ypcn2

                (CN2) CHINA NAVIGATION COMPANY
                    (Butterfield & Swire - in 1974, John Swire &Sons)

and
AUSTRALIAN ORIENTAL LINE
(Yuill & Co.)


A. Australian-Oriental Line (established by
Yuill & Co.after China Navigation Co.
withdrew in 1908 from the Australian trade to
concentrate on the China trade)

                         Established a monthly service with two ships - the Changte
and the Taiping - from the mid-1920s to the outbreak of
World War II. Route: Australian East Coast-Manila-
Hongkong-Japan

      Changte/Taiping
                                From Dickson Gregory's "Australian Steamships Past and Present"
                        Changte - 4324gt 1925 Hongkong        sln photo pre-WW2
        1925 - 1939 regular commercial     Digital Order
   service from Australia to Manila- No. a636785
  Hongkong-Japan slv photo uw
        1939 (Aug) reqisitioned by the Navy Image No.b42556
        and converted to a stores issuing ship    slv photo c.1930
        1946 (Apr) returned to owners    steamship uw
        1948 (Mar) resumed commercial "A.O. Liners Changte
    service after lengthy refit and Taiping"
     1961 sold for scrap   Image No. pc002092
      nmm photo uw
   No. P9588

                     Taiping - 4234gt 1926 Hongkong            slv photo uw
        1926 - 1941 regular commercial Image No. b42548
        service sln photo uw
                            1942 (Jan) requisitioned by Navy Digital Order
                            and converted to stores issuing No. a639767
ship       awm photo uw WW2
            1947 (early) returned to owners with paravane gear
            1949 (Sep) resumed commercial ID No. 303999
            service after prolonged refit
                            1957 service termminating in
        Hongkong
         1961 sold for scrap

                   B. Australian-Oriental Line charters from China
Navigation Co. 1946-1948 (while Changte and
      Taiping were being extensively refitted after war
service)

                   Yunnan (III) - scm 2812gt 1934 slv photo in harbour
       Greenock Image No. b42261
    1942 requisitioned in Australia Photo in "The Pictorial
   commissioned as HMAS History, 1872-1992"
Yunnan (supply ship) (details below), p. 70
1944 in Leyte invasion Sister of Yochow below,
    1946 refitted and returned to see WW2H1
owners
Apr chartered to A-O Line
1948 (May) withdrawn but
replaced by CNC's
   Soochow (III)
1959 sold to Hongkong
buyers. Later resold to
Panamanian and Singapore
buyers
1971 scrapped

               Yochow (II) - scm 2810gt 1933 awm photo WW2
      Greenock camouflage paint
1941 reached Australia ID No. 303946
     carried supplies to New (see WW2H1 for
Guinea for wartime photo)
                    1942 broke down off Hervey
Bay, N. Queensland. Towed
to Sydney
1946 (Aug) chartered to
A-O Line
1947 (mid) replaced by
by CNC's Shansi (II)
                    1960 sold to Singapore
buyers
1970 scrapped

                C. Australian-Oriental Line 1948-1949

   1948 (May) Changte back in service
1949 (Sep) Taiping back in service
Supported by Soochow (III) and
Shansi (II)

   D. After Agreement by the Far East/Australia
Shipping Conference to China Navigation Co.
Joining the Conference But Subject to the
Condition that it would be in a Joint
Service with the Australian-Oriental Line

                Service: Sydney-Manila-Hongkong-Japan from
1949-1961 (the Indirect Route to Japan
               (with four ships - a sailing every three weeks)

(I) Australian-Ortiental Line:

                   Ships: Changte and Taiping as above

(II) China Navigation Co.:

1947 to 1950

    Soochow (III) -scm 3152gt 1947 sln photo uw (blurred)
                       Glasgow - Digital Order
   1947-1950 under charter to No.a639641
    Australian-Oriental Line and nmm photo am
then in the beginning of the No. P24089
Joint Service    nmm photo uw 1975
1952-1967 Sydney/Papua-New (as Kota Ratu)
Guinea service No.P42762
                    1967 sold to Singapore firm    Photo in "The Pictorial
   r/n Kota Ratu History", p.88
   1975 r/n Sang Fajar with
       the Malaysian Shipping
       Corporation, Penang
       1984 scrapped

