MV Athelviscount 1961-1978

The MV Athelviscount was built in 1961 by Smiths Dock Company in Middlesbrough. It was the first tanker to carry petroleum products from the Marsden Point Oil Refinery in Whangarei. It was managed by the Union Steam Ship Company, who chartered it from the Athel Line Ltd of Liverpool.

The Athelviscount had a single screw diesel propulsion system, and the funnel logo was designed by the wife of Captain E Busby, who spent much of his career serving as a longtime master on coastal tankers managed by the Union Steam Ship Company.

After 17 years of service the ship was withdrawn and scrapped in 1978 at the Shun Fung Ironworks.