Story: Shipping

Cargo-handling was faster with roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ships, as vehicles, pallets and containers were loaded through the stern doors. The 1,053-ton, slab-sided Holmlea was built in 1967 for the Northern Steam Ship Company for a service that never eventuated, and was bought two years later by the Holm Shipping Company for the Wellington–Lyttelton run. Shown here in Wellington Harbour, the ship was sold to Italian buyers in 1975 and scrapped 14 years later.