Seaway Melbourne

The SEAWAY MELBOURNE ( formerly UNION LYTTELTON) and her sister SEAWAY HOBART (formerly UNION HOBART) were introduced to the Melbourne - Hobart / Sydney - Hobart service in 1983 to replace the uneconomical SEAWAY PRINCE and SEAWAY PRINCESS.Prior to this both vessels were employed on the NZ - Australia service.
Regards
Emmanuel

Why was the ship registered in London and not down under?

Regards
Blair

Prior to 1989 the vessel was on charter, this photo must have been taken before ownership transfered to the Union Steam Ship Co. of Australia PTY, Ltd.
Many of the vessels chartered or managed by the Union Co. during the later years of their operation were not registerd in NZ.
Regards
Emmanuel

Thanks

Regards
Blair

I am happy to say that this ship, still trades here in Greece! Her stern seems to be unchanged, apart from a stern ramp fitted outside the aft door!

Hi Tassie,

Maybe you can mail this photo to http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/union_lyttelton_1977.htm
It's not on his site yet.
Regards
Jack

Stood by the latter stages of her building in Sandefjord , Norway January - February 1977 then the voyage out to NZ as Second Mate. Built with nominal owners being Chandris Line and like a few others Union S.S.Co (UK) Ltd., as Managers if I remember correctly . A good voyage out as chartered by TNT to Hansa Line and loaded heavy machinery & accommodation blocks at Bremerhaven, Antwerp & Marseilles for Dubai, Damman , Kuwait & Bandar Abbas then Fremantle for bunkers where we saw 'UNION AOTEAROA', on her re delivery to Singapore.
We then took up the service at Melbourne previously worked by 'UNION SYDNEY 1'.
John Jenkins was the Master - a Welsh gentleman .

Butters.

In the 1980's all of the Union Company ships were beneficially owned by TNT and run by a fellow called Ken Urry until that company was itself taken over in 1995/6 by a Dutch company and TNT was broken up and sold off piecemeal. The TNT name still exists as a transport company in Oz and Europe.

Butters, as I understood, you mean that Union Lyttelton was built for the Chandris family??? What about the Union Hobart?? Chandris also built at the time the TFL Progress/ Prosperity, but in Japan. Both of them still trade today here in Greece!

Finnpartner , 'Union Hobart', was built for Whitminster Co.Ltd. Hamilton , with A.J.Chandris , Piraeus, Managers. For time charter to Union Company 1976-1984. 'Seaway Hobart (NZ) 1984-88 and then Union S.S.Co., of Aust.Pty.Ltd., 1988-1990. Then Union Shipping Aust.Pty.Ltd., Melbourne 1990 - 1993.

' Union Lyttelton', was built for Lulworth & co., Ltd. Hamilton .( A.J. Chandris, Piraeus, Managers )for time charter to Union Company 1977-83. 'Seaway Melbourne' (NZ) 1983-89 . U.S.S. Co. of Aust.Pty.Ltd., Melbourne 1989-90 then Union Shipping Aust.Pty. Ltd., 1900-92 . Laid up at Melbourne 17/04/1992