Australian National Line

The Australian National Line (ANL) was an Australian Government owned overseas and coastal shipping line that operated in Australia between 1956 and 1998, when the container shipping operations and naming rights were bought by French shipping line CMA CGM.

Corporate history

The Australian National Line was formed on October 1, 1956 as the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission with the passing of the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission Act. The organisation took around forty ships previously operated by the Australian Shipping Board, which had been formed in 1946 by the Australian Federal Government.

In 1974 Australian Coastal Shipping Commission was replaced by the Australian Shipping Commission, and in 1989 Australian National Line Limited was established as a wholly owned government company. In 1998 the French company CMA CGM bought he naming rights of ANL Limited from the Australian Federal Government.

Services

The company entered the ferry business in 1959, when Tasmanian Steamers said they would be pulling out of the run. Their ship the SS Taroona was becoming totally inadequate, only being able to carry 30 cars, which had to be lifted aboard. As no replacement was available, the Federal Government decided that the Australian National Line should take over, and it would be provided with a subsidy. So an order was placed at the New South Wales...
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