Reliable reputation

“The Courier’s daily Archives feature recently mentioned the launch of the ro-ro ship Maheno and her sister Marama. They were the last two ships built by the Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd. prior to the merger with Leith shipyard of Henry Robb which subsequently became Robb Caledon Shipbuilders.

An engineering problem delayed the completion of the former vessel while a labour dispute held up the launching of the latter and she was launched into the Tay without ceremony on a misty day.

A reader recalls: “Shortly after their arrival in trans-Tasman waters a local seamen’s strike put paid to an early introduction into their eagerly awaited service.

“At a reception held on behalf of a visiting Dundee Chamber of Commerce export trade mission to Australasia at that time questions were asked about labour industrial unrest in the UK by New Zealand business representatives present. Their attention was quickly drawn to the new ship lying idle at its berth in the port of Wellington.

“By the time I participated in two similar trade missions in 1972 and 74 the Dundee-built ships had settled in and had built up a reliable reputation and were serving their owners well.

“In Melbourne I was invited on board the Marama which was engaged on a regular fortnightly service between Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington. She carried her own fork-lifts for speedy cargo handling.

“At Sydney I called at the Union Bulkships offices and was shown over the Maheno, sister to the Marama. There I saw the whole operation in progress.

“The two ships carried freight ranging from prefabricated aircraft to cars, piledriving equipment, insulated containers and racehorses.

“The loading and unloading was via a large stern door and a lift arrangement allowed the transfer of cargo between the decks. Navigation equipment included twin propellers, twin rudders and a bow thruster. A stabilisation system was also included in the design in order to reduce rolling on what could be quite rough seas.

He concludes: “According to a company manager I spoke to, the ships were performing well and the owners had no complaints. The Dundee-built ships appeared to be the pathfinders on those routes and as traffic increased they were eventually found to be limited in size to meet the growing demand for space.”