Blue Star's S.S. "Tasmania Star"

                    My First Ship

The Tasmania Star was one of the four post-war "Dominion Boats" built in the 1950's. All of similar hulls, the Adelaide Star and Wellington Star were twin-screw motorships built at John Brown's. The Auckland Star and Tasmania Star were single-screw steam-turbine vessels built at Cammell Lairds. The Auckland Star did not appear until 1958, due to an almost record time on the stocks, H.M.S. Ark Royal being built on an adjoining slip. With steel still in short supply, the Ark Royal got first choice in materials and manpower, despite that she took 16 years to complete!

The Tasmania Star was a 7 hatch fully refrigerated cargo ship. She was a fine ship built at Cammell-Lairds of Birkenhead in 1950, of some 12,604 gross tons with PARMETRADA steam turbine machinery. This was to set my career at sea, remaining on steam turbine ships for many years. My first voyage was some 9 months in length but interesting due to it's varied ports of call. We crossed the Atlantic to Kingston, Jamaica and loaded citrus fruit for New Zealand. From there we passsaged the Panama Canal , thence across the Pacific to New Zealand. In those days the average turn round of a large cargo ship was 9 to 13 weeks in New Zealand. The Shoreworker's Union was very active and few days went by without some strike or go-slow occurring. Calling at Auckland , Wellington , Lyttelton and finally completing loading at Bluff , in the far south of South Island. Our homebound cargo as always being frozen New Zealand Lamb and dairy products (butter & cheese). Ours was not to be a straight passage home however, again transiting the Panama Canal to call at New York. Where the opportunity was taken to visit the International World Trade Fair and all the usual New York tourist attractions. Finally after a short passage we called at Bermuda, our final and most expensive overseas port of call.

Life on board was pleasant, the cadets sharing a double cabin and rotating between day work with the 4th Engineer and as junior watch keeper on one of the three engine room watches. As, like most Blue Star vessels, she was fully refrigerated, experience was gained working alongside the Refrigeration Engineer.
While in warmer climes, a temporary swimming pool was erected on the afterdeck. Which though small, gave endless amusement as well as a welcome relief from the heat. For despite having a massive refrigeration plant, this was only for the comfort of the cargo and not for the passengers and crew! A small unreliable electric fan was deemed sufficient in each cabin.
Evenings were passed in studying a correspondence course from college and socialising with the other officers and the 12 passengers we carried.

George Edwards wrote:

I joined Blue Star Line in September 1954 and after standing by what seemed to be half the fleet, I joined the Tasmania Star for my first trip (Voyage 9) as a JEO, sailing on 7^th Jan.1955. Subsequently I sailed as J4EO (Voyage 10), and S4EO (Voy.11 & 12) before leaving to attend Liverpool Nautical college to study for my seconds ticket.
After a short coasting trip from Liverpool to Glasgow and back on the South Africa Star, I paid off and left the company in September 1957.
I very much regret leaving the company and only wished that I had stayed for a few more years, it was a wonderful experience in an excellent company at a time that is now recognised as the peak of the Merchant Navy, before the gradual decline began.

All the photographs were developed on the Tasmania Star by commandeering three of the wash basins in the Engineers' washroom to keep the tank and bottled solutions at a constant temperature. The film used in those days was Italian Ferraniacolour and the developing process involved 6 Stages. Due to age the slides have developed a Magenta cast but I have removed this by computer manipulation.
I note in your description of the Tasmania Star that you say it was a 7 hatch fully refrigerated ship, however when I was aboard No 7 hold was unrefrigerated general cargo ( corrected! ), and I well remember working as a casual dock worker loading hides down this hold for extra beer money, until the chief found out and stopped us. Said he didn't want his engineers to be seen working as wharfies!