View source for BHP Shipping

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}

'''BHP Shipping''' was an Australian [[ship transport]] and shipbuilding arm of [[BHP]].

BHP Shipping traces its origins to 1915 when BHP chartered the [[SS Emerald Wings|SS ''Emerald Wings'']] to transport its first load of iron ore from [[Whyalla]] to [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] on 19 January 1915. In 1917, shipping agent William Scott Fell & Co arranged for BHP to purchase a share in the steamer [[HMAS Koolonga|SS ''Koolonga'']]. BHP purchased the ship outright on 30 July 1918 and it was renamed SS ''Iron Monarch''. The BHP Shipping Department was formed on that date, headed up by  who had previously assisted in the shipping arrangements for the 1909 [[Nimrod Expedition]] and served on the Advisory Committee to the [[SY Aurora#1917 Ross Sea Party rescue|1917 Ross Sea Party rescue]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Home of the Blizzard, being the story of the Australasian Antarctic expedition, 1911–1914 Vol. I|author=Sir Douglas Mawson|author-link=Douglas Mawson|page=Introduction|year=n.d. |publisher=Ballantyne Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=The Relief of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party|journal=The Geographical Journal|volume=49|issue=3|date=March 1917|doi=10.2307/1779498|jstor=1779498 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1449310 |last1=Mill |first1=Hugh Robert |pages=218–221 |bibcode=1917GeogJ..49..218M }}</ref> Captain William Halley, former master of the ''Emerald Wings'', became Marine Superintendent of the Shipping Department. BHP Shipping was established as a subsidiary shipping line for the parent company in 1921.

As early as 1923 the company considered building its own ships but instead decided to manufacture steel hull plates, a major customer being the [[Commonwealth Shipping Line]]. However, in 1939 the company accepted a government request to establish a shipbuilding facility at Whyalla. By 1940 the BHP [[Whyalla Steelworks|Whyalla Shipyard]] had five slipways capable of building ships up to 15,000[[Gross tonnage|GT]]. The first ship constructed at the shipyard was [[HMAS Whyalla (J153)|HMAS ''Whyalla'']]. Between 1941 and 1978, the shipyard produced 63 vessels, of which 15 were built as BHP property. BHP shipping also chartered additional vessels constructed in Whyalla.

Following World War 2, BHP Shipping acquired more bulk carries to carry iron ore, coal and steel products. The ships increased in size up to the 1980s when demand for steel began to decline. From that time some of the ships were used to carry coal, coke and iron ore to export customers.

In December 1983, BHP Shipping was absorbed into BHP Transport Ltd.

BHP Shipping transferred wharves and shore operations to each refinery site ahead of the demerger of [[BlueScope]] in 2002. BlueScope also inherited several of the ships.

The remaining fleet is part of BHP Transport and Logistics Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of [[BHP]].

[[File:SS Iron Master 1930.jpg|thumb|right]]

