 1956 as the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission with the passing of the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission Act.[1] The organisation took about forty ships previously operated by the Australian Shipping Board, which had been formed in 1946 by the Australian Federal Government.[2]

In March 1969, ANL commenced operating services to Japan in a joint venture with K Line.[3][4][5]

In 1974, the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission was renamed the Australian Shipping Commission in recognition of its international role, it continued to trade as ANL.[6][7]

The Australian National Line was an early member of the Australian Shipping and Defence Council (now the Australian Maritime Defence Council) which was established by the Government of Australia in 1982.[citation needed]

Privatisation

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ANL was converted into a public company in 1989 via the ANL (Conversion into Public Company) Act 1988,[8] although it initially remained government-owned. In 1991, the Hawke government announced its intention to privatise ANL following poor financial performance. The Keating government passed the ANL Guarantee Act 1994 and commenced a restructuring of ANL in 1995 to prepare for its eventual sale.[9]

In 1998, the Howard government sold ANL's liner shipping business and intellectual property to ANL Container Line Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of French conglomerate Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM).[10] Its bulk shipping business was sold to AUSCAN Self-Unloaders Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Canada Steamship Lines, while residual assets were held by the Australian River Company Limited which was eventually wound up in 2015.[9]

Services

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Historical

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The company entered the ferry business in 1959, when Tasmanian Steamers announced that it would be withdrawing from the Bass Strait. Its ship the Taroona was becoming totally inadequate, only being able to carry 30 cars, which had to be lifted aboard. As no replacement was available, the Federal Government decided that the Australian National Line should take over, and it would be provided with a subsidy with an order placed with the State Dockyard, Newcastle. The new ship was named Princess of Tasmania, was the first roll on/roll off ferry in the southern hemisphere and the largest. She entered the Melbourne — Devonport route on 23 September 1959. The new ship and route were such a success for the ANL ordered a cargo only ship, to be named Bass Trader [citation needed].

With the passenger numbers going so well on the Princess of Tasmania and cargo going very well also, ANL decided that a regular passenger service from Sydney to Hobart should be re-established. An order was placed with Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company. The new ship was christened Empress of Australia on 18 January 1964. Empress of Australia made her maiden voyage from Sydney to Hobart on 16 January 1965. The Empress of Australia operated from Sydney to Hobart and Sydney to Bell Bay/Burnie and back [citation needed].

With the Princess of Tasmania going so well out of Melbourne, there needed to be more capacity on the route, so ANL ordered a new ship to be built at the State Dockyard. The new ship would be bigger, with smaller passenger capacity but more cargo space, an early example of the Ro/Pax concept. The new ship was launched on 17 February 1969 as the Australian Trader. On 24 June 1969, Australian Trader set out on her maiden voyage to Devonport. The new ship operated a rotation between Bell Bay, Devonport and Burnie [citation needed].

On 27 June 1972 Princess of Tasmania left Devonport for the final time. ANL sold her to Bahamarine, Nassau and she left Australia on 7 October 1972. When the Princess of Tasmania left the route the Australian Trader swapped with her, and Empress of Australia replaced the Princess of Tasmania on the Melbourne — Devonport trade.

ANL were involved in the 1975 Tasman Bridge disaster in Hobart, Tasmania, as the owner/operator of the Lake Illawarra, the bulk carrier which collided with the bridge, and consequently sank.

ANL announced that Australian Trader would be withdrawn from service, being replaced by a new freight only ship named Bass Trader.

On the final arrival of the Australian Trader in Bell Bay the crew went on strike. The ship remained idle there for two months. Finally on 24 September 1976 they gave up and she sailed to Sydney, laid-up and was offered for sale. The sale was completed on 16 January 1977 to the Royal Australian Navy as a training ship.

In 1983 the Tasmanian government were seeking from the Federal Government funds to charter a supplementary ship, being either Scotia Prince, St Patrick II, Stena Baltica or Odysseus Elytis. This was rejected.

