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Union Fleet - Update to Published Book
Ian Farquhar's book “Union Fleet" which details the status of former Union Shipping Group vessels, was first published in 1968. It was revised in 1976, and revised and upgraded in 2001. Listed on the following pages are amendments, additional details and an update of the information contained in the 2001 edition.
PAGE VESSEL AMENDED/ADDED DATA
3 MAORI - Henderson & Macfarlane did not become a limited liability company until 1914.
3 BEAUTIFUL STAR - burnt out at Hobart on 25 December 1907 (not 25 February 1907)
5 PHOEBE - should be Intercolonial Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd.
7 LADYBIRD - name also spelt as two words. Vessel re-converted to steamer January/March 1873.
9 TAIAROA - the A. & J. Inglis shipyard was at Pointhouse (not Linthouse).
11 RINGAROOMA - reported broken up in Japan in 1925, but a posted Lloyd's Register 1915-16 reports that the vessel foundered Dec 1913.
12 PENGUIN - loss of life in Penguin wreck was 72 lives (not 75).
13 ALBION - renamed CENTENNIAL 1888 (not 1889).
15 WAITAKI - wrecked 23 April 1887 (not 24 April 1887).
17 HERO - T.J. Sumner, J. Benn and R. Bright trading as Bright Bros. were owners 1863-1878 (not 1873-78), and Grice Sumner & Co. were owners 1878-1880. Of the 1886 listed owners, W. Taylor should read Wm. Tyler.
17 SOUTHERN CROSS - sold on stocks to Auckland Steam Packet Co. Ltd., but vessel not delivered until arrival at Auckland. As CROIX DU SUD, vessel had French registry with F.C.R.Cramond, Union Co., Manager at Papeete being the registered owner 1897-1900.
23 SNARK - builder was Fleming and Ferguson, Paisley. While vessel was laid up Wellington, broke from her moorings in gale 25 December 1909 and piled up at Kaiwharawhara where she was dismantled.
23 SUVA - owner Jas. McEwan and Company (delete Ltd).
25 WAIHORA - under H. Diedrichsen & Company from 1909.
25 TAKAPUNA - add: converted to storage hulk at Wellington, 1919.
27 MAWHERA - lost Tuamotu Group (not Taumotu)
43 JANET NICOLL - should be Henderson & Macfarlane (delete Ltd).
45 MANGANA - hull beached Port Adelaide 23 March 1931 (not 23 February).
55 HAUPIRI - add: Sold Eastern Shipping Agents Ltd., London (Thomas C. Tucker, Managing Owner) 1919-20. Sold to M.C.Stamatapoulos as MARGARITA in 1920.
55 HAWEA - add: (Originally laid down as KINA)
55 WANAKA - original name was LIDDESDALE (not Liddlesdale).
67 NATONE - sold Clarks Motors, Lower Hutt June 1948. Towed from Shelly Bay, Wellington circa early-l949, and moved to Havelock 14 September 1949; subsequently beached on mudflats in Moutapu Bay, five miles east of Havelock in the Mahau stretch of Pelorus Sound.
68 MOERAKI - should read: … the largest twin screw passenger steamer …
71 PILOT - J. Dalton 1884-1898; Union Company owner 1898-1907 (Messrs Baker, Dalton, and Mitchell executors of John Dalton's estate only).
71 KARORI - as KATIE MOLLER, vessel under British flag 1930-32.
72 LOONGANA - record nine hour passage Melbourne to Launceston was heads to heads.
73 KAITUNA - a notation in Hong Kong register records the vessel as owned by Dai Chung Coal. Co., Shanghai, between April 1937 and the end of 1937.
74 WAIRUNA - employed in coal and sugar trades 1905-16, entered Pacific Slope route in 1916.
81 WAIHORA - Naigai K.K.K., owners 1921-1936 (not 1927-1938), and Kuribayashi Shosen K.K., owners 1936-1944 (not 1938-1944).
