State Shipping Service of Western Australia explained

The State Shipping Service of Western Australia was a state government transport entity formed in 1912,[1] in Western Australia, primarily to service the ports of North West Australia.[2]

Originally named the State Steamship Service, it was renamed as the State Shipping Service in 1919,[3] and again in 1979 as Stateships.[4]

History

On 4 May 1912, the State Steamships Service was formed by the Scaddan government in response to requests for improved services along the North West Australian coast after the Adelaide Steamship Company withdrew its services.[1] It was controlled by the Fremantle Harbour Trust between 1913 and 1918.[5] In January 1919 it was renamed the State Shipping Service (SSS).[6]

In November 1965, the SSS came under the responsibility of the newly formed Western Australian Coastal Shipping Commission.[7] In January 1979 the service was rebranded Stateships.[8]

In June 1995 the government announced that Stateships would cease operations, with the remaining three vessels sold.[9] [10] [11] The government provided a subsidy to a privately operated service from Fremantle to Port Hedland, Broome and Wyndham until it ceased in 2013.[12]

The Western Australian Coastal Shipping Commission, administered by the Department of Transport, continues to deal with ongoing former employee compensation claims.[13]

Operations

The service originally provided transport for passengers, goods and stock, with passenger services ceasing in 1973.[14]

Having previously operated exclusively between Western Australian and Northern Territory ports, in 1964 the SSS began operating an irregular service that circumnavigated Australia in a clockwise direction in six weeks. The first voyage left Fremantle on 11 March 1964, calling at Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. This service ceased in July 1969 with Kangaroo, Koojara and Koolama II having collectively operated 18 voyages.[15]

Ships

A collection in the Battye Library has a set of photographs of the ships that were used by the service.[16]

The ships used by the service included:

Notes and References

  1. State Shipping Service: 50th anniversary. Fremantle, W.A.: The Service, [1962] Information on the Service's 50th anniversary.
  2. STATE STEAMSHIPS SERVICE - 4 May 1912 – 31 Dec 1918
  3. Web site: AU WA A770 - State Steamships Service. State Records Office of WA. 4 June 2018.
  4. Web site: AU WA A771 - State Shipping Service. State Records Office of WA. 4 June 2018.
  5. https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/state-steamships-service-au-wa-a770 State Steamships Service
  6. https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/state-shipping-service-au-wa-a771 State Shipping Service
  7. https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/western-australian-coastal-shipping-commission-au-wa-a798 Western Australian Coastal Shipping Commission Act 1965
  8. https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/stateships-au-wa-a772 Stateships
  9. https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1995/06/State-Government-closes-Stateships.aspx State Government Closes Stateships
  10. https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1995/06/North-West-residents-to-be-consulted-on-services-to-replace-Stateships.aspx North-West residents to be consulted on services to replace Stateships
  11. https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Court/1995/07/Three-former-Stateships-sold.aspx Three former Stateships sold
  12. https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/18577351/shipping-firm-axes-service-after-dispute/#page1 Shipping firm axes service
  13. http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/3914693a69cde472a1e8cbe04825803600256574/$file/4693.pdf Western Australian Coastal Shipping Commission annual report for year ended 30 June 2016
  14. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/02/19/3948219.htm Remembering the state ship lifeline to the North West
  15. Book: Plowman, Peter. The Great Australian Coastal Liners. Rosenberg Publishing. 2007. 9781877058608. 191–193.
  16. Western Australian Stateships [picture] : 1912-1987, pictorial record of all the ships in Stateships service since 1912. Leederville, W.A. : Australian Souvenirs Pty Ltd, 1987. 3rd Floor Pictorial. BA1009 Vol. 367

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