In 1984 ANL announced that it would not be continuing in the ferry business, and the Empress of Australia would be withdrawn in 1985 and sold. This was then put into the hands of the Tasmanian Government which subsequently formed the TT-Line with the Federal Government agreeing to buy a ship.

The ceasing of the ANL's involvement in the passenger trade allowed it to concentrate solely on bulk freight and cargo. In December 1998, CMA CGM bought ANL's container shipping business and trading name from the Federal Government.[11]

Commercially, ANL still operates the more traditional north–south directional trades, plus nearly 20 relatively new east–west directional trades riding on the services of its parent — CMA CGM.

Fleet summary

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This is a list of ships owned or operated by ANL between its formation in 1956 and privatisation in 1998.

Name Type Entered ANL service Left ANL service Disposition Fate
Baralga General cargo February 1957 1972 Sold to Nilmore Scrapped 1980
Bilkurra General cargo February 1957 1969 Sold to Malaysian International Shipping Scrapped 1974
Binburra General cargo February 1957 1969 Sold to Malaysian International Shipping Scrapped 1974
Boonaroo General cargo March 1957 January 1971 Sold to Collin Navigation Co Scrapped 1985
Bulwarra General cargo March 1958 January 1971 Sold to Collin Navigation Co Ran aground off Keelung and broke apart on 22 October 1971, total loss
Dalby General cargo January 1958 October 1969 Sold to Cronulla Cia Nav Ran aground off Keelung on 14 November 1971, abandoned as total loss
Dandenong General cargo 1957 1960 Sold to Jones Brothers Coal Scrapped 1971
Daylesford General cargo 1957 1960 Sold to Fung Shing Navigation Co Scrapped 1972
Delungra General cargo November 1957 April 1960 Sold to H & S Credits Scrapped 1974
Denman General cargo March 1957 1965 Sold to Eddie Steamships (Philippines) Scrapped 1970
Dubbo General cargo March 1957 May 1965 Sold to Australia Pacific Co (Hong Kong) Scrapped 1969
Edenhope General cargo February 1957 October 1965 Sold to Bougainville Trading Co Scrapped 1979
Elmore General cargo February 1957 January 1965 Sold to John Burke Scrapped 1987
Enfield General cargo February 1957 January 1965 Sold to Legaspi Oil Co Deregistered 2008 in Manila, Philippines. Still afloat.
Eugowra General cargo February 1957 June 1969 Sold to Pacific Islands Shipping Co Scrapped 1974
Euroa General cargo February 1957 March 1969 Sold to Keith Hollands Shipping Co Scrapped 1980
Inyula Bulk carrier February 1957 September 1975 Sold to Octamaris Maritime Corporation Sank in the Black Sea December 1977 in bad weather
Lake Barrine Bulk carrier February 1957 October 1975 Sold to Drillships Scrapped 1982
Lake Eyre Bulk carrier February 1957 February 1973 Sold to Century Shipping Lines (Hong Kong) Scrapped 1975
Nilpina General cargo February 1957 June 1971 Sold to Simanggang Sawmill Co Sank off Little Andaman Island on 22 June 1985.
Noongah General cargo February 1957 25 August 1969 - Sank off Smoky Cape in heavy seas with the loss of 21 crew
Ransdorp Tanker March 1957 May 1958 Sold to Dent & Graham Sank in the Tasman Sea on 18 March 1961
River Burdekin General cargo March 1957 1959 Sold to Indonesian government Scrapped 1971
River Burnett General cargo March 1957 April 1965 Sold to Australine Shipping Co Scrapped 1973
River Clarence General cargo March 1957 1960 Sold to World-Wide SS Co Scrapped 1968
River Derwent General cargo January 1957 April 1959 Interstate Steamships Ran aground during Typhoon Wanda, refloated and scrapped 1962
River Fitzroy General cargo March 1957 March 1963 Sold to Amakasu Sangyo Kisen K K Scrapped March 1963
River Glenelg General cargo March 1957 October 1960 Sold to Hang Fung Shipping & Trading Co Scrapped January 1963
River Hunter General cargo February 1957 July 1959 Sold to Albert Sims Scrapped 1960