89 AORANGI - chartered to Canadian-Australian Royal Mail Line 1894-1895 (not 1894-96).
KOWLOON STAR (TAMAHINE 1989gt/1925) at Hong Kong - photo: Ian Farquhar collection.
TA TUNG (WAIRIMU 6796gt/1941) sailing from Timaru, 1969 - photo: Ron Dohig.
89 KOWHAI - registered owner in 1910 was British and Continental S.S. Co., Ltd. (F.H.Powell and Co., Manager).
93 KATOA - broken up in Taiwan in 1956 (not 1958).
96 NIAGARA - vessel's engines are better described as 4-cylinder triple expansion engines with low pressure cylinders of same size
HUTI SERUNG (KAWATIRI 2484gt/1950) at Singapore, 18 March 1986 photo: Alwyn McMillan.
SANTU URSULA (KATEA 319Ogt/1958) at Singapore, 11 August 1980 - photo: Alwyn McMillan.
TACK TAI (TOFUA 5299gt/1951) at Hong Kong, 26 March 1974 - photo: V.H. Young & L.A. Sawyer.
101 WAIHEMO - fate should read: Struck mine and sank in Gulf of Athens 17 March 1918 in small field laid on 11 February 1918 by UC 37.
101 KOKIRI - amend fate to read: Following scuttling in Pasig River, Manila, vessel seized by Japanese 2 January 1942; subsequently recommissioned under Japanese flag as TOSHU MARU. Lost in air attack off Manila 20 October 1944.
102 KARU - As TORGAUTEN, built as auxiliary steamer (not auxiliary sailing ship). - Aas and Cappelen were based at Fredrikstad.
103 WAIKAWA - Captured by H.M.S.Vindictive 7 August 1914, 120 miles off Cape Ortegal, Spain. Sunk in 1917 by UB 31.
111 KAIKORAI - additional to fate shown: Lloyd's Confidential Index reported vessel sailing in mid 1950’s under the Chinese flag as CHUNG HSING 7.
117 OPIHI - ownership by Jean Hintze 1886-1899 (not 1886-1898), F.T. Eckhusen 1899-1906 (not 1898-1906).
119 KAIRANGA - the Sydney collision in 1940 was with EMPIRE STAR (11,093gt/1935), not Sydney Star.
123 LIMERICK - sunk by Japanese submarine I-177 (not I-26).
123 OTOKIA - in July 1942, Otokia was placed under U.S. War Shipping Administration (still retaining Panama registry) under management of Marine Transport Lines Inc., New York.
123 KARTIGI - broken up by Moller's Ltd, Hong Kong.
125 KIWITEA - broken up by Moller's Ltd, Hong Kong.
127 WAIPAHI - sold Aegean Navigation (not Agean Navigation). Years under the name of KEFALLINIA were 1955-60 (not 1955-62).
135 KINI - sold Hong Kong Chiap Hua Manufactory (1947) Ltd., Hong Kong, for demolition which commenced 16 February 1962.
141 KAKAPO - amend fate to read: Sailed Hong Kong 21 October 1970 for Kaohsiung for demolition by Nan Feng Steel Enterprise Co. Ltd. with work commencing 15 December 1970.
142 KOROWAI - fire in 1944 actually broke out off the east coast of the North Island at Tokomaru Bay, 18 August 1944, and was not extinguished until the vessel arrived at Auckland on 20 August 1944.
143 WANAKA - amend fate to read: Broken up Osaka by Sangyo Shinko K.K., with demolition commencing 10 November 1968.
144 KOMATA - the grounding on the delivery voyage from Glasgow to New Zealand occurred at West Hartlepool, 4 December 1938.
148 KANNA - launched 23 October 1945 (not 10 October 1945).
SENG GIAP (KANNA 925gt/1946) at Singapore - photo: Ian Farquhar collection.
