Flotilla Australia AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING LINES IMAGES POSTCARDS PHOTOGRAPHS EPHEMERA OF AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING BOARD 1941 - 1956 This organisation was formed, as the Board, in March 1941. Concerned initially with control of overseas ships chartered for the Australian coastal trade and all ships built by Australian shipyards, its first "A" Class (later becoming popularly known as the "River" Class) ship was commissioned in mid-1943. By the end of the Second World War, eight "River" Class ships were in service, these new ships being allocated to private shipping companies for management. There were thirteen RIVER class ships built in total and, further post war construction saw massive local shipbuilding of many and varied ships for Australia's coastal needs With war-prize and requisitioned and lend-lease vessels' in their control at war's end, 1946 saw blueprints for 10 vessels in each class of B C D and E, all with variable tonnages and design requirements. Changes since saw 11 'B' class, no 'C' class constructed at all, 10 'D' class and 5 'E' class. From 1941, with the World War hostilities creating huge shortage of necessary tonnage, the creation of this entity and it's direction showed great insight from the Government of the day. 1946 saw wise construction and distribution of vessels catering for most requirements of Australian ports, minor and major Placing many vessels under management of existing Shipping Lines created trust rather than competition as was seen in the past when Prime Minister W M Hughes created the Australian Government Line of Steamers (ACL) Further charters saw many Ropner Shipping Line vessels employed, more so upon the carriage of coal and ore for BHP related trades in balancing the fleet coast wise with adequate numbers of vessels sevicing all areas as deemed essential to a country rebuilding A change at Federal level saw further wisdom in the continuance of this shipping entity (perhaps with memory of the demise of the ACL and the then Prime Minister S M Bruce so responsible) in evolution that became The AUSTRALIAN COASTAL SHIPPING COMMISSION (ACSC) was established by an Act of Parliament on 1 October 1956, to take over and manage vessels previously under the control of the AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING BOARD On 1 January 1957, the Australian Shipping Board commenced the transfer of ownership of all existing vessels and the fleet began operating under the title of the AUSTRALIA NATIONAL LINE