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Shipspotters all over the world => Shipping News and information => Topic started by: Michael G. on March 11, 2021, 02:46:36 PM

Title: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Michael G. on March 11, 2021, 02:46:36 PM: Hi there,

Is there anyone here who would know about ships sailing from Hong Kong to Australia in the second half of 1981?

I was told that most vessels used to go to Western Australia (especially Fremantle), but were there others going to other territories (Darwin, Brisbane and so on) ? and which ones or what kind of vessels then?

Waiting for your replies,

Cheers,

Michael
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Cisco on March 13, 2021, 04:01:14 AM: Most ships in that trade actually went to Australian east coast ports.
The main ones running to Fremantle were the Norwegian 'Bakke' boats... some photos here https://www.theage.com.au/national/queensland/trouble-in-paradise-covid-leaves-a-cloud-hanging-over-the-tropics-20210312-p57a3g.html
and also http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=163646

Running to the east coast.... China Navigation aka CNCo aka China Nav aka Butterfield and Swire is the obvious choice.
In the early seventies OOCL ( Orient Overseas Container Line ) entered the trade, not sure how long they stayed.
Another company to consider would be Nedlloyd .
By 1981 containerisation was pretty well established.
Cheers,
Frank
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Michael G. on March 13, 2021, 02:32:56 PM: Hi Frank,

Thanks for your reply,

I'll check on those companies, but if you have more intel, I'm all ears.

Cheers,

Michael
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Yvon Perchoc on March 13, 2021, 03:28:32 PM: Hello Mickael,

You can try this link about Australian's newspapers. Some of them reported the ships arrivals/departures.
You can select places and dates.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/category/newspapers?keyword=hongkong

Regards,
Yvon
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Michael G. on March 13, 2021, 05:37:04 PM: # Yvon

Thanks for the tip. I'll do that. ;)
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Michael G. on March 13, 2021, 05:40:17 PM: Quote from: Michael G. on March 11, 2021, 02:46:36 PM
Hi there,

Is there anyone here who would know about ships sailing from Hong Kong to Australia in the second half of 1981?

I was told that most vessels used to go to Western Australia (especially Fremantle), but were there others going to other territories (Darwin, Brisbane and so on) ? and which ones or what kind of vessels then?

Waiting for your replies,

Cheers,

Michael

Dear all,

I was told that the Asian Pearl (wikiswire.com/wiki/Asian_Pearl) and the Asian Jade (wikiswire.com/wiki/Asian_Jade) sailed those routes at that time.

Would you know more about them?

Thanks,

Michael
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Yvon Perchoc on March 13, 2021, 06:45:43 PM: About shipping lines with Australia (circa 1980), see page 15 (ASIAN JADE & ASIAN PEARL) :
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2498367294/view?sectionId=nla.obj-2568396041&partId=nla.obj-2499824990#page/n13/mode/1up
Regards,
Yvon
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: MO Roy on March 14, 2021, 04:42:38 PM: Thanks for the link Yvon.
Nice read.
Cheers,
Roy
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Michael G. on March 15, 2021, 03:54:14 PM: Quote from: Yvon Perchoc on March 13, 2021, 06:45:43 PM
About shipping lines with Australia (circa 1980), see page 15 (ASIAN JADE & ASIAN PEARL) :
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2498367294/view?sectionId=nla.obj-2568396041&partId=nla.obj-2499824990#page/n13/mode/1up
Regards,
Yvon

Hi Yvon,

Thanks a lot for the link.
I precisely wanted to post on the Australian Enterprise and the Australian Explorer and here they are alongside the Asian Pearl and the Asian Jade.
Your help is really very valuable.

Michael
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Cisco on March 15, 2021, 08:32:08 PM: Asian Pearl and Asian Jade were...if my memory serves... owned by Cnina Navigation, Hong Kong and manned with British,Australian and NZ officers, Chinese crew.
The Australian officer's union... the Merchant Service Guild... stuck on a blue and one of the two ended up with Australian officers and chinese crew., the Australian officers being in the employ of E&A/Eastern and Australian.
That occured when they were first introduced... not sure who manned which ship.
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Michael G. on March 18, 2021, 02:29:31 PM: Hi Cisco,

Thanks for the reply and please pardon my ignorance but, what was their flag then? British, HK, Australia?

Mike
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Cisco on March 19, 2021, 08:29:16 PM: British flag.... port of registry of CNco ships was London despite being a Hong Kong company. I'm pretty sure Asian Pearl was the one with CNco manning.
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Michael G. on March 20, 2021, 02:21:51 PM: Hi Cisco,

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

:)

Michael
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: davidships on March 20, 2021, 08:14:18 PM: Quote
British flag.... port of registry of CNco ships was London despite being a Hong Kong company
The China Navigation Co Ltd is a UK-registered company (with a very low company number 00006005, registered 31/01/1872) based at Swire House, London.
Of course it is has a large operating branch in Hong Kong, and no doubt many local subsidiaries.
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Michael G. on March 26, 2021, 04:31:52 PM: Quote from: davidships on March 20, 2021, 08:14:18 PM
Quote
British flag.... port of registry of CNco ships was London despite being a Hong Kong company
The China Navigation Co Ltd is a UK-registered company (with a very low company number 00006005, registered 31/01/1872) based at Swire House, London.
Of course it is has a large operating branch in Hong Kong, and no doubt many local subsidiaries.
Now I know... ;)
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Cisco on March 26, 2021, 09:26:38 PM: While it is correct that the history and reach of B & S is global and complicated https://www.swire.com/ourjourney/tablet/en/index.php China Navigation was along with Jardine Mathesons one of the two most upmarket shipping companies based in Hong Kong. Lesser mortals worked for the 'outside' companies such as Yick Fung and Ocean Tramps.

Officers ( UK , Aust and NZ ) were employed out of Hong Kong with Hong Kong conditions. Crews were Hong Kong chinese. Ships - esp in the early post war years after they quit mainland China and before they became involved in the Pacific Rim trades to PNG etc - traded out of Hong Kong.
They had some ships involved in the cross trades within the cross trades..... Anshun after coming off the Hong Kong - Australia liner trade was on the Hadj from Malaysia to Jeddah in the season and went latter day 'blackbirding' around the SW Pacific for the rest of the year.... picking up contract labour from the out islands and taking them to Christmas and Ocean Islands to work for the Phosphate Commision.
https://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/cnc.shtml

Interesting photo in that first link of an ex ANL 'B' boat in Taikoo Dock......
Title: Re: Cargo ships from Hong Kong to Australia in 1981
Post by: Michael G. on March 29, 2021, 11:57:02 AM: # Cisco

Thank you so much for providing all this intel. Much appreciated...