Hello. At that time I was a reader of "The Motor Ship" and I remember that in those years Whyalla built 8 ships with gas turbines. Different the machinery arrangements : Iron Monarch and Iron Duke had gas turbine coupled to c.p. propeller; Seaway Prince and Seaway Princess gas turbine with AC generator and two DC propulsion motors; Union Rotorua and Union Rotoiti gas turbine with AC generator and two AC propulsion motors; Iron Carpentaria and Iron Curtis gas turbine connected to c.p. propeller with a triple reduction gear. The following vessels were re-engined : Iron Monarch re-engined 1985/1986 with two Wartsila Vasa 12V32 reduction geared to the single c.p. propeller, scrapped 2012; Union Rotoiti re-engined 1986 with three Wartsila Vasa 16V32 with AC generators and two AC propulsion motors, scrapped 2006; Iron Carpentaria re-engined 1984 with two Wartsila Vasa 12V32 reduction geared to the single c.p. propeller, scrapped 2003; Iron Curtis re-engined 1984 with two Wartsila Vasa 12V32 reduction geared to the single c.p. propeller , scrapped 1999. Regards. Baldizza.

One of four gas turbine ships built in Australia around that time... all ro/ros although the two BHP ones were dedicated to the steel products trade.
Three went to an early grave... one was re-engined with a diesel and soldiered on to have a life of almost 40 years... Iron Monarch.

At the time of building the cost of fuel---even though she burnt the most expensive--was relatively low---until the "oil shock". That spelt the end of them. They were so quiet and comfortable.

Joined this ship as O/S ..just after she was built..had cardboard stuffed into every nook and cranny in my cabin to stop the squeeking..a badly designed ship as the scuppers were built with right angles..blocking any water from escaping down them..I seem to recall..!!

The Seaway Princess and her sister the Seaway Prince were withdrawn because of the rising costs of fuel, very expensive to run.

Very exotic choice of propulsion for an ordinary RORO ship as well, I wonder why?

Those first years of the 'boxboat revolution' did produce some oddball designs! mrdot.

What an odd design, especially that "volcano" funnel!