By B.F. Bindia
The founder of OOL, the late C. Y. Tung, dreamed of creating the first international Chinese merchant fleet. C.Y. Tung established the China Lines in 1935 and in 1947; he achieved that dream when the first ship with an all-Chinese crew reached the Atlantic coast and Europe. C.Y. Tung moved to Taipei in 1949 and established Orient Overseas Line, OOL, in Hong Kong a few years after that. Regular cargo and passenger services were subsequently developed under the name of Orient Overseas Line.
When containerisation began in 1969, the company was re-named Orient Overseas Container Line, OOCL. In those days, Victory class vessels could carry 300 TEU, a far cry from today's post-Panamax vessels that ply the world's oceans. And with the delivery of two mega vessels by the second quarter of 2003, the largest throughput of OOCL's container vessels will increase to 7,700 TEU. On the death of his father in 1982, C. H. Tung assumed the leadership of Orient Overseas (International) Limited (OOIL), OOCL's parent company for 14 years. C. C. Tung took over at the helm from his brother in 1996 on C H Tung's election as Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
There are some political meanings in the OOL house flag, since the flower on this flag is a plum blossom, stylised in the RoC-TW style-- Plum blossom is the alternative emblem of RoC-TW. Historically, the founder of OOL, C.Y. Tung (1912-1982), was heavily aligned with the Taiwanese cause. Until the mid-eighties both companies were held by the Tung family, first C.Y. Tung then to Chee-Hwa Tung (Chief Executive of Hong Kong, PRC). Chiang Kai-Shek had seen them for a number of times, and he always regarded the OOL as THE shipping company of the Republic of China. The head of China Lines is, in fact, Chee-Hwa Tung's brother-in-law. The OOCL, as OOL was re-named, shifted their allegiance towards the PRC side because when the company was in crisis in the mid-eighties, the Taiwanese failed to give them any help but it was the PRC (plus HSBC) which gave them the support they needed.
China Lines has officially merged into the OOCL, called OOCL Taiwan.
Today, OOCL is one of the world's leading container transport and logistics service providers, with 160 offices in 50 countries, employing over 4,000 staff globally.
“Oriental Rio”
The Oriental Rio (17,789 grt, 584 ft. long) was originally built in 1951 as the Ruahine for the New Zealand Shipping Co.'s London-Wellington run. She was bought by the C.Y. Tung group in 1968 and put in the Orient Overseas Line's trans-Pacific service from 1969 until 1973 when she was broken up.
The New Zealand Shipping Co.’s Ruahine, Rangitane and Rangitoto, were all sold to C.Y. Tung in 1968, and were used on a short-lived Round the World cargo/passenger service operated by C.Y. Tung's Orient Overseas Line. They were renamed Oriental Rio, Oriental Esmeralda and Oriental Carnival. Oriental Rio was the first to be broken up in 1973. The other two followed in 1976.
“Oriental Jade”
The Oriental Jade (9,644 grt, 473 ft. long) was one of a quartet of sister ships in service with American Export Lines from the immediate post-war years. She was then the Excalibur (one of the sisters, the Exeter, became the Oriental Pearl) sailing on around-the-world voyages until 1962; from 1965 she sailed for Orient Overseas Line.
These four sister ships, Excalibur, Excambion, Exeter and Exochorda, were built to replace four 1931 ships of the same name which were passed to the US Navy as transports in 1941. Both classes were known as the "Four Aces".
The post war ships were also all built as US Navy attack transports, and all were converted and delivered to American Export Lines in 1948. They operated between New York and the Mediterranean. They all carried 125 passengers, and departed from Hoboken, New Jersey to Cadiz, Barcelona, Marseille, Naples, Beirut, Alexandria, Pireaus, Naples, Marseille, Genoa, Livorno and Barcelona according to Milton H. Watson's book US Passenger Liners, although this route as described seems be running in circles around the Mediterranean.
Exochorda and Excambion were laid up in 1960, being sold in 1967 and 1965 respectively. The remaining two ships were sold to C.Y. Tung's Oriental Overseas Line in 1965.
“Oceanic Independence” / “Independence”
In 1947, American Export Lines announced plans for three 30000ton liners for their New York to Italy service. When the order was placed with Bethlehem Steel, the number had been reduced to two ships, the first of which was the Independence. Independence entered service on February 11th, 1951, sailing from New York to Gibraltar, Naples and Genoa. At the time of delivery, she was the fastest American-built liner, achieving over 26 knots. Additional calls were added to the itinerary (Algeciras, Cannes etc) and the voyages were increasingly advertised as 21-day cruises during the 1960s. In 1959, both ships received major refits, including the move of their bridges further forward and upwards.
In 1960, the Isbrandtsen Company acquired a controlling interest in American Export Lines, and in 1962 the name was changed to the unwieldy American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines. Jet aircraft, union problems, plus competition from newer Italia Line ships made the services uneconomic, and Independence was withdrawn from Atlantic service in 1967, followed by sister ship the constitution following year. In 1968, Independence received a garish psychedelic livery, and ran cruises for travel agents called Fugazi to the West Indies and Mediterranean, but these were not a success.
