Global-Mariner

                                                              "The Ships"

                                                                                      Ship Photos

                                                                                       - page 7 -

                                                           Dry Cargo Ships

Classic Glen Line freighter, - commissioned 1956 as "Dolius, - photographed in Hong Kong, February 1972

Renamed: "Glenfruin" 1970, - "Dolius" 1972, - "Hungmien" 1972, - "Hong Qi 119" 1977, - "Zhan Dou 51" 1983, - Scrapped: 1992 ?

DWT.: 9300 tons, - LOA.: 149,8 m, - Beam: 19,0 m, - Propulsion: 1 Diesel, - 16 knots.

Classic UK steamer "Nardana" of British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd, - photographed in Hong Kong Harbour, - 1972

Launched and commissioned: 1956, - DWT.: 10140 , - LOA.: 156,9 m, - Beam: 20,6 m, - Propulsion: 3 steam turbines, - 10250 shp, - 17 knots. Renamed "Arya Pand" in 1973, -

Scrapped in 1976.

Danish motor ship "Cecilie Mærsk" of A. P. Møller, Copenhagen, photographed in Hong Kong 1973.

Completed in 1967, - DWT.: 13.900 tons, - LOA.: 170,6 meters, - Beam: 24,5 meters, - Propulsion: Diesel, - 22,5 knots

Renamed 1991 "CMB Winner", - 1991 "Contship Antwerp", - 1993 "Red Sea Ensemble", - 1994 "Bilbao Express", - Scrapped 1997.

Commissioned in 1948 as "Scottish Trader" under UK flag, and here photographed in the Malacca Strait 1972 as "Silver Coast"

DWT.: 10300 tons, - LOA.: 138,6 bm., - Beam: 17,8 m., - Propulsion: Diesel, - 12 knots. Renamed: 1960 "North Cambria", - 1963 "Bannercliff", - 1970 "Silver Coast", - 1973 "Granikos", - and scrapped 1974.

A great classic from Ben Line, - the "Benarkle" of Liverpool -, photographed in Singapore in 1972.

Completed in 1946 as "City of Poona", - DWT.: 11956 tons, - LOA.: 151,6 m., - Beam: 19,6 m., - Propulsion: Diesel, - 14,5 knots. Renamed "Benarkle" in 1968, - and scrapped in 1974.

Another Danish classic of the fifties, - "Lars Maersk" -, photographed on the Chao Phraya River at Bangkok in 1972.

Commissioned in 1956, - Original DWT.: 5900 tons, - LOA.: 125,3 m., - Beam: 16,5 m., - Propulsion: Diesel, - 15 Knots.

Lengthened in 1960 to 135,5 m., - 6494 tons deadweight, - and scrapped in Kaohsiung 1980.

Another British classic, - the "Centaur" of famous Blue Funnel Line -, photographed in Singapore, 1972

This is one of those combined cargo/passenger ships you sometimes meet, but in case of "Centaur", the passenger section of the ship is unusual large, with plenty of deck space that gives the impression of a real passenger liner.

But she is also a cargo ship.

Completed in 1964, - DWT.: 2594 tons, - LOA.: 146,5 m., - Beam: 20,2 m., - Propulsion: 2 Diesels, - 20 Knots. Renamed "Hai Da" in 1985, - and apparently scrapped in China in 2006.

Here a Danish classic from Maersk Line, - the "Thomas Maersk" from 1962 -, photographed in Hong Kong in 1972.

Completed in 1962, - DWT.: 14390 tons, - LOA.: 170,7 m., - Beam: 22,6 m., - Propulsion Diesel, - 21,5 Knots. Renamed "Sarika B" in 1980, - and scrapped in 1982.

Classic Danish cargo liner of the East Asiatic Company, Copenhagen, - built by B & W Launched and commissioned: 1961, -

DWT: 10200, - LOA.: 151,8 m, - Beam: 19,4 m, - Propulsion: Diesel, - 17,5 knots Renamed 1977 "Pomalaa" , - and scrapped in China 1984 

Japanese cargo ship commissioned in 1970, - and here photographed in the Malacca Strait in March 1982.

DWT.: 13550 tons, - LOA.: 141,3 m, - Beam: 20,0 m, - Propulsion: Diesel, - 14,5 Knots

Wrecked and sank a few months later, - May 25.1982 -, after hitting a reef in the Coral Sea.

                                   ---------------------------------------------------

                               "Maersk" versus the "East Asiatic Company"

The following 7 pictures make up a series of pictures that belong together. All taken in Hong Kong from the roof of Ocean Terminal, on Nov. 15th. 1973.

On that day, I found, that two classic cargo ships from Denmark's two biggest companies were moored there at the same pier.

There had always been a sort of competition between those two great shipping companies. In this battle, "Maersk" had the advantage of being the biggest, while "EAC" never became more than the second biggest.

However, - "EAC" seemed always to be out first when it comes to applying new technologies for ships.

