Columbus New Zealand

Not a pretty sight

I often wondered what happened to her. Thanks for that.

Did she manage to keep her Kiwi crew? I seem to recall a debacle where she stopped in an overseas port (Tahiti?) and tried a crew change - big industrial problems at the time (mid-80s?).

John t.

Sad sight, she and her sisters always brightened up the dock scene with their colours.

trotterdotpom,

You are thinking of New Zealand Pacific that was diverted to Tahiti for reflagging and recrewing etc. NZP was renamed Tui at the same time and for a short while I recall that it certainly hit the press here at the time. Columbus New Zealand never had a Kiwi crew

Sorry - now I remember, how could I make that mistake?

Columbus Line was famous in Australia for having the longest ever union picket (Seamens Union of Australia) outside their office in either Sydney or Brisbane, not sure - must check Guinness Book.

Funnily enough, the Deck Boy on 'Australian Trader' suffered a collapsed lung and paid off in Auckland. Being unable to fly, he travelled on a Columbus Line ship to Sydney. Sacrilege for an SUA member!

John T.

When I applied for my position with Columbus Maritime in '85, the NZ Seamans Union also had a picket outside the companys Auckland office.

The head of the company in Australia (Horst Rijk) during those turbulent times has just passed away in the last couple of months.

The Technical Manager of Columbus OZ also passed away, I think about 5 years ago, he was German, Ulf........, cannot remember his surname, an extremely nice guy. He always provided our office with the famous Columbus calendar in return for one of ours.
Jan

Jan,

You are thinking of Uwe Danielsen who lost a battle against cancer. There are no more "Columbus Line" calender these days but those of Hamburg Sud. If you have dropped off the distribution list drop me a line and I'll see what I can do for 2006.

Yes Steve, That is him.
I knew him pretty well. He was very supportive towards the deliveries of our products (marine paints) on his vessels and the materials he bought for the shipping containers.
I knew about his battle with that terrible disease.
My secretary in the office (ex secretary) has still got the calenders, no sweat, but thanks anyhow.
Small world this maritime business, especially in a small place like OZ.
Jan