PLANS TO EXPAND U.S.S. FLEET

Chronicle (Levin), 18 September 1946, Page 5

PLANS TO EXPAND U.S.S. FLEET

-Press Association

Bv Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Sept. 17. Plans for a great expansion oi the fleet oi' the Uuion Steaui Ship (Jo. Ltd. to meet jiostwar deinands on the Domniion coast aud inlen-olonial i'aeilie aml Kastern trade, and lo replace war losses, were amiounced by its maiiaging direetor, Mr. ,f. X. Creeuland, on his return lo Auckland from a visit to Brilain and Nortli Anierica. Mr. (ireeuland statod it was prnposed to build a new Tasman liner, hui the shortage of berths in British yards was delaying the matter. As viee-prosident of the CanadianAustraiasian line, he had discussed the replacemeiit of Ihe lost Niagara with the line's chairman, M r. I). C. Coleman, iu Canada. This was reeeiving close eonsideration but many diflieulties were being faced. Jn the nieantiiiie the Tasman serviee will be inaiiitained by the Monowai whieh would be ready in from nine montlis to a year after recon version at Sydney from war accomiuodatioii. Ihe liner w.ill be entirely redesigned iiitern allv. The Canadian-Australasian liuet Aorangi was also relitting at Syduey and wiy be ready for serviee by Julie. Orders have been plaeed in Britam for the eonstructiou of eight eargo ships for the company 's intereoloniai and eoastal services. There are tliree 1501)0 tous gross niotur-ships — Ihe Ko mata, whieh was to have been lauuclied today, the Koromiko to be ijeli vered in jO.C'tober^ amj. -.the Kaitoke to ne "delivcred in-' Ylay, ' IbUS. . Ikfur 3000-ton mator ships are the Kaitangata to he ready in Oetober, 1D47, the Konui in Deeemher, 11)47, the Kaitawa iu Julv, 1H48 aud ihe Kaiapoi in September, 11)48. Oue 2000-ton vessel is the luimoini to he delivered in Oetolier, 11)4(5. These slilps are in addition to Ihe new ferry Hinemoa and .'lOOO-ton oi 1burning steamer- Kainianawa. The latter was lniilt in 15)44 and taken over by the Alinistrv of War Transport. From Can i ada, the company has recently [iureliased the lU,S00-ton oillmrning steamer j Waiteniata, a eargo vessel with guod aceoinmodation for 12 pussengers. She I will be delivered next niontli. Mr. Greenland stated that negotia I tions had lieen jiroeeeding in, Washingjton for the purehase of two 10,008-toii 15 knot Liberty ships, oue of whieh would be used in the Paeilic serviee and the second would run with the Narbada developing export trade to Java, Binga pore and Iiulia, a trade maintained by the company for (52 years. Mr. Green land said that with four Canadian Government ships recently pureliased by the .Canadian-Australasian line, the Kaimanawa and the Liberty ship, the company would have interests in six freighters in the Paeific serviee. He expected very extreme eompetition on this trade and although he thought his company would have sufflcient ships, it was prepared to continue its policy of chart ering vessels. from the English market.