149 KAIMANAWA - grounded on Sibulan Island (not Sibuyan).
153 WAIKAWA - amend fate to read: Sold Taiwan ship-breakers and arrived Kaohsiung 10 May 1969 for demolition.
155 KAMO - the vessel was built as naval store ship, and was not completed as a minelayer. Managers for the British and New Zealand Governments were: Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co. Ltd. 10/1945-09/1946; and General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. 10/1946 - 05/1947.
156 KOMATA - the vessel's service with the company was 20 years (not 30 years).
157 TAPUHI - renamed in 1947 (not 1948). Sold Narain Shipping Ltd., Suva, 1973 and renamed TUI TAWATE (Fiji) 1973-14, TUI TUATE (Fiji) 1974-90. Acquired by the New Hebrides Condominium Government, 1974, for use as a storage vessel to hold the bunker oil salvaged from the President Coolidge by Salvage Pacific Ltd., Fiji in 1974. TUI TUATE lay idle at Esperanto Santo until 1977 and was beached in 1978. She was raised 1990 and sunk in Segond Channel between Santo and Aore (15.32N, 167.08E) on 16 May 1990.
SEA HORSE (NGAHERE 4575gt/1966) at Singapore - photo: R.A. Priest.
159 PORT WAIKATO - although built by Henry Robb Ltd., Leith, the hull was originally yard no 15 of Dublin Shipbuilders Ltd., Dublin. The vessel was under construction when Dublin Shipbuilders went into liquidation in 1926. The hull, in frame, lay idle for two years before being purchased by Henry Robb. It was dismantled, shipped to Leith, and rebuilt as the Port Waikato, although as a motor ship rather than the steamer contemplated by Dublin Shipbuilders. Her grounding occurred 26 April 1954 (not 6 August 1954). Broken up at Hong Kong by Hellgers Ltd., commencing 26 June 1961.
161 KAITOKE - Broken up at Eleusis (not Piraeus) in 1981.
SOUTHERN GLORY (KAROON 2437gt/1951) at Singapore, - photo: Ian Farquhar collection.
161 KAITANGATA - amend fate to read: …renamed TUNG PUO (Panama) 1974-78. Transferred Syarikat Perkapalan Bersinar Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur. 1977. Transferred Syarikat Perkapalanv Gembira Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur. 1977-79 (Kie Hock Shipping (1971) Pte. Ltd., Singapore, Mgrs until wound up 27 May 1978. Sold Syarikat Perkapalan Pacific Selatan Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur (Uni-Ocean Lines Pte. Ltd., Singapore, Mgrs) 1979-83. Renamed GEMBRIA (Malaysia) 1978-83. Broken up at Bangkok by Thai Viroj Co. Ltd., with work beginning August 1983.
163 KONUI - amend fate to read: … Panama, 1974, and renamed TUNG LEE (Pan) 1974-77. Sold Syarikat Perkapalan Bersinar Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur (Kie Hock Shipping (1971) Pte. Ltd., Singapore, Mgrs, until wound up 27 May 1978. Registered to Hong Leong Finance Ltd., Singapore, 1979, (Kie Gwan Shipping Sdn. Bhd., Port Kelang, Mgrs, 1979-82; lJni-Ocean Lines (Pte) Ltd, Singapore, Mgrs, 1982-83. Renamed BERIAYA (Malaysia) 1977-83. Sold PT. Perusahaan Pelayaran Nusantara Nagah Berlian, Indonesia, 1983 (same name). Sold Golden Sea International Co. Ltd., Bangkok, 27 July 1983 and broken up Bangkok, 1983.
163 KAIAPOI - broken up in Taiwan (not Hong Kong). Arrived Kaohsiung from Hong Kong in tow 16 June 1973, and Hsing Ya Steel Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, commenced demolition work 18 Jun 1973.
165 KAWAROA - date arrived Deep Cove, Fiordland, was 23 September 1963 (not 1960).
169 KOOTARA - with her sister KAROON, were built to standard collier design but were mainly employed in the carriage of general cargo from Tasmania to Sydney and Melbourne.
