Ben line ship in New Zealand waters

[DURANGO]

I well remember being in one of the smaller ports in New Zealand back in 1959 I was a boy rating in the Wellington Star and laying alongside was a heavy lift Ben line ship , I have often wondered if she was there on a charter could any Ben line seaman confirm that they did indeed charter ships out I can no longer remember her name best regards Dave .

[Tom S]

The heavy lift ship Benledi was down in New Zealand in 1959 she loaded a full cargo for Liverpool The Captain at the time was a namesake of mine T Sutherland
she was on her way back from Christmas Island
TomS

[DURANGO]

The heavy lift ship Benledi was down in New Zealand in 1959 she loaded a full cargo for Liverpool The Captain at the time was a namesake of mine T Sutherland
she was on her way back from Christmas Island
TomS Thanks for that Tom I just looked her up she was built as Empire Admiral ,what brought it back to me in the first place was a photo I saw on here of the old Empire Wallace showing her as the Benarty truth is the way they where built she could most likely have been going to this day best regards Dave .

[jg grant]

Hi, saw the Benledi in London early sixties loading jet aircraft for, Singapore, Hong Kong? regards Ronnie

[Ben Boat Jim]

I was "Peggy" on the "Benalbanach" in 1956 one of four Ben Line heavy lift ships. All rivetted including accomodation. The mast shrouds were solid steel . My first ship. and remember standing on the main deck line, with my chin resting on the bulwark capping
An unforgettable experience.
Regards Jim Morrison

[Tom S]

I was Cadet on the same Benalbanach when they fitted the new tween deck in Leith we then went to Grangemouth and toppled one of the shoreside cranes during sailing as you say they were built to last everything was double plated
Tom S

[roymuir]

Benwyis also ran to New Zealand on a Scales charter to load wool. I have a photo of her on the Otago Harbour, heading to Dunedin.
Regards, Roy.

[DURANGO]

I was never with the Ben line, fine looking and well kept ships sorely missed by all of us ,as are all our other great shipping companys but I did sail in a few Blue funnel ships but never came across one of them in New Zealand I know they where regular on the Aussie coast but again they are now just a distant memory along with all the rest best regards to all hands and many thanks for the replies to my question Dave .

[munroejah]

(Bounce)Benwyis also ran to New Zealand on a Scales charter to load wool. I have a photo of her on the Otago Harbour, heading to Dunedin.
Regards, Roy.

Roy,

I was cadet on the Benwyvis on that charter. From memory we were on a time charter in 1959 from Japan. We departed light ship and slow steamed to Bluff. It took us 42 days. Part loaded in Bluff and then topped off in Dunedin. Sailed to Antwerp and flew home. Shipped out again from Hull nine days later for a second charter. I am sure complete same crew signed back on for the trip which, if I remember was part load Wellington followed by a top off in Napier.(B
Roy, if there is any way I could get a copy of that photo I would be obliged,

John.

[munroejah]

Hi, saw the Benledi in London early sixties loading jet aircraft for, Singapore, Hong Kong? regards Ronnie

Ronnie,
I am amazed that at least three of the four heavy lifters(Benwyvis,Benarty,Benalbanach and Benledi) were involved in similar voyage/cargo duties. Almost a mirror image in some cases I suspect. Whilst serving on the Benwyvis for three and a half years she went to Christmas Island in 1957 (between atom bomb tests) with a full load for the army. - Apparently so did the Benledi in 1959. The Wyvis also loaded aircraft, some packed and some broken down which we discharged in Seletar (Singapore Island). So also apparently, did the Benledi in the early sixties. The heavy lifters were GREAT ships in every way. After the Benwyvis I got my second mates ticket and went back on the Benarty as third mate with a load for for the Far East terminating in Hong Kong. After discharge she was sold for scrap and we flew home. John

[munroejah]

(Bounce)Benwyis also ran to New Zealand on a Scales charter to load wool. I have a photo of her on the Otago Harbour, heading to Dunedin.
Regards, Roy.

