[2] In March 1969, ANL commenced operating services to Japan in a joint venture with K Line.

In 1991, the Hawke government announced its intention to privatise ANL following poor financial performance.

[10] Its bulk shipping business was sold to AUSCAN Self-Unloaders Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Canada Steamship Lines, while residual assets were held by the Australian River Company Limited which was eventually wound up in 2015.

[9] The company entered the ferry business in 1959, when Tasmanian Steamers announced that it would be withdrawing from the Bass Strait.

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.

With the Princess of Tasmania going so well out of Melbourne, there needed to be more capacity on the route, so ANL ordered a new ship to be built at the State Dockyard.

The new ship would be bigger, with smaller passenger capacity but more cargo space, an early example of the Ro/Pax concept.

The ceasing of the ANL's involvement in the passenger trade allowed it to concentrate solely on bulk freight and cargo.

In December 1998, CMA CGM bought ANL's container shipping business and trading name from the Federal Government.