171 KARAMU - arrived Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 9 October 1984 and demolished by Ging Ya Metal Enterprise Company, with work commencing 19 October 1984.
KING LUCK (KARAMU 1988gt/1953) at Singapore, 26 August 1968 - photo: Alwyn McMillan
171 WAIMEA - launched 21 December 1952 (not 1953).
175 NAVUA – vessel originally had black hull and buff upper works; but when first painted white, the buff upper works were retained until 1956 when she was painted all white with a green riband, 1956-58. She reverted to her original black and buff colours 1958-60, and then assumed the bronze-green hull and white upper works from 1960.
PRIDE OF BAGHDAD (KORANUI 3722gt/1956) at Singapore 21 August 1980 photo: Alwyn McMillan.
175 KAWERAU - amend fate to read: Sold Pakistan shipbrokers and arrived Gadani Beach 21 October 1984, with Muzaffer Ahmed & Company commencing demolition 22 October 1984.
HATI BAIK (KAITOA 2584gt/1956) at Singapore, 19 February 1987 - photo: Alywn McMillan
181 KORAKI - sold Muzaffar, Ahmed & Company for demolition Gadani Beach, Pakistan; arrived 5 September 1984, with work commencing 19 September 1984.
AYONDALE (KUMULLA 1865gt/1956) at Singapore. 26 March 1982 photo: AJwyn McMillan.
183 TARAWERA - total refrigerated space was 95,625 cubic feet of which 11000 cubic feet was deep-freeze space.
PACIFIC OCEAN (KARETU 3222gt/1964) at Singapore 10 May 1985 photo: Ian Farquhar.
PAISI (KAIMAI 2007gt/1956) at Singapore 24 March 1986 photo: Alwyn McMillan
193 NGAPARA - … arrived Huangpu for demolition 18 May 1993, but resold to Yingkouzhengke Ocean Shipping Co. Ltd., Yingkou and renamed ZHENG HE 9 (Panama) 1993-2006, with vessel converted to gearless bulk carrier. Sold Attar Construction Ltd., St Vincent & Grenadines (Pelmar Shipping & Engineering Pte. Ltd., Mumbai, India, Mgrs) 2006 and renamed STAR 1 (St Kitts & Nevis) 2006. Sold for demolition, arriving at Chittagong 23 November 2006, with work commencing 2 December 2006.
SUBLIME (POOLTA 2085gt/1959) at Singapore, 12 March 1991 - photo: Ian Farquhar.
193 WAHINE - launched 14 July 1965 (not 1966).
195 MAHENO - add: Sold Princenton Shipping, Quebec, Canada 2003 and renamed SANTA EMMA (Panama). Sold Rikan Shipping Corp., Monrovia2004 and renamed SANTA (Panama) 2004 - 05. Under detention at Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick, January 2004 and arrested August 2004. Broke her moorings in high winds 29 April 2005 and grounded in position 46.08N, 63.41W. Auctioned by Federal Court of Canada 1 June 2005 and registered to her new owner Sophia Maritime Inc., Panama from 7 June 2005. Docked and repaired at Cape Tormentine. Sailed from Halifax, N.S., in tow of RIG DELIVERER (1384gt/1974) 21 September 2005 as one half of a tandem tow with bulk carrier WILLOWGLEN (9057gt/1943) for Alang, India, but foundered off Point Delgado in heavy weather 6 October 2005 in position 36.53N, 28.14W, near the Azores.
197 WANAKA - as BALBEK (Cyprus) 2000-01, DUCHESS M(Cyprus) 2001, owner Shinedeck Shipping Limited, Limassol, 2000, mgrs Marlines 2001-2006 (Andromeda Maritime Inc., Piraeus, Mgrs, 2006). Laid up Eleusis Bay, Greece, from 7 September 2007.
