Tasmanian Steamers

Tasmanian Steamers Proprietary Limited was a company that operated passenger ferries across the Bass Strait from 1921 to 1959. It was jointly owned by the Union Steam Ship Company and Huddart Parker.

History


The company was established on 22 December 1921. Their ships experienced many difficulties over the next nearly four decades of operations; Amidst the ongoing Second World War, some of its ships were encountering intermittent attacks whilst at sea, having already witnessed the First World War. During the latter, one of its ships, SS Taroona, was an Australian troopship, and also serving in the same capacity with New Zealand for a brief time.

The company ceased passenger operations in 1959 after the Australian National Line purchased its assets.

Fleet

 * SS Oonah
 * SS Loongana
 * HMS Nairana (1917)
 * SS Taroona
 * SS Tatana

Streets in the Burnie suburbs of Shorewell Park and Malonga Park are named after the fleet.