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PATONGA (1953)
Service dates: 1953-1977
Official number: 185980
Shipping lines: P&O ORIENT LINE; P&O GENERAL CARGO DIVISION
Ship type:
Refrigerated Cargo Liner.
Career
- 05.1951
- Ordered. She was to be similar to Federal Steam Navigation Company’s Dorset but with different refrigeration and a 50-ton derrick.
- 06.06.1952
- Keel laid.
- 11.08.1953
- Launched by Mrs R M Thwaites, wife of a General Manager of P&O.
- 25.11.1953
- Ran trials.
- 07.12.1953
- Delivered as Patonga to The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Ltd. Her name is taken from a town in New South Wales and is of aboriginal origin, apparently meaning ‘little wallaby’.
- 08.12.1953
- Registered.
- Late 1950s
- Made occasional voyages North China/UK with seasonal refrigerated exports.
- 05.1960
- Management and operation transferred to P&O-Orient Lines.
- 1961
- Went on the Australia/New Zealand/East Coast USA service for New Zealand Shipping Company.
- 1966
- Managers and operators restyled P&O Lines.
- 1970/1971
- Went on the Australia/New Zealand/East Coast USA service for New Zealand Shipping Company.
- 01.10.1971
- Management and operation transferred to P&O General Cargo Division. Employment under GCD included New Zealand/Gulf and New Zealand/UK services.
- 28.05.1975
- Renamed Strathlauder. She was the only refrigerated ship to be renamed in the ‘Strath Services’ rebranding of P&O General Cargo Division.
- 19.09.1977
- Arrived at Karachi.
- 23.09.1977
- Sold to Pakistan Management Corporation Ltd for demolition.
- 05.10.1977
- Demolition commenced.