DUCHESS M (WANAKA 2769gt/1970) at Bari, Italy, 19 June 2006 - photo: Frank Lose.
197 RANGATIRA - add: Sold Oberon Cruise Line of Limassol, Cyprus, 2001, and towed by tug AEGEAN PELAGOS (483gt/1965) from Naples to Bijela, Montenegro, 18-23 December 2001 for conversion to a cruise ship. Renamed ALEXANDER THE GREAT (Greek) 2001-05. Sold at auction 8 November 2004 to Dido Steel Corporation S.A., Monrovia, who resold the vessel for demolition by Turkish ship breakers. Left Bijela 12 January 2005, under tow of tug HELLAS (606gt/1975) and arrived Aliaga, Turkey, 20 January 2005 with demolition completed by June 2005.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT (RANGATIRA 9387gt/1972) at Bijela, Montenegro.2004 - photo: Frank Lose.
199 UNION WELLINGTON - add: From Swinoujscie arrived Porsgrund, Norway 5 July 2001. Sold Trond A. Kittilsen Shipping A/S, Stathelle, Norway, 2001, registered owner KystLink A/S, Nassau and renamed BOA VISTA (Bahamas) 2001-03, and (Norway) 2003-04. Sold Thraki Shipping Corp., Panama, 2004, and registered Panama 2004- 07 (same name). Sold Birlik RoRo Isletmeleri AS, Turkey, 2007; renamed BIRLIK 1(Panama) 2007; trading between Black Sea ports and Turkey.
KING HORSE (NAVUA 1952gt/1955) at Singapore, 19 August 1978 - photo: Alwyn McMillan.
203 UNION ROTOITI - add: Ownership transferred from Anzdl Ltd. to CP Ships (U.K) Ltd. 2001-06. Renamed CP ROTOITI (Bermuda) 2005-06, renamed ROTOITI ( Bermuda) 2006 (same registered owner but part of Hapag Lloyd Group, Hamburg). Sold December 2006 and renamed GULF STRAIT (St Vincent & Grenadines), sailing Melbourne 2 December 2006 for Bahrain, but resold on passage to Pakistan ship breakers and renamed ULF (St. Vincent & Grenadines), arriving Chittagong 25 December 2006, and beached for scrapping 5 January 2007.
205 TAIKO - Coastal Tankers Ltd., restructured as Silver Fern Shipping Ltd., from 1 October 2000. Sold 22 December 2006 to Golden Lucky Ltd, Panama (Glory Ship Management Pte Ltd., Singapore) and renamed ATLANTA (Panama) 2007, sailing Auckland 7 April 2007, and trading internationally. Arrived Alang, India, 7 August 2012 for demolition by Shanti Ship Breakers Pte. Ltd., with work commencing 18 August 2012.
AGIA METHODIA (UNION HOBART 4376gt/1976), place and date unknown _ photo: Louis Bosschaart.
207 SEAWAY HOBART - delete final phrase (Operating out of Piraeus July 2000) and replace with: In service from Lavrion to Greek Islands (during summer 2011, mainly trading from Thessaloniki). Currently operating between Lavrion and Kapala in Greece 2012.
207 SEAWAY MELBOURNE - add: Arrived Piraeus 25 August 2001 and sold Daedalos Shipping Co., Piraeus, Greece (Aegean Carriers Marine Co., Athens, Mgrs) 2001- 2006, Melody Shipping Co., 2006) and renamed AEGEAN STAR (Greece) 2001- . She mainly operated between Cypriot ports and Greece; laid up Perama from 23 December 2011.
