Australian Coastal Shipping Commission saucer

Date20th century

Object number00004292

NameSaucer

MediumCeramic

DimensionsOverall: 25 x 150 x 150 mm, 0.2 kg

ClassificationsTableware and furnishings

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis saucer comes from the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission. The Australian Coastal Shipping Commission was formed in 1956. Its business name was the Australian National Line, the national and international shipping carrier. Coastal shipping was once the major means of transport for passengers and cargo around Australia.HistoryThe Australian Coastal Shipping Commission was formed in October 1956 following the introduction of the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission Act. The Commission operated under the name Australian National Line (ANL). The ANL began with forty ships previously owned by the Australian Shipping Board. In 1959, the ANL expanded their operations to include a ferry service, replacing the Tasmanian Steamer run route from Melbourne - Devonport. The PRINCESS OF TASMANIA, the first roll on/roll off ferry in the southern hemisphere, was the first ferry to depart on this route. It was constructed in Newcastle in September 1959. Following the success of the PRINCESS OF TASMANIA service, the ANL commissioned a cargo carrier, BASS TRADER, which commenced service in 1961. Following the success of the Melbourne - Devonport route, the ANL decided to establish a Sydney - Tasmania passenger service. The EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA was constructed by Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company Pty Ltd and completed in 1964. The vessel undertook its first voyage from Sydney - Hobart in 1965, and shortly afterwards included a route from Sydney - Bell Bay/Burnie as well. In 1966 the Australian National Line chartered MV BOONAROO and MV JEPARIT to the Australian Government's Department of Shipping and Trade to transport equipment, stores, ammunition, food and other essentials to Australian troops during the Vietnam War. Industrial trouble started in 1969 when sections of the maritime union refused to man the ships, as part of increasingly wider protests against the Vietnam War. Under Government powers, both vessels were commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy thereby allowing detachments of RAN sailors to load and unload the vessels. In 1969 the Australian National Line again expanded their Australian passenger service with the introduction of the passenger liner AUSTRALIAN TRADER, which operated a route between Burnie, Devonport and Bell Bay. In 1984 however the ANL announced an end to their ferry business, in order to concentrate on the freight and cargo business. In 1998 ANL's container shipping operations and trading name were bought by the French shipping company CMA CGM. Under CMA CGM, the Australian National Line still runs both North-South and East-West directional trade routes.SignificanceThis souvenir saucer highlights the history of the Australian National Line as Australia's national and international shipping carrier. It also represents the souvenirs produced by shipping lines for their passengers.