Shansi (II) - scm 3152gt 1947 slv photo am
Greenock Image No. gr000279
1947-1950 under charter to slq photo am
Australian -Oriental then in the Image No. 178934
   beginning of the Joint Service sln photo uw (blurred)
1952-1967 Sydney-New Guinea Digital Order
   service No. a639577
1967 sold to Singapore firm nmm photo uw
   r/n Kota Rajah (as Kota Rajah
   1975 became Sang Suia of 1967-Oct 1970)
                     the Malaysian Shipping No. P42754
   Corporation
   1978 scrapped


From Jan 1950

   Changsha (IV) and Taiyuan (III) From a postcard in the author's collection
Changsha (IV) - scm 7412gt 1949    slv photo uw (Feb. 1954)
                        Greenock Image No. b41320
                        1950 commenced in the Joint sln photo aq
Service Digital Order
  1959 blown ashore in a typhoon at         No. a636784
Nagoya. Took 6 months before nla colour photo (leaving
  refloated. wharf at Port Moresby
1961 with the end of the Joint    1953-1978 - stern view)
service continued in the indirect nla.pic-an22703273
route to Japan nmm photo uw (1969-1970)
                        1965 route reconfiguration No. P42749
new service Australia, Port Photo in "The Pictorial History",
Moresby, Manila, Hongkong pp. 86-87
(later extended to Taiwan)
1969 sold to Singapore company
  r/n Kota Panjang (I)
                       1981 scrapped

                   From Aug 1950

Taiyuan (III) - scm 7472gt 1949 slv photo uw (Jan. 1950)
                        Greenock Image No. b42255
                       1950 commenced in the Joint sln photo (blurred)
  Service    Digital Order
1961 with the end of the Joint    No. a639785
service continued in the indirect
  route to Japan
   1965 route reconfiguration
   new service Australia, Port
   Moresby, Manila, Hongkong
   (later exteded to Taiwan)
   1970 transferred to passenger
   cargo Sydney-Fiji service
   1972 sold to Singapore company
   r/n Kota Sahabat
1975 on Australia Fiji route as a
  tourist liner for three years
   1978 converted to a carrier for
   the live sheep trade
   1980 scrapped


                       E. Direct Monthly Sailings Australia-Japan from
Feb !956 by China Navigation Ships (after Jun 1959
advertised separately from Australian Oriental)

Initially two ships (replaced by larger vessels in 1958):

Photo from thr "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
                    Fengning - scs 3464gt 1951 West
     Hartlepool
1964 sold to Ocean Tramping Co.
r/n Wishford
   1972 sold to Peoples Republic
   of China and trace lost

Photo from the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
     Funing (I) - scs 3464gt 1950 West
                           Hartlepool
   1964 sold to Ocean Tramping Co.
   r/n Starford
   1972 sold to Peoples Republic
     of China and trace lost.

F. End of Joint Service Mid-1961 with the withdrawal from
service of the two Australian-Oriental Ships. Replaced by
China Navigation ships:

Photo from the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
   Anking (II) - scm 6124gt 1950 slsa photo uw (1949)
Greenock No. PRG 1324/1340
   1950 completed for Hongkong- slsa photo uw (1950)
   Singapore-Malaysia trade but    No. PRG 1324/1341
   designed also for Mecca pilgrims Photo in "The Pictorial History", p.78
1961 service from Australia via (while in the pilgrimage trade)
   Manila-Hongkong to Japan
   1965 transferred to Hongkong-
   Taiwan route
   1970 sold to the Straits S.S. Co.
   r/n Klias (III)
   1976 scrapped after sustaining
   stern post damage

Photo from the "Old Ship Picture Galleries
                       Anshun (II) - scm 6224gt 1951 slv photo uw (Mar 1953)
       Hongkong Image No. b38454
   1951 completed for same slv similar photo (Mar 1953
     service as Anking Image No. gr002039
   1955 shelled by Egyptian shore Photo in "The Pictorial History", p.75
   batteries at the entrance to (while in the pilgrimage trade0,
   Gulf of Akaba. Accused of being
     in Egyptian territorial waters
   1961 service from Australia via
     Manila-Hongkong to Japan
   1965 in pilgrim trade
                           1971 sold to Pan Islamic S.S. Co.,
   Karachi, for pilgrim trade
r/n Safina-E-Abid
   1991 scrapped

