Australian National Lines
| Sea transport | |
| Founded | 1 October 1956 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne |
| Parent | Government of Australia |
The Australian National Line (ANL) was an Australian Government owned overseas and coastal shipping line that operated between 1956 and 1998, when the container shipping operations and naming rights were bought by CMA CGM.
The Australian National Line was formed on 1 October 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.
The Australian National Line and its predecessors acquired 20 ships made at the Whyalla shipyards in South Australia prior to 1970. Among them were freighters, colliers and bulk carriers for mineral transport. In June 1964, the largest bulk carrier ever produced in Australia was launched by Ruth Birrell, the daughter of the Chairman of the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission, P. J. Williams.
In 1974 Australian Coastal Shipping Commission was replaced by the Australian Shipping Commission, and in 1989 Australian National Line was established as a wholly owned government company. In 1998 the French company CMA CGM bought the naming rights of ANL Limited from the Australian Federal Government.
The Australian National Line was an early member of the Australian Shipping and Defence Council (now the Australian Maritime Defence Council) which was established by the Government of Australia in 1982.
The company entered the ferry business in 1959, when Tasmanian Steamers announced would be withdrawing from the Bass Strait. Its ship the 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 with an order placed with the State Dockyard, Newcastle. The new ship was named Princess of Tasmania, was the first roll on/roll off ferry in the southern hemisphere and the largest. She entered the Melbourne – Devonport route on 23 September 1959. The new ship and route were such a success for the ANL ordered a cargo only ship, to be named Bass Trader.
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