"EAC" had the honour of being first with a big, oceangoing diesel powered ship, - the "Selandia" launched in 1911 -, and since then they only used diesels for the new buildings that came after.

"EAC" had a close cooperation with the B&W motor factory, and was the first to try out the turbo charged big diesel and the controllable pitch propeller, - as well as fully automated engine operation with full bridge control, - and also they built the first generation super container ships in Denmark. (See my pictures from one of them, - the impressive "JUTLANDIA".)

From a sailors point of view the "EAC" had far nicer ships, - lots of beautiful and fast cargo liners -, and only very few tankers and bulk carriers which was not the situation at "Maersk", who had lots of lots of both tankers and bulkers. ( And tankers and bulkers were not the most popular ships for sailors in those days!

Sailors liked the sleek, beautiful dry cargo ships, that stayed long time in exiting ports!

For us sailors who had the privilege to get a job with "EAC", we also had the the privilege of enjoying the benefits of having the best terms and conditions, - better pay, - better vacation, - better pension, - shorter service periods -, while "Maersk" strictly used the same standard terms and conditions as everybody else had. (Which in fact was NOT bad at all, - but if you could get something better, you would of course go for the better deal!)

Also we had better food, - and a relaxed alcohol policy -, when comparing ourselves with the lives of the "Maersk" sailors.

While "Maersk" and all other companies employed a lot of people on dispensations because it was impossible to get enough fully licensed people in those days, - this was no problem for "EAC", - and they actually ended up with only fully licensed officers without any form of dispensations.

Needless to say, - we who sailed for the "East Asiatic Company" looked at ourselves as the "Noblemen of the Sea", - far better than anybody else, - and light years ahead of what other seafaring nations could offer in those days - - - -

We were like Kings on the seven oceans, - and everybody envied us - - - -

Well, - actually I am convinced, that if you asked some dedicated "Maersk" sailors in those days: Who are the "Noblemen of the Seas?", - they would most certainly point at themselves! :-)

But who actually won the battle of being the best in the World???? The answer is "Maersk"! "Maersk" is still the biggest shipping company in Denmark, - and in fact not only that -, it is also the biggest private owned shipping company in the whole World!

"Maersk" is a true maritime giant, - the biggest -, and they rule the oceans - - - -

"The East Asiatic Company"????? Sad to say, but it is now many years ago they moved their great headquarters out of Denmark to Singapore, - and they also stopped operating ships! There is not even one ship left!

They are now engaged in all other sorts of businesses, - except shipping! Hence, - from a sailors point of view, there is no "East Asiatic Company" anymore - - - - Only memories!

One of these memories comes here, showing the classic "EAC" cargo ship "Songkhla" leaving competitor "Maren Maersk" at Ocean Terminal in order to go at anchor somewhere in Hong Kong's extremely busy and crowded Victoria Harbour!

Please enjoy a sight never more to be seen, - from a time that is gone forever - - -

"Maren Maersk" of Maersk- A.P. Møller, Copenhagen, Denmark, photographed at Ocean Terminal in Hong Kong in 1973.

Commissioned 1953, - DWT.: 9427 tons, - LOA.: 149,1 m., - Beam: 19,2 m., Propulsion: Diesel, - 17,5 Knots. Renamed: "Union San Francisco" in 1977, - and scrapped in Kaohsiung in 1979.

Songkhla" of the East Asiatic Company, Copenhagen, Denmark, - photographed at ocean Terminal, Hong Kong, in 1973

Commissioned in 1953, - DWT.: 8940 tons, - LOA: 148,9 m., - Beam: 19,1 m.,- Propulsion: Diesel, - 16 knots.

Renamed: "Paclog Sealink" in 1974, - "Offshore Provider" in 1982, - and scrapped in Kaohsiung in 1987.

                                          ------------------------------------------------

Now having just mentioned "Songkhla" and the "East Asiatic Cimpany", - it is a sort of coincident,that the two following ships are both built at the shipyard at Nakskov, - which was owned by the "East Asiatic Conpany".

Needless to say, numerous of the "EAC" ships came from there, although Nakskov also built ships for other companies, - like the two following - - - -

Classic built at Nakskov in 1956 for Norwegian flag as "Ivaran", - here as "Star Antares" under Panama flag and Johnson Line control.

DWT.: 10100 tons, - LOA.: 149,7 m., - Beam: 19,3 m., - Propulsion: Diesel, - 17 knots. Renamed: "Solholdt" 1962, - "Star Antares" 1963, - "Jade" 1978, - "Jader" 1988, - and finally scrapped in Alang, 1988.

Classic Hansa-B type built at Nakskov 1947 for Danish flag as "London", - here as "Tailungshan" under Somalia flag and obvioulsly Chinese operated.

DWT.: 5300 tons, - LOA.: 109,6 m., - Beam: 15,5 m., - Propulsion: Diesel, - 3120 IHP, - 12,5 knots. Renamed: "Tailungshan" 1963, - and scrapped in Kaohsiung 1978.