    Replacements for the Anking and Anshun

   Photo from the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
Wanliu (III) (ex-Wanstead 1949) Photo in "The Pictorial History", p. 90
- scm 5393gt 1949 Dundee
(Built for Britain S.S. Co.)
1949 (Nov) maiden voyage
   London-Antwerp-East Coast of
Canada
1957 chartered to Port Line r/n
Port Wanstead
1960 reverted to Wanstead
1964 chartered to lamport & Holt
r/n Raeburn reverted to
Wanstead. Chartered to CNCo,
r/n Wanliu
1965 joined indierect service
to Japan
1968 Bibby Bros. bought Britain
S.S. Co. and offered the Wanliu
and her two sister ships - Wenchow
and Woosung - who were also
chartered by CNCo. for sale
1969 Wanliu and her two
sister ships were acquired by
   CNCo.
1975 (Jan) r/n Maldive Explorer
for Maldive Shipping co.
1978 scrapped

Photo from the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
Wenchow (III) (ex-Wendover) -scm
5393gt 1949 Dundee
(Built for Britain S.S. Co.)
1949 entered North Atlantic service
1964 chartered for CNCo. r/n
  Wenchow
1965 entered CNCo.'s indirect service
to Japan
1968 offered for sale with her two
sister ships - Wenliu and Woosung
also charter to CNCo.
1969 the three ships acquired by
CNCo.
1975 (Jul) r/n Kota Subur by
Singapore buyers
1978 scrapped

G. Monthly Fast Cargo Liner Service on Direct
       Route to Japan from end of 1961 (Returning
   south bound via Soth Korea, Taiwan and
Hongkong)

  Tientsin (III) (ex-Frontenac) - scm
      5588gt 1955 Port de Bouc
      (Built for Marseilles firm for
      Marseilles-USA service)
      1956 r/n Maroua for Cie
      Chargeurs Reunis, Le
        Havre, on West Africa route
      1961 (Dec) acquired by
      CNCo. r/n Tientsin
      1969 r/n Six Stars on charter
      1971 sold to Hongkong
      buyers r/n Tientsin put out
      for charter
      1973 sold to Mogadishu
      company
      1975 scrapped

   Photo from the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
Tsingtao (ex-Duquesne) - scm
   5588gt 1951 La Seyne
      (Built for Marseilles firm for
   Marseilles-USA service)
   1956 (Jan) r/n Manga for
   Cie Chargeurs Reunis, Le
   Havre
   1961 (Dec) acquired by
      CNCo. r/n Tsingtao
      for Australia-Japan trade
   1968 converted for side
   door loading r/n Island Chief
   for Australia-Papua/New
Guinea service
1970 reverted to previous
      name and route
   1972 Tongan charter r/n
    Tauloto
   1973 (Jan) engine breakdown
withdrawn. Charter ended
   Repaired r/n Soochow for
   a Chinese/Somali company
   1977 sold to Seychelles
   buyers (later Panama owned)
   r/n Wenchow in China-Japan-
   USA trade
                       1989 scrapped

                    In 1962 joined by:

Photo from the author's collection
Kweilin (II) - scm 5902gt 1962
Hongkong -
1974 sold to Mauritius buyers
r/n Rogers Trader
1982 r/n Kota Berjaya
for Pacific International Lines,
Singapore
1984 scrapped

Joined in 1964 by:

Photo from the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
Woosung (III) (ex-Woodford)
  - scm 5393gt 1949 Dundee
   (Built for Britain S.S. Co.)
   1950 entered service as
      Woodford
      1963 chartered by Lamport &
   Holt r/n Rosetti
      1964 reverted to Woodford.
   Chartered to CNCo. r/n
      Woosung. Joined direct
      service to Japan
      1966 with Hunan joining the
      direct service to Japan transferred
      to the indirect service joining
   her two sisterships
                            1968 Bibby Line bought Britain
      S.S. Co. and offered the
   Woosung with its two sisterships -
      Wanliu and Wenchow - also
      on charter to CNCo. for sale.
      1969 CNCo. acquired the
        three ships
      1976 Woosung sold to
      Singapore buyer r/n New Dragon
      1978 scrapped

