Peter van Uden's career path from deck cadet to commodore of the fleet is being celebrated today in a traditional ceremony on the bridge of the freighter Shansi, in Port of Tauranga.

For the Swire Group the fleet commodore is the link between the land and sea - a role that is being revived in the China Navigation Company fleet following recent new builds and an influx of people into the 140-year-old company.
Peter van Uden received the traditional commodore epaulettes today.

Peter has been commodore since 2009, and putting on the epaulettes to match the rank is a project Quadrant Pacific port agent Evan Dines has been working on for a few years.

The epaulettes, the rank badges that slide over an officer's shoulder tabs, are the traditional merchant marine commodore insignia. They were ordered through an Auckland business, but made in the United Kingdom.

'They didn't have any in stock, they had to make them up for us,” says Evan.

China Navigation Company has had Fleet Commodores since the beginning of the 20th Century. It has been largely a ceremonial title for the senior captains, but role is being revived following a sudden expansion of the fleet.

'They are looking at changing the whole role of the Commodore,” says Peter.

Company management have asked for his input at a meeting in Singapore when he completes the current four month tour on Shansi.

The role of commodore has always been to provide a constructive connection between shore-based and floating staff, a function that's more important in today's environment, says Peter.

The Shansi is the first of eight ‘S' class ships to be built this year. The naming ceremony for the sister-ship Shengking was held in Tauranga in October.

The fleet comprises of 18 ships with four handy-sized bulk carriers, or log ships, on order.

The fleet expansion means many new staff that may find the 140-year-old CNCo's ethos quite different from their experiences, and may require careful leadership and guidance.

Peter van Uden receives his commodore's epaulettes from Quadrant Pacific Tauranga port agent Evan Dines and Quadrant Pacific NZ Manager Veronica Syman.

'The company is a very old and traditional company and still has traditional values,” says Peter.

Swire Shipping is the brand name for all liner shipping services operated by The China Navigation Company Pte Ltd.

CNCo provides niche, regional, multi-purpose shipping services, which it has done since 1883 when CNCo established liner services in Australasia. From the traditional core trading area of the Asia - South Pacific region, CNCo provides shipping links between more than 130 ports in Asia, the Pacific Islands, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Indian Sub-Continent.