River Loddon General cargo March 1957 March 1963 Sold to Amakasu Sangyo Kisen K K Scrapped March 1963
River Mitta General cargo March 1957 July 1959 Sold to Hang Fung Shipping & Trading Co Scrapped 1959
River Murchison General cargo February 1957 February 1963 Sold to Amakasu Sangyo Kisen K K Scrapped March 1963
River Murray General cargo March 1957 August 1959 Sold to Albert Sims Scrapped 1959
River Murrumbidgee General cargo March 1957 January 1963 Sold to Amakasu Sangyo Kisen K K Scrapped March 1963
River Norman General cargo February 1957 1959 Sold to Wallem & Co Ran aground during Typhoon Wanda, refloated and scrapped 1962
Talinga Bulk carrier February 1957 July 1970 Sold to Elios Compania Navigation Ran aground during Typhoon Rose, refloated and scrapped 1972
Timbarra Bulk carrier February 1957 January 1969 Sold to Montauk Maritime Scrapped 1973
Tyalla Bulk carrier March 1957 May 1957 Sold to Cambray Prince Steamship Co Formerly repair ship HMS Dullisk Cove. Scrapped 1962
Wangara General cargo March 1957 October 1966 Sold to Western Australian Coastal Shipping Commission Comveryed to a barge 1983
Windarra General cargo April 1957 October 1970 Sold to Collin Navigation Co Scrapped 1980
Yanderra Bulk carrier February 1957 November 1970 Sold to Collin Navigation Co Scrapped 1976
Yarrunga Bulk carrier February 1957 December 1971 Sold to Corona Navigation Co Sank in the Persian Gulf 4 May 1975 after cargo caught fire
Iranda Bulk carrier 1957 August 1977 Sold to Jollyboat Scrapped 1982
North Esk General cargo 1957 June 1979 Sold to West Pacific Shipping Scrapped 1984
Lake Boga Bulk carrier 1957 29 March 1978 Sold to International Activity Shipping & Investment Co Scrapped 1984
Lake Boga Bulk carrier 1957 January 1978 Sold to Tien Tai Shipping Co Scrapped May 1978
Illowra Bulk carrier 1957 June 1970 Sold to Athenmar Shipping Co Scrapped 1982
Lake Illawarra Bulk carrier 1958 5 January 1975 - Sank after colliding with the Tasman Bridge
Lake Colac General cargo 1958 1978 Sold to Maliac Shipping Corporation Scrapped 1979
Lake Macquarie Bulk carrier 1958 January 1979 Sold to Project and Services Scrapped 1982
South Esk General cargo 1959 December 1972 Sold to Eastern Shipping Lines Sank in the South China Sea on 16 February 1980
Lake Macquarie Bulk carrier 1959 June 1979 Sold to Bluewater Bay Maritime Scrapped 1981
Princess of Tasmania Passenger and roll-on/roll-off September 1959[12] December 1972 Sold to Bahamarine Scrapped 2005
Mount Keira Ore carrier 1960 June 1976 Sold to Agile Shipping Co Scrapped 1983
Mount Kembla Ore carrier 1960 June 1973 Sold to Drillships Scrapped 1988
Bass Trader (1st) Roll-on/roll-off 1961[13] April 1975 Sold to Halley Enterprise Shipping Co, Panama as Halley[13] Scrapped 1984
Merino General cargo October 1963 December 1964 Sold to Carpentaria Holdings Scuttled in the Arafura Sea on 17 December 1986
Jeparit General and bulk cargo 1964 September 1979 Sold to Massis Charity Shipping Co Scrapped 1993
Musgrave Range Ore carrier November 1964 June 1977 Sold to Zea Shipping Co Scrapped 1983
Empress of Australia Passenger and roll-on/roll-off January 1965[14] 1985 Sold to Sun Cruises Maritime Sank in the Strait of Malacca on 23 August 1992
Darling River Bulk carrier 1966 February 1979 Sold to Malcome Collins Scrapped June 1979
Australian Trader (1st) Passenger and roll-on/roll-off 1969 January 1977 Sold to the Royal Australian Navy Scrapped 2004
Australian Enterprise (1st) Container and roll-on/roll-off 1969 1 January 1986 - Scrapped 1986
Australian Endeavour (1st) Container 1969[15] 1 June 1985 - Scrapped 1985
Brisbane Trader Container and roll-on/roll-off 1969[16] 10 December 1986 Sold to Mastrogiorgis Shipping Co Scrapped 2010
Sydney Trader Container and roll-on/roll-off 1969[16] 1984 - Scrapped 1984
Tolga Bulk carrier October 1969 (leased) 1983 Returned to Arctic Shipping Co Scrapped 1994