==Fleet summary==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- 
! Name !! Type !! Entered BHP service !! Left BHP service !! Disposition !! Fate
|-
| [[SS Emerald Wings|SS ''Emerald Wings'']] (later SS ''Iron Baron'') || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1915||}} (chartered)<br/>{{dts|format=dmy|1919|October|20}} (purchased) || {{dts|format=dmy|1929|November|13}} || Sold to E B Aaby || Sank off [[Texel]] on 11 October 1955
|-
| {{ship|SS|Southborough||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1915||}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1918|May|}} || Returned to Hazlewood Shipping Co Ltd || Sunk by German submarine [[SM U-110|U-110]] off [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]] on 16 July 1918
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Chief|1916|6}} (1st) || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1916||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1928|April|1}} || || Wrecked off Diamond Head on 1 April 1928
|-
| {{ship|SS|Omana||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1917|July|19}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1917|July|21}} || Returned to Omana S S Pty Co Ltd || Broken up July 1959
|-
| [[HMAS Koolonga|SS ''Koolonga'']] (later SS ''Iron Monarch'') || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1917|October|}} (part purchased)<br/>{{dts|format=dmy|1918|July|30}} (purchased outright) || {{dts|format=dmy|1937||}} || Sold to Madrigal & Co || Bombed by US Navy aircraft in [[Manila Bay]] on 13 November 1944
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Prince}} (1st) || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1919||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1923|April|19}} || || Wrecked on [[Cape Howe]]
|-
| {{ship|SS|Grelwin||6}} (sometimes written as ''Grelwyn'') || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1920|August|}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1921|February|}} || Returned to Scott Fell Shipping Co || Unknown
|-
| [[SS Beechley (1912)|SS ''Westborough'']] || Steel cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1920|September|}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1924|March|}} || Returned to Hopkins, Jones & Co || Sunk off [[Stavanger]] on 4 April 1943
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Knob||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1923|October|9}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1955||}} || Sold to Panatiotis Vrangos || Sank in heavy seas in the Indian Ocean on 15 July 1957
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Crown||6}} || General cargo  || {{dts|format=dmy|1923||}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1943||}} || || Sunk by {{Jsub|I-27}} off [[Gabo Island]] on 4 June 1942
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Master||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1923|October|9}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1957|July|}} || Sold to Cambray Prince Steamship Co Ltd || Broken up March 1959
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Master|1923|6}} (2nd) || Bulk cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1923|November|16}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1945|September|13}} || Sold to Cambray Prince Steamship Co Ltd  || Broken up December 1959
|-
| [[SS Eugowra|SS ''Iron Warrior'']] (1st) || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1925||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1957|June|11}} || Sold to Onfrio Jacomino || Sank off [[Cheung Chau]] during [[1964 Pacific typhoon season#Typhoon Ruby (Yoning)|Typhoon Ruby]] on 5 September 1964
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Chief|1930|6}} (2nd) || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1930||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1934||}} || Sold to Essex Oak || Sank off [[Dover]] on 13 June 1963
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Baron|1936|6}} (2nd) || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1936||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1966||}} || Sold to Australia Pacific Shipping (H.K.) Ltd|| Broken up in 1969
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron King|1936|6}} || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1936||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1967||}} || Sold to Golden Star Shipping Company || Broken up in 1970
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Chieftain|1937|6}} || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1937||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1942||}} || || Sunk by {{Jsub|I-24|1939|6}} off [[Manly, New South Wales|Manly]] on 3 June 1942
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Knight|1937|6}} (1st) || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1937||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1943||}} || || Sunk by {{Jsub|I-21}} off [[Bermagui, New South Wales|Bermagui]] on 7 February 1943
|-
| {{ship|SS|Kenilworth||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1941||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1947||}} || Returned to Commonwealth Government Shipping Control Board || Broken up March 1959
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Monarch|1943|6}} (2nd) || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1943|March|28}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1972||}} || Sold to Great Fareastern Ltd  || Broken up October 1972
|- style=white-space:nowrap
| {{ship|SS|Iron Duke|1943|6}} (originally SS ''Iron Duke II'') || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1943|March|28}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1970|July|}} || Sold to Pac Trade Navigation Co || Broken up September 1971
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Yampi||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1947|September|1}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1975|September|26}} || Sold to Nissho Iwai Co Ltd  || Broken up November 1975
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Kimberley||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1949|April|4}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1972|September|}} || Sold to Wiltopps (Asia) Ltd  || Broken up October 1972
|-
| {{ship|SS|Bellerby||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1950|May|}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1951|May|}} || Returned to Scott Fell Shipping Co || Broken up January 1972
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Derby||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1951||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1972|January|}} || Sold to Wiltopps (Asia) Ltd  || Broken up February 1972
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Wyndham||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1953||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1976|October|16}} || Sold to Union Bros Marine Corp || Broken up January 1979
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Whyalla|1954|6}} (1st) || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1954|June|}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1979|June|1}} || Sold to Selco (Hong Kong) Ltd || Broken up July 1979
|-
| [[SS Venissieux|SS ''Iron Knight'']] (2nd) || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1955|June|}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1971||}} || Sold to Great Fareastern Ltd || Broken up October 1971
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Spencer||6}} (1st) || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1957||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1979|September|27}} || Sold to Jehow Trading Co || Broken up January 1980
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Flinders||6}} (1st) || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1959||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1977|November|}} || Sold to Goldwills (Hong Kong) Ltd || Broken up May 1978
|-
| {{ship|SS|Age||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1959|July|}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1968|July|}} || Returned to Australian Steamships Pty Ltd || Wrecked off [[Paluan, Occidental Mindoro|Paluan]] on 17 October 1970
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Dampier||6}} (1st) || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1961||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1978||}} || Sold to Goldwills (Hong Kong) Ltd || Broken up May 1978
|-
| [[SS Balook|SS ''Iron Warrior'']] (2nd) || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1961|March|}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1975|February|}} || Sold to Hi-Firm Corporation || Broken up July 1975