Roy,

I was cadet on the Benwyvis on that charter. From memory we were on a time charter in 1959 from Japan. We departed light ship and slow steamed to Bluff. It took us 42 days. Part loaded in Bluff and then topped off in Dunedin. Sailed to Antwerp and flew home. Shipped out again from Hull nine days later for a second charter. I am sure complete same crew signed back on for the trip which, if I remember was part load Wellington followed by a top off in Napier.(B
Roy, if there is any way I could get a copy of that photo I would be obliged,

John.

[DURANGO]

(Bounce)

Roy,

I was cadet on the Benwyvis on that charter. From memory we were on a time charter in 1959 from Japan. We departed light ship and slow steamed to Bluff. It took us 42 days. Part loaded in Bluff and then topped off in Dunedin. Sailed to Antwerp and flew home. Shipped out again from Hull nine days later for a second charter. I am sure complete same crew signed back on for the trip which, if I remember was part load Wellington followed by a top off in Napier.(B
Roy, if there is any way I could get a copy of that photo I would be obliged,

John. I would think that was the voyage I saw her in Dunedin I was a boy in the Wellington Star at the time I,m guesing here but I would think it would have been early 1959 around about april may time but without looking through my book I cant be exact I to would like to see the photo if there is a chance best regards Dave .

[george r]

I well remember being in one of the smaller ports in New Zealand back in 1959 I was a boy rating in the Wellington Star and laying alongside was a heavy lift Ben line ship , I have often wondered if she was there on a charter could any Ben line seaman confirm that they did indeed charter ships out I can no longer remember her name best regards Dave .
i signed on 25/4/59 liverpool to antwerp back to liverpool charter for irven oil 7tugs st johns new brunswick then coal sydney cape britten to montreal 2 months through panama to cienfugas cuba sugar for
japan 4 ports then philapines 5 ports on to malasia and singapore next columbo now sri lanka headed home via suez paid off liverpool 29/12/59

[ernhelenbarrett]

Benalbanach was my first ship as deck boy straight from the Dolphin,I joined her on 1st December 1947 in Tilbury when she was the Empire Athelstan and Ben Line had just bought her from Paddy Hendersons, we went to Antwerp where the name was changed to Benalbanach and the accommodation was changed as her original crew were Paddy Henderson non Uk. Loaded locomotives for the far east but Ben Line reckoned the work on deck was a bit hard for Deck Boys as Bulwarks were 8 feet high and hatch coamings 6 feet and the 120 ton jumbos a bit much for a tich like me so I was transferred to
Bendoran (ex Sam Boat) in London then Benvrackie (another Sam Boat)
finally ended up doing 4 years on Bencruachan.
Ern Barrett

[george r]

[QUOTE=munroejah;549454](Bounce)

Roy,

I was cadet on the Benwyvis on that charter. From memory we were on a time charter in 1959 from Japan. We departed light ship and slow steamed to Bluff. It took us 42 days. Part loaded in Bluff and then topped off in Dunedin. Sailed to Antwerp and flew home. Shipped out again from Hull nine days later for a second charter. I am sure complete same crew signed back on for the trip which, if I remember was part load Wellington followed by a top off in Napier.(B
Roy, if there is any way I could get a copy of that photo I would be obliged,
was george rennie the bosun on the benwyvis at that time he was my uncle he died from a heart attach on his way to rejoin her 1965 i was with the benline from 1956-60 then bowaters till 1963 . my other uncle was david meikle all his life with benline died indian.
.george r

[john fraser]

Regarding the Ben Line ships going to New Zealnd.I think it was one voyage a year, I was told that E.G. Thomson(Edward) had interests in sheep farms in N.Z.and part of the homeward cargo was wool.

[wheelerclan]

According to the book "The Ships that serve NZ " all four of the heavy lifters owned by Ben Line came to NZ between 1958 & 1961 on charter to local co Scales Line & loaded wool . They were Benalbanach, Benarty , Benledi & Benwyvis.