209 UNION ENDEAVOUR - As DAGMAR REECKMANN 1982, West German 1982-83, add: Sold Greek Regular Lines Limited Piraeus 2001 and registered owner Forkis Shipping Co. S.A., Panama (Reefer and General Ship-Management Co. Inc., Athens, Mgrs), and renamed NIVER FLAME (Panama) 2001- 2003 (same mgrs). Sold Viril Shipping S.A., Panama (Unit Maritime Inc, Piraeus, Mgrs) 2003, and renamed FLAME (Panama) 2003-05. Sold Formosa Plastics Transport Corporation, Liberia, 2005 (Formosa Plastic Marine, Mgrs), and renamed FORMOSA CONTAINER 1 (Liberia) 2005-10. Sold Indian ship breakers and arrived Alang for demolition 28 January 2010.
209 UNION ROTOMA - insert: Built 1976 by Chantiers de France-Dunkerque, Dunkerque, as ROSTAND (French) 1976-87. - Ownership transferred from Anzdl Ltd. to CP Ships (UK) Ltd., 2001-2003. Sold Indian ship breakers and sailed Auckland for Alang, arriving Alang 6 October 2003; beached 12 October 2003 for demolition.
Barge IMAN AHMADI 10 and her tug ABDULLATIF ALGANIM 10 (OCEAN BULK 6379gt/1970 and KARAMEA 557gt/1978) at Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, about 2005 - photo: Ian Farquhar collection.
222 KARAMEA - add: Sold Shaheen Al-Ghanhim Roads & Bridges Constructors Co. W.L.L., Kuwait, and renamed ABDULLATIF ALGHANIM 10 (North Korea 2003, Panama 2003, Comoros 2003- ). Sailed Lyttelton 1 June 2003 towing barge IMAN AHMADI 10 on passage to Kuwait via Port Moresby and Jakarta.
GOLDEN HARVEST (UNION AOTEAROA 9352gt/1973) at Singapore. 11 August 1978 - photo: Alwyn McMillan.
222 GAWLER - amend: Owned by Marine Board of Devonport, Tasmania, 1976-81 (not 1976-99). Sold North Western Shipping and Trading Co. Pty. Ltd. Devonport, Tasmania 1987-1996. Sold F.F.Cruz and Co. Inc, Quezon, Manila, 2001, and sailed Lyttelton 29 March 2001 for Manila, towing the dredger PERAKI (1896gt/1960).
223 OCEAN BULK 1 - add: Sold Shaheen Al-Ghanhim Roads & Bridges Constructors Co. W.L.L., Kuwait, and renamed, IMAN AHMADI 10 (North Korea 2003, Panama 2003, Comoros 2003-)
245 HINUPAHI - add: Remains of barge derelict at Kaipara Harbour.
AEGEAN STAR (UNION LYTTELTON 4876gt/1977) at Chania, Crete, 21 June 2005. - photo: M. Pietikainen.
245 HINUWAI - add: Sold Estorial Properties Ltd, Auckland, and operated by Marstel Terminals Ltd, Albany, 1990. Sold for scrapping and delivered to Stevensons yard, Whangaparaoa, 5 December 2012 for demolition.
245 HINUWAKA add: Sold Subritzky Shipping Co. Ltd., Auckland, 2001. Vessel stripped down of all deck structures for use as a breakwater, Kennedy Point ramp, Waiheke Island, to be ballasted down to the desired depth with sand. Approval denied and vessel subsequently towed by SOUTHERN SALVOR (544gt/1968) from Auckland 28 February 2008 to Chittagong via Nelson, arriving 30 May 2008; beached for demolition 12 June 2008.
255 R.A.Owens - to the entry add: (KNZM 1997).
Ian Farquhar would like to thank all those who have contributed information for this update, particularly the late W.A. Laxon, Auckland; Wm A. Schell, Holbrook, U.S.A.; Capt. Michael Pryce and M. Berthold, Wellington; Frank Lose, Bremen; and N.J. Kirby, Lyttelton. Any further data which will improve the accuracy of the material recorded in "Union Fleet" would be welcomed.
Ian Farquhar
RD2. Dunedin 9077
New Zealand
June 2013
NZ Ship and Marine Society Inc.. PO Box 5104. Wellington 6145, New Zealand
PublisherNZ Ship Marine