Independence was laid up until 1974, when she was sold to the C.Y. Tung group and renamed Oceanic Independence. She was briefly used for cruising, but then laid up in Hong Kong as Sea Luck I from 1976. American Hawaii Cruises were formed in 1980 by C.Y. Tung, who wished to enter the American cruise scene. The service started using Sea Luck I, again renamed Oceanic Independence, on 7th June 1980, operating a 7-day cruise out of Honolulu. An American subsidiary had been created, allowing the ship to be US-flagged. The service was a success, and the sister ship Constitution joined the service in 1982, following a substantial refurbishment. During the winter of 1983, Oceanic Independence also received internal refurbishment, returning to service under original name Independence. In 1987, the cruise line was bought from the C.Y. Tung group by Peter C.R. Huang for $20million. American Hawaii Cruises filed for bankruptcy in 2001 following poor trading in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
“Oceanic Constitution” / “Constitution”
Constitution, the sister ship to Independence, entered service on June 6th 1951, sailing on the same route from New York to Italy. In 1959, both ships received major refits, including the move of their bridges further forward and upwards. In 1960, the Isbrandtsen Company acquired a controlling interest in American Export Lines, and in 1962 the name was changed to the unwieldy American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines. Jet aircraft, union problems, plus competition from newer Italia Line ships made the services uneconomic, and Independence was withdrawn from Atlantic service in 1967, followed by Constitution the following year.
Constitution was laid up until 1974, when she was sold to the C.Y. Tung group and renamed Oceanic Constitution. She was laid up in Hong Kong until American Hawaii Cruises were formed in 1980. This service started using Oceanic Independence, on 7th June 1980, operating a 7-day cruise out of Honolulu. The service was a success, and the Constitution joined the service in 1982, following a substantial refurbishment. In 1987, the cruise line was bought from the C.Y. Tung group by Peter C.R. Huang for $20million. Constitution was laid up in 1995 when it was considered too expensive to bring her up to SOLAS standards. She was sold for scrap in 1997, and subsequently lost in the Pacific whilst under tow to the Far East.
American Hawaii Cruises were formed in 1980 by C.Y. Tung, who wished to enter the American cruise scene. He already owned the American Export Lines sisters Constitution and Independence. The service started using the latter, renamed Oceanic Independence, on 7th June 1980, operating a 7-day cruise out of Honolulu. An American subsidiary had been created, allowing the ship to be US-flagged. The service was a success, and the sister ship Constitution joined the service in 1982, following a substantial refurbishment. During the winter of 1983, Oceanic Independence also received internal refurbishment, returning to service under original name Independence. In 1984, American Hawaii entered the Polynesian market with another C.Y. Tung ship, the Liberté, originally the Moore-McCormack Brasil, and later Holland-America Line's Volendam.
“Universe Campus”
Universe Campus ex Atlantic was built in 1953 as the cargo ship Badger Mariner. She was bought by American Banner Lines and refitted as a passenger ship, entering service as the Atlantic between New York and Amsterdam in 1958.
She was bought by American Export Lines in 1960, used on New York-Mediterranean services, until laid up in 1968. In 1971 she was sold to C.Y. Tung's Orient Overseas Line, and renamed Universe Campus (shortened to Universe in 1976).
She was scrapped in 1996, after her boilers failed, having only recently received a major internal refurbishment.
In 1984, American Hawaii entered the Polynesian market with another C.Y. Tung ship, the Liberté, originally the Moore-McCormack Brasil, and later Holland-America Line's Volendam.
“Seawise University”
The “Seawise University” still in Cunard colours (but with her new name) en-route to Hong Kong. There are no photos of her fully in her OOL livery as she burnt out and sunk before her re-paint was complete.
By 1965, Cunard Line began plans for a liner that would soon replace the Queen Mary. The Queen Elizabeth was sent into dry-dock for major overhauls and updating that was intended to keep her on the Atlantic well into the mid 1970's and for a time be a running mate for the successor to the Queen Mary. The Queen Elizabeth was redecorated throughout with modern soft furnishings and given a new lido deck and stern outdoor swimming pool. Complete air conditioning was installed throughout the ship and more cabins were given private facilities.
After the refit, the Queen Elizabeth continued in a dual role. While still crossing the Atlantic, she would also embark on cruises in between trips to and from England. Even with her new deployment, the ship was still beginning to amass enormous losses.
When the announcement to retire the Queen Mary was made in 1967, the plan included the Queen Elizabeth. She would remain at sea for another year, while the new 'Queen Elizabeth 2' was being completed.
In 1968, the Cunard house flag was lowered aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth. Sold to the highest bidder, she was berthed in the still undeveloped Port Everglades in Florida for use as a floating hotel, museum, and convention centre. Sadly, after two years, attendance grew increasingly poor and the ship was again in financial difficulties. The ship began to suffer under money-poor conditions and quickly began to deteriorate in the harsh Floridian weather.
In 1970, the ship was sold at auction to her final owner Mr. C. Y. Tung, a Taiwanese shipping tycoon. Renamed 'Seawise University' the ship was to be converted for use as a mobile university, a learning centre that toured the world. The ship was laid up in Florida for a time to repair damage to her boilers and engines, for water had intruded during her time at Port Everglades. The ship was to sail under her own power the complete voyage to Hong Kong where she would undergo her transition from Liner to University. The voyage from Florida to Hong Kong was plagued with difficulties and massive mechanical failures. The ship that defied German bombers on her secret dash to New York during World War II, was now limping pathetically to her new home in foreign waters.
In Hong Kong, thousands of labourers descended upon the Queen Elizabeth to carry out the task of converting the ship. The ship was stripped down and built back up. Modern equipment was installed to ensure safety at sea, and certain areas of the ship were given a decidedly 'oriental' decor.
On January 9, 1972, the ship was still in Hong Kong harbour and nearing completion. She was scheduled to sail for Japan soon for a dry-docking and then onwards to her maiden voyage. But such was not to be. The whole of Hong Kong was awakened that day the massive funeral pyre of the Cunard Line's greatest achievement. The Queen Elizabeth, now Seawise University, was quickly ablaze from stem to stern as suspicious fires broke out throughout the ship. Fireboats quickly arrived to attempt salvation, but by this time it was to be a losing battle.
