[flyer682]

Built 1966 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., Dundee.
4,548grt. 367' 1" x 53' 6" x 23' 6".
Sold 1986 and renamed KENT BRILLIANT. Lost rudder north of Phillipines April 1993 and subsequently broken up at Huangpu later that year.
The two photos show her at Timaru in 1976.

[Billyg]

Ah the Nga boats, the ships that Union Company sent you to when you were a bad boy. The lowest paid ones and sometimes the hardest working ones . Crewed often with rehabs from the Sallies Island . I sailed on the Ngahere and when the ship rolled which they easily did the bridge deck used to lift slightly and water leak into my cabin through the crack. I remeber the skipper telling the company that when loaded with **** for Oz, in certain cross sea conditions they had a terrible habit of starting to hetrodyne ( get into a death roll) if not corrected early on. Scary stuff I can tell you. But the dry a---s in Wellington would not believe him. These boats often worked the Islands off NZ. eg Nuie, Tonga etc etc.
Billyg.

[david smith]

The Florentino (ex Ngatoro)at Rendsburg november 1979.
Why did Union Steam have those "cabs" on the bridgewings? Frightened of a bit of weather?

[Bill R]

Thanks for your messages on the Nga's.
I must have been one of the bad boys as I spent several years on them as Master. I even ended up signing any Company mail as Commodore Nga's much to the annoyance of Head Office.
They were originally built in Dundee (Caledon) for the paper trade out of Mt.Maunganui before Tasman came in with their own ships.
Thinking back I think my favourite was "Ngapara"

Cheers Bill Ross

[maurie]

I sailed on all all Nga boats as an AB late 60s. Have to agree with BillyG, They were really bad regarding rolling. When on the bridgewings during lookout watch and ship put on 1 mean roll, well, rather freaky. But at least were a pleasure to work eg cranes instead of masts and derricks.
cheers MaurieE

[KPC]

Originally Posted by david smith

The Florentino (ex Ngatoro)at Rendsburg november 1979.
Why did Union Steam have those "cabs" on the bridgewings? Frightened of a bit of weather?

Dave
if you had done a trip or seven across the Tasman ex Bluff or similar you would understand......great spot in those nga boat rolls though !

[neil maclachlan]

Hi Shipmates,
You folks obviously sailed with Union Steamship Company of New Zealand so I'd like to put a question to you? I'm trying to locate an old friend of mine from my Blue Star day's,his name is Jock Walker (Alec) I was Jocks best man when he married a girl from Prestwick,Scotland in 1954. I lost touch with him ,the last time I met him was in 1964-5 when he was home in Scotland on holiday. I know theres a lot of water under the bridge since then, but it would be wonderfull if I could make contact with Jock once more. I think he may have lived in Auckland, he may have been a second engineer or even maybe even a chiel. I hope with a bit of luck some of you guys may have sailed with---I used to call him Cobby Walker, he was from Bathgate,Midlothian.
Heres Hoping,
Neil Mac

[zsimone]

Ah Yes The Nga's Knew Them Well. I sailed in the the Ngatoro, Ngahere, and Ngakuta as AB and Leading Hand. As stated they would roll on a wet lawn given half the chance. My favourite would have to have been the Ngatoro. She was the only one fitted with an Iron Mike (Automatic Steering) made life a little easier when on watch. Nothing unusual in these vessels to sleep on the deck due to being uncermoniously tossed out of your bunk due to the rolling. Apart from their sea keeping capabilities great ships to work as stated. Hydraulic hatch lids and 6 cranes easy clew ups. I also sailed on the Karetu another crane vessel. These had only 4 cranes. Very nice ships. They also were a little prone to rocking and rolling but nothing in comparrison to the Nga Class. On the Nga's the brow was used to paint the vessel. You used to piggy back it from crane to crane for painting over the side and great for painting the fore part of the accomadation. Do one side and then slew the crane around to paint the other side. Have some fond memories of these vessels.
Cheers
Gary

[KPC]

Hello Gary
I sailed as AB on Ngahere and Karetu. They were the "cream" jobs for sure. Karetu my pick. Actually went into Westport on her for load of coal.Was on Ngahere for best part of 12 months...had my 21st B/day on her in melbourne......stellar cast and quite a party. Peter Rogers was bosun

[zsimone]

Hi KPC.

I must agree the Karetu was also a favourite of mine. Yes it was a bit below the belt when they sent her in for a load of coal. I was on the Trans Tas run all the time. A question did they still have engine casing chain linked up. Why I ask one trip this split open and the motormen where getting hot showers whilst down below. The Bosun at the time was Noddy Osborne and the Master was little Tich Brayshay. I was on her for about 9months and she laid up.
Cheers
Gar

[KPC]

I sailed with the Tich man a couple of times..the angry ant. and a nasty bit of work if crossed. Still...on reflection they had a lot to contend with.Some of the ratbags that were around.he gave me a DR off the Kaitoa. {I didn't do it )

[KPC]

Re the Engine room...can"t answer that one. Many ships I was on never saw inside of ER...never the twain shall meet and all that. I would like to track down any photos of interior of USS co ships eg cabins or Messrooms etc. Any photos taken on deck or similar.
I worked with Holm and Co..Richardsons ..Northern..Tankers..Moana Roa..John Wilson and a Cavalcade of slow greens...mainly Intercolonial but also Wairata to far East and islands on Tarawera and others. Also much time Oz coast.