Joined in Jan 1966 by:

   From the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
Nanchang (III) (ex-Telemachus (IV)) -
scm 8265gt 1943 Dundee
(Built for Blue Funnel)
1957 transferred to the Glen Line
   for service out of London
   r/n Monmouthshire
       1963 reverted to Liverpool and
   Blue Funnel r/n Glaucus (IV)
       1964 (Jan) transferred on demise
         charter to CNCo r/n Nanchang (III)
1968 scrapped

Also in 1966 by:

                        Hunan (III) - scm 8966gt 1966
  Hongkong (designed for the
wool trade)
1966 (Mar) employed in Australia-
Japan wool trade - the ship was
  not a success and too sophisticated
   for general cargo
   1968 (Jun) sold to Portuguese
    buyers r/n Nacala
   1986 scrapped

Replaced by:

Photo from the author's collection
Hupeh (III) (ex Sidonia) - scm
5704gt 1961 Giessen
(Built forAnchor Line's North
Atlantic trade but found too
small for this trade)
1967 (Sep) purchased by
CNCo.
1969 converted to side door loading for
1976 lengthened in Hongkong
1982 in Panama registry r/n Sun Opal.
Sold again r/n New United
1985 scrapped

H. Sydney-Papua/New Guinea Service by
China Navigation Co. from 1952

(I) Sydney-Port Moresby and from 1967 Samarai)

Shansi (II) - details as above

From the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
                        Singkiang (II) -scm 3029gt 1946 slv photo aq (Dec. 1949)
    Greenock (Sister ship of Image No. b42262
Soochow (III) and Shansi (II))
1946 China coastal trade from
Hongkong
1952 Sydney Port Moresby
service
1962 redeployed
1966 sold to Panama firm
r/n Tong Jit
1967 r/n Gamsola and in
1969 r/n Kadina by other
Panamanian companies
1977 sank while at anchor
in a storm in Eastern passage,
Singapore. She was under
repair and without engine
at the time. Salvaged and
scrapped

                        Soochow (III) - details as above

Mid-1967 - Shansi (II) and Soochow (III)
replaced by:

  Papuan Chief (I) (ex-Bahia) -scm Photo in "The Pictorial History"
    2436gt 1954 Langesunds (at Hong Kong), p.100
(Built for Ludwig Lorentzen,
Lysaker, Oslo -designed as
log carrier with two long holds)
1966 acquired by CNCo. for
the Australia/Papua- New
Guinea trade. Converted in
Hongkong for side loading
r/n Papuan Chief
1969 chartered to Burns, Philp
Co., Sydney r/n Marsina
1970 reverted to CNCo. and
  name Papuan Chief
   Nov inaugurated a new
   service to to Rabaul,
   Honiara and Kavieng
   1971 (Jun) service to Honiara
   and Kieta i Solomon Islands
   1975 with Maldive Shipping
   Co. r/n Maldive Coral
   1979 scrapped

Replaced in 1969 (Apr) by:

Photo from the author's collection
Coral Chief (ex- Chekiang (II)) - Photo in "The Pictorial History"
  scm 5904gt 1957 Hongkong    (at Sydney), p..99
1957 entered service
   1969 converted to side door
   loading r/n Coral Chief (I)
   1977 r/n Coral Chief I to
   make way for a second ship
   of the same name which was
   then sold to Singapore buyers
   and r/n Kota Buana
1983 scrapped

(II) Service Australia-Other
Papua-New Guinea Ports
   from mid-1967

Initially by calls at Rabaul, Lae and Madang
by Wanliu, Wenchow and Woosung on their
northbound route in the indiect service to Japan

   From 1968 (Jul) by:

                        Island Chief (I) - (ex-Tsingtao above
converted to side door loading)
On a three weekly schedule

Replaced in 1970 (May) by:

As Chefoo. Photo from the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
   Island Chief (II) (ex-Chefoo (II)) Photo in "The Pictorial History"
  - scm 5904gt 1958 Hongkong (at Kieta), p.98
1970 converted to side door
  loading and transferred to the
Australia/Papua-New Guinea
service
1978 sold to Straits Shipping,
Singapore r/n Straits Hope
1992 scrapped