|-
| [[MV Naess Clipper|MV ''Iron Clipper'']] || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1964|December|19}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1975|June|}} || Returned to Anglo-Pacific Shipping Company Ltd || Broken up May 1984
|-
| [[MV Naess Cavalier|MV ''Iron Cavalier'']] || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1965|November|4}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1975|June|}} || Returned to Anglo-Pacific Shipping Company Ltd || Broken up May 1984
|-
| {{ship|SS|Iron Hunter||6}} || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1968|October|24}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1982|July|23}} || Sold to Saudi Pride Shipping Co Ltd || Broken up December 1982
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Endeavour||6}} || [[Panamax]] bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1969||}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1983|March|2}} || Returned to Nile Steamships Company || Sank off [[Port Elizabeth]] on 26 May 1993
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Somersby||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1971||}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1986|December|14}} || Returned to Ropner Shipping Co Ltd || Broken up April 1993
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Banbury||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1972||}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1975|December|18}} || Returned to Alexander Shipping Co Ltd || Broken up September 2001
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Baron|1972|6}} (3rd) || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1972|February|}} (chartered)<br/>{{dts|format=dmy|1980|March|4}} (purchased) || {{dts|format=dmy|1986|December|14}} || Sold to Epping Marine Co Ltd || Broken up Obtober 1986
|-
| [[MV Naess Parkgate|MV ''Iron Parkgate'']] || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1973|June|}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1986|July|7}} || Returned to Nytoncrest Pty Ltd || Broken up July 1985
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Sirius||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1973|October|}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1974|October|}} || Returned to Nytoncrest Pty Ltd || Broken up July 1986
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Monarch|1973|6}} (3rd) || General cargo/ro-ro || {{dts|format=dmy|1973|September|12}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2002||}} || Transferred to [[BlueScope]] || Broken up May 2012
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Duke|1973|6}} (2nd) || General cargo/ro-ro || {{dts|format=dmy|1974||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1986|January|10}} || Sold to Loy Key Shipbreakers || Broken up April 1986
|-
| [[MV World Achilles|MV ''Iron Cumberland'']] || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1974|June|}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1986|November|25}} || Returned to Glentara Ltd || Sank near the [[Pitcairn Islands]] on 14 June 1987
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Arnhem||6}} || General cargo/ro-ro || {{dts|format=dmy|1974|October|10}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1990|December|}} || Sold to Pacific International Lines Pty Ltd || Still in service
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron York||6}} || General cargo/ro-ro || {{dts|format=dmy|1974|October|10}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1985|May|29}} || Sold to Pacific International Lines Pty Ltd || Broken up December 1999
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Kestrel||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1974|December|21}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1985|May|29}} || Returned to Ropner Shipping Co Ltd || Broken up Broken up May 2003
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Kerry-Kirby||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1974|December|21}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1985|May|29}} || Returned to Ropner Shipping Co Ltd || Broken up Broken up May 2003
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Capricorn||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1974|December|21}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1990|October|15}} || Sold to Athenian Faith S.A. || Still in service
|-
| {{ship|MV|Mundoora||6}} || General cargo || {{dts|format=dmy|1975|January|}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1976|January|}} || Returned to Associated Steamships || Sank in the [[Arabian Sea]] on 9 September 1984
|-
| [[MV Mittagong|MV ''Iron Mittagong'']] || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1976|December|8}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1982|March|3}} || Returned to Bulkships Ltd || Broken up December 1982
|-
| [[MV Gerrigong|MV ''Iron Gerrigong'']] || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1976|December|20}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1978|May|26}} || Returned to Bulkships Ltd || Broken up October 1985
|-
| [[MV Bogong|MV ''Iron Bogong'']] || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1977|August|29}} (chartered)<br/>{{dts|format=dmy|1983|January|14}} (purchased) || {{dts|format=dmy|1983|February|16}} || Sold to China Dismantled Vessels Trading Corp || Broken up March 1983
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Carpentaria||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1978|April|}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|January|}} ||  || Broken up December 2003
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Curtis||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1978|April|}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|January|}} ||  || Broken up December 2003
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Shortland||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1979||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1996||}} || Sold to Everbird Corporation N.V. || Broken up December 2005
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Sturt||6}} || Bulk chemical tanker || {{dts|format=dmy|1979||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2006|February|10}} || Sold to Jebsens Group || Broken up February 2011
|-
| [[MV Wollongong|MV ''Iron Myarra'']] || Ore carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1980|May|2}} (chartered) || {{dts|format=dmy|1983|May|7}} || Returned to [[Alcoa]] Australia || Broken up October 1983
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Baron|1985|6}} (4th) || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1980||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1999||}} ||  || Ran aground in the mouth of the [[Tamar River]] on 10 July 1995. Scuttled off [[Flinders Island]] on 30 July 1995.
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Whyalla||6}} (2nd) || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1981||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2001|January|26}} || Sold to Marmaras Navigation || Broken up December 2009
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Spencer||6}} (2nd) || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1981||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2000|March|}} || Sold to Marmaras Navigation || Broken up December 2009
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Prince||6}} (3rd) || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1981||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2000|March|}} || Sold to Marmaras Navigation || Broken up May 2011
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Newcastle||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1985||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1999|June|23}} || Sold to Cobelfret Bulk Carriers N.V. || Broken up April 2011
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Kembla||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1986||}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2005|July|2}} || Sold to Tip Top Invest Panama || Broken up March 2011
|-
| {{ship|MV|Iron Pacific||6}} || Bulk carrier || {{dts|format=dmy|1986|May|30}} || {{dts|format=dmy|1998|March|15}} || Sold to Partrederiet Bergesen Goic Da || Broken up July 2011
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{BHP Billiton}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:BHP Shipping}}
[[Category:BHP]]
[[Category:Shipping companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Ships of BHP Shipping]]