[KPC]

Gary
Please resend your email K

[cassim]

I did a trip as Supernumary on "Ngatoro" in 1973 from Mount Maunganui to Hobart and Geelong. Wood pulp on the way over and CKDs (cars knocked down for the uninitiated) on the return. We were stuck at the Mount for a week due to an industrial dispute concerning a motorman and up for every tide. Very frustrating and tensions ran fairly high but also a very social time - we spent a lot of time on the Big Blue Star berthed astern. Also entertained the local constabulary on a regular basis. When we finally sailed it took us 6 days to Hobart - no wonder they called them the slow greens! Andy Keyworth commonly known in the fleet as "God" was master. While berthed in Hobart the crew had a party with the radio tuned to the local radio station. Georgie West the sparky phoned in a request from the Officers of the Ngatoro to play for the crew of the Ngatoro the song "You cant touch me Im part of the Union" The roar that went up from the crowd below when that came across the radio nearly raised the deck a couple of inches! Those were the days. After we discharged the wood pulp we moved up under the bridge for fuel and then left empty for Geelong. Going through Bass Strait empty was no joke - one moment your head is rammed through the bunkboard and the next your feet are being rammed into your stomach plus of course the cavitation as the screw comes near the surface. Incidentally I recall the forward engineroom bulkhead having a huge patch on it where steel had penetrated the bulkhead. That must have been exciting!

[Butters]

As a new chum I heve enjoyed reading through all this correspondence and comments .
I sailed as apprentice & 2nd mate in "NGAHERE & NGAKUTA". But the smaller ones I liked better 'KARETU & KAREPO, sailed in both 'Karetu', on coal run and 'Karepo', for five months as Third Mate . Longest voyage Tauranga - Fremantle , then Kwinana , Busselton for 5 days ( what a wharf to work down half cut ) then Adelaide to top up with Gnl for Wellington ,Lyttelton , Bluff , Tauranga. Round trip 61 days. Great crew
Ray Warriner - Master , Frank Walsh - C/E. Geo. Osborne (Noddy) Bosun. Chad Kearney (Passionate Plumber) , Dave Williams and the rest good South Island stock

Lindsay Butterfield. (Butters)

[J Boyde]

I sailed on three, Ngatoro, Ngahere, Ngakuta and the Karetu. The Nga were quite good, in the engineroom. Then start the climb up to the accomodation, you soon got the nack but occasionaly you would get caught, all part of life. The Karetu was a nice ship and generaly rode well. Did have one trip where I was awoken sitting up with my back to the bulkhead and hear water flowing over above my cabin. The mate and the man on the wheel, both hit the deck thinking that the windows were going in. They didnt but we did spend a few not planed hours in Wellington while some work was done on the winches housings. The Araluen did the biggest roll I had in my years at sea.
Jim Boyde

[maurie]

aahhhhh, dont ya love those memories of days gone by

[dom]

i rolled on the ngapara from hobart to freemantle back to dunedun, they had trouble building them the plans kept rolling of the draughtsmans board.

[PKiddell]

HI Neil, Think the Alec Walker that you are trying to trace was the bloke that I relieved on the Cilicia in 1955. I next met him in Whangarei when he was a Marine Dept Surveyor . I'll check with a mate of mine but I think he has passed on.

Peter Kiddell.

[PKiddell]

Hi Neil, checked with my mate,and Alec Walker passed away about 6 years ago. Pretty sure he would be the one you were looking for.

Peter Kiddell

[NZSCOTTY]

Another ex Nga man. I was mate on three of them inthe 70's. We had some great times. Only problem I had to play master as they were always up the road.

[shad]

Sailed on all four(must have been on the outer?)remember you well Bill,had a few good times together,also you Butters, lots a naughty boys in the Co.They were good Jobs on a good day!!!.Not with lead from Whyala.Doug P.

[Dave Edge]

"Ngapara" was not broken up as thought as the latest issue of 'Marine News'has a photo of her taken at Shanghai on 29 July this year. She is now named "Zheng He 9" and has had her cranes removed but doesn't look too bad for a 41 year old.

[flyer682]

Originally Posted by Dave Edge

"Ngapara" was not broken up as thought as the latest issue of 'Marine News'has a photo of her taken at Shanghai on 29 July this year. She is now named "Zheng He 9" and has had her cranes removed but doesn't look too bad for a 41 year old.

Dave, Do you mean New Zealand Marine News or the WSS one?

[Dave Edge]

David,
The photo is in the WSS Marine News for September.
Dave.