               From 1971 (Jun) calls to Rabaul, Kavieng
and Madang taken over by:

  .    Photo from the author's collection
New Guinea Chief (ex-Kwangsi (I)) - Photo in "The Pictorial History"
scm 5957gt 1960 Hongkong p.92.
1960 (Mar) entered service
1965 (possibly earlier) in the
New Zealand-Far East service
1969 (May) went ashore at
   Keelung. Refloated and repaired
   1971 converted for side door
    loading r/n New Guinea Chief
   Joined Australia/Papua-New
   Guinea service
   1977 sold to Singapore buyers
    r/n Bangkok Star
   1978 with Straits Shipping
r/n Straits Star
   1985 scrapped

In mid-1977, CNCo's New Guinea service was combined
with Hillerstroms' Compac Line and the Papua New Guinea
  Shipping Corporationto establish Chief Container Service
  with full containerisation

I. China Navigation Company's Far East/New Zealand
   Service - Introduced by CNCo. in 1962, and in 1963
   established as a Joint Service with the Crusader
   Shipping Company (jointly owned by New Zealand
      Shipping, Port, Shaw Savill & Albion and Blue Star
      - later just P&O)

Service inaugurated by CNCo.'s:

Photo from the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"
Kweichow (II) - scm 5957gt 1959
Hongkong
1959 (Aug) delivered
1962 (Feb) inaugurated the New
Zealand -Far East service
1966 replaced Kwantung in
charter to Crusader as Norman II
1968 reverted to Kweichow
1974 sold to Chinese company
   registered in Mogaishu r/n Orient
  Victory
1978 sold to another Chinese
company with Panamanian registry
  r/n Fortune Victory
1983 reverted to Orient Victory
and the previous Mogadishu
registered company
1984 scrapped

Kwantung (II) - scm 5957gt 1959
     Hongkong (Sister ship of Kweichow (II)
above)
   1959 delivered
1962 joined New Zealand-Far
East service
1965 (Mar) chartered to Crusader
Shipping  r/n Norman
1966 (Mar) reverted to Kwantung
   1977 transferred to a Swire subsidiary
same name
   1979-1983 sold and passed
   through the hands of three
     Panamanian companies
   r/n California 1979 and Wayful 1983
   1983 scrapped

Kwangsi (I) (see New Guinea Chief/
Kwangsi (I) above)
1965 (possibly earlier) in the New
Zealand-Far East service

With three ships (including one chartered to Crusader)
the Joint service offered monthly sailings to Japan,
northbound alternatively via Manila or Shanghai
returning via Hongkong.

In 1966, CNCo. added:

Namchang (III) (see above) to
the New Zealand-Far East
service for tri-monthly direct
sailings to Japan in addition to
her direct sailings from Australia

I969 CNC/Crusader and Mitsui/OSK combined
their interests in the Manila, Hongkong, Taiwan
and South Korean Trades to form New Zealand
   Unit Express (NZUE) with the the introduction
   of palletisation. In 1971, Royal Interocean Line
   (later Nedlloyd) joined the partnership. CNCo.
and Crusader continued a a direct joint service to
Japan with conventional tonnage for some years
after the formation of NZUE. In 1977, they
formed Crusader Swire Container Sevice and
with Mitsui-OSK/Japan Line in a joint container
   ship service New Zealand -Japan

                    Sources:
                      1. H.W. Dick and S.A. Kentwell's "Beancaker to Boxboat:
     Steamship Companies in Chinese Waters" (The Nautical
     Association of Australia, Canberra 1988)
    2. Duncan Haws' "Merchant Fleets 39; China Navigation
    Company" (TCL Pulications, Pembroke 2001)
3. "The China Navigation Company Limited: A Pictorial
    History 1872-1992", edited by Charlotte Havilland
   (John Swire & Sons Ltd, London 1992)
4. "In Coral Seas: The History of the New Guinea Australia Line"
   Based on a manuscript by Martin Speyer, with additional
   material by Mike Carolin. Edited by Howard Dick
   (The Nautical Association of Australia, Inc. in association
   with John Swire & Sons, Caulfield South, Victoria 2004)
5. Website: The Old Ship Picture Galleries
      http://www.photoship.co.uk/

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