Yarra River Bulk carrier 1970 1982 - Scrapped 1982
’‘Townsville Trader Container and roll-on/roll-off 1970[16] November 1984 - Scrapped 1984
Darwin Trader Container and bulk carrier 1970 1998 - Still in service
Echuca Container 1971 July 1976 Sold to Wan Hai Steamship Co Still in service
Allunga Container and roll-on/roll-off 1971 1986 - Scrapped 1986
Mount Newman Bulk carrier 1973 (chartered) 1981 Returned to Pacific Maritime Services Scrapped 1996
Alnwick Castle Bulk carrier 1974 (leased) June 1981 Returned to Ben Line Scrapped 1996
Tambo River Bulk carrier 1972 (chartered) September 1979 Returned to Northern Bulk Carriers Scrapped 1998
MSC Australian Exporter Container July 1972 (leased) 1990 Returned to Mediterranean Shipping Co Scrapped 1999
Lysaght Endeavour Roll-on/roll-off 1973 10 June 1987 - Scrapped 1987
Lysaght Enterprise Roll-on/roll-off 1973[17] 1987 - Scrapped February 1987
Australian Emblem Container and roll-on/roll-off 1974[18](leased) 17 April 1988 Returned to Kawasaki Heavy Industries Scrapped 1997
Melbourne Trader Roll-on/roll-off January 1975[19] 1988 Sold to Bulk Enterprise Still in service
MSC Australian Explorer Container April 1975 1986 - Scrapped 1986
Stirling Range Bulk carrier April 1975 March 1980 Sold to Antigoni Shipping Co Sunk 21 November 1983 in the Iran–Iraq War
Australian Escort Container and roll-on/roll-off January 1976 1989 - Renamed Anro Melbourne
Bass Trader (2nd) Roll-on/roll-off 1976[20] 1997 Sold to Strintzis Lines Still in service
Australian Pioneer Bulk carrier August 1976 1986 Sold to Shanghai Ocean Shipping Co Still in service
Australian Prospector Bulk carrier December 1976 July 1979 Sold to Trikappa Scrapped 1999
Australian Venture Container 1976[21] December 1996 Sold to Lavicer Investments Corp Scrapped 2006
Anro Australia Container February 1977 1997 Sold to Ruby Enterprises Scrapped June 1997
Flinders Range Bulk carrier 1977[22] 2 January 1987 Sold to China Shipping Group Still in service
Australian Purpose Bulk carrier December 1977 June 1979 Sold to Lavicer Investments Corp Scrapped 2006
Lake Barrine Bulk carrier 1978 1986 Sold to Societe Mo Car Still in service
Lake Eildon Bulk carrier 1978 1985 Sold to Queensland Lime & Cement Scrapped 2008
Lake Eyre Bulk carrier 1978 1984 Sold to Julia Shipping Still in service
Lake Hume Bulk carrier January 1979 1986 Sold to Clarry Shipping Still in service
Australian Progress Bulk carrier February 1979 1991 Sold to Treasure Sea Shipping Scrapped 2002
Selwyn Range Bulk carrier July 1979 1990 Sold to CSL Pacific Still in service
Cape Hawke Bulk carrier 1981 (leased) December 1986 Returned to British Phosphate Commission Scrapped 1987
Baron Murray Bulk carrier August 1981 (leased) 1987 Returned to Otway Shipping Co Scrapped 2003
Cape Otway Bulk carrier August 1981 (leased) 1987 Returned to British Phosphate Commission Scrapped 2008
River Boyne Ore carrier 1982 - - Still in service
River Embley Ore carrier 1983 - - Still in service
River Yarra Ore carrier 1984 2002 Sold to Canada Steamship Lines Still in service
Australian Trader (2nd) Container 1 February 1985 19 January 1997 Sold to Hub Line Still in service
Australian Advance Container 1986 (leased) 1988 Returned to United Arab Shipping Co Still in service
Tranztas Trader General cargo 1989 1998 Sold to Littleton Services Sank off Vietnam on 16 December 2010
Anro Melbourne Container and roll-on/roll-off 1989 1992 Sold to Plixia Trading Scrapped 1998
Australian Searoad Roll-on/roll-off 1989 1994 Returned to Pacific Intercontinental Co Still in service
Australian Express General cargo 6 September 1989 (leased) 3 February 1990 Returned to Nanyuan Shipping Still in service
Australian Endeavour (2nd) Container 1991 - - Still in service as ANL Australia
Australian Endurance Container 1991 1996 Sold to Koala Shipping Still in service
Australian Enterprise (2nd) Container 1997 - - Still in service as ANL Explorer

See also

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  • Commonwealth Line, another government-owned shipping company in operation between 1916 and 1928

References

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  • Ferry to Tasmania, a short History by Peter Plowman, ISBN 1-877058-27-0.
  1. ^ "Corporate entry: Australian Coastal Shipping Commission". Australian Science at Work. austehc.unimelb.edu.au. Archived from the original on 14 August 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  2. ^ "Corporate entry: Australian Shipping Board". Australian Science at Work. austehc.unimelb.edu.au. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  3. ^ Joint Japan, Australia shipping line in 1969 Canberra Times 5 November 1967 page 1
  4. ^ ANL joins with K Line in Aust-Japan trade Freight & Container Transportation January 1968 page 13
  5. ^ ANL enters overseas trade Freight & Container Transportation June 1969 pages 27, 42
  6. ^ Name Change Australian Transport January 1975 page 37
  7. ^ "Corporate entry: Australian Shipping Commission". Australian Science at Work. austehc.unimelb.edu.au. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  8. ^ "Corporate entry: Australian National Line (ANL) Limited". Australian Science at Work. austehc.unimelb.edu.au. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  9. ^ a b Ramesh, Kaushik (11 October 2019). "ANL Legislation Repeal Bill 2019" (PDF). Bills Digest. Vol. 40. Department of Parliamentary Services.
  10. ^ "ANL - About Us". Anl.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  11. ^ 1998 – 1999: CMA CGM goes global CMA CGM
  12. ^ MS Princess of Tasmania International Railway Journal November 1960 page 26
  13. ^ a b Andrews, Graeme (1980). A Log of Great Australian Ships. Terry Hills: AH & AW Reed. p. 23. ISBN 0-589-50202-6.
  14. ^ MS Empress of Australia Australian Transport April 1965 pages 45-47
  15. ^ Australian Endeavour welcomed at Fremantle by Federal Minister Beverley Times 19 September 1969 page 4
  16. ^ a b c Searoad vessel named Freight & Container Transportation February 1969 page 12
  17. ^ ANL vehicle deck ships for steel traffic Freight & Container Transportation November 1972 page 12
  18. ^ ANL ship to be launched in Japan this month Freight & Container Transportation August 1974 page 37
  19. ^ New ANL Vessel Australian Transport March 1975 page 41
  20. ^ MV Bass Trader II Australian Transport February 1976 page 22
  21. ^ Largest ANL ship Freight & Container Transportation April 1977 page 31
  22. ^ ANL bulk ship launched Freight & Container Transportation September 1976 page 38
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