LEICESTERSHIRE
(2) was built in 1949 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 8908grt, a length of 498ft, a
beam of 60ft 3in and a service speed of 15.5 knots. Sister of
the Warwickshire she was delivered for the Burma service in
December 1948 and commenced her maiden voyage Birkenhead to
Rangoon with a full complement of 75 passengers on 21st January
1949. During the inbound voyage she collided with Regent Oil's
Regent Jaguar at Suez. From 1952 she spent much of her time
on charter to British India Line on their East Africa routes.
In 1965, when the passenger service was discontinued, she was
sold with her sister to the Typaldos Bros. of Piraeus who renamed
her Heraklion. On 8th December 1966, during a voyage from Crete
to Piraeus in a storm, she listed, took a heavy sea and, in
moments, capsized near the island of Falconera. Out of 281 persons
on board only 47 survived. The caused of the list was due to
lorries or cars shifting and the instability of car ferries
was therefore known, but not recognised, almost 30 years ago.
(From a painting by Charles F Turner)
OXFORDSHIRE
(2) was built in 1957 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 21619grt, a length of 609ft 5in,
a beam of 78ft 3in and a service speed of 20 knots. When launched
on 15th December 1955 she was Bibby's largest passenger liner
and troopship with accommodation for 1300 passengers. She entered
service on 28th February 1957 at Liverpool on a 20 year charter
to the Ministry of Transport at a time when trooping by air
was becoming more popular than by sea. In May 1958 she made
her final sailing from Liverpool before moving to Southampton
which had become the sole trooping port. She made her final
trooping voyage in December 1962 from Southampton to Malta before
being laid up in the River Fal. The trooping contract was paid
off by the Government in January 1963 and she was chartered
to the Fairline Shipping Corp. of Liberia for six years and
on 20th May arrived at Fyenoord N. V. at Schiedam where, for
£2,300,000, she was converted into a passenger ship. During
the conversion she was known as Conox, an abbreviation of Conversion
Oxfordshire. In March 1964, during the conversion, she was purchased
by the Societa Italiana Trasporti Marittimi S.p.A. (Sitmar Cruises)
who renamed her Fairstar. After she was handed over she went
to Harland & Wolff at Southampton in the April where she
underwent her final fitting out and furnishing. On 19th May
she made her first sailing from Southampton to Brisbane. Nine
years later, in 1973, she was converted into a cruise ship for
sailings out of Sydney, NSW. On 1st September 1988 Sitmar Cruises
was acquired by P&O Lines Ltd, with P&O-Sitmar Cruises
as managers, for $210,000,000. P&O intended to rename her
Sitmar Fairstar but this never came about. In 1991 she was transferred
to the Fairstar Shipping Corp. of Monrovia and put under the
management of P&O Holidays Pty Ltd of Australia. In June
of that year, when cruising out of Singapore with 1130 passengers
and following an overhaul, she broke down as a result of a generator
failure and had to be towed into Vung Tau. The passengers who
had joined her in Singapore were flown back to Sydney and Ho
Chi Min City. On 21st January 1997 she sailed out of Sydney
Harbour on her last cruise having cruised more than 2,000,000
miles and passing the Sydney Opera House more than 1100 times.
She was subsequently renamed Ripa and broken up at Alang where
she arrived on 10th April 1997. (Photo: Bibby Line Group)
SHROPSHIRE
(3) was built in 1959 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 7244grt, a length of 490ft 11in,
a beam of 63ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. A cargo
ship she was delivered in April 1959 and when not in service
on the Burma route was chartered out. After 13 years service
she was sold to Lefkonia Cia. Naviera S. A. of Panama and renamed
Argiro. Two years later, in 1974, her port of registry was changed
to Piraeus with the same name and owners.. On 26th October 1981
she was laid up at Piraeus and in 1984 her owners changed her
name to Naftilos and her port of registry to Malta. Later in
that year ownership was passed to Naftilos Shipping Ltd of Valetta
for one voyage only. On 6th March 1985 she unloaded her cargo
at Chittagong and then proceeded to Tulatali where she was broken
up by S. H. International. (Photo: Bibby Line Group)
CHESHIRE
(3) was built in 1959 by Cammell Laird & Co. at Birkenhead
with a tonnage of 7201grt, a length of 490ft 11in, a beam of
63ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. Sister of the Shropshire
she was launched on 23rd April 1959 and commenced her maiden
voyage from Liverpool to Burma on 10th March before spending
much of her time on charter. She was sold on 7th June 1968 at
Hamburg to Messageries Maritimes who renamed her Mozambique
for service to the east coast of Africa and Madagascar. On 17th
April 1970 she assisted in the rescue of the crew of the Liberian
tanker Silver Cloud which had split in two following an explosion
and in September 1974 she evacuated several hundred civilians
who were trapped by fighting during the Mozambique civil war.
Sold to Pacific International Lines Pte. of Singapore on 9th
September 1976 she was renamed Kota Mewah and eight years later,
on 24th August 1984, she arrived at Kaohsuing where she was
broken up. (Photo: Bibby Line Group)
YORKSHIRE
(3) was built in 1960 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 7218grt, a length of 490ft 11in,
a beam of 63ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. Sister
of the Shropshire she joined her sisters on the Burma service
and subsequent charters to Avenue Shipping in August 1960. In
1963 she was chartered to the Indo-China Steam Navigation Co.
and renamed Eastern Princess for that purpose. When she came
off charter in 1964 she reverted to Yorkshire and went on charter
to companies which included Clan Line and Cia Sud-Americana
de Vapores of Chile - in their liveries. In 1971 she was sold
for £1,000,000 to Bordagain Shipping Co. of Monrovia who
renamed her Bordabekoa. Ten years later, in 1981, she was acquired
by Douglas S. A. of Panama, later to become Inter Douglas S.
A. in 1983, who changed her name to Sea Reliance. On 8th March
1984 she arrived at Bombay where she was broken up. (Photo:
Bibby Line Group)
LANCASHIRE
(3) was built in 1963 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 8919grt, a length of 465ft, a
beam of 65ft and a service speed of 15 knots. A cargo ship,
she commenced her maiden voyage from Birkenhead - Rangoon -
Continent - UK in August 1963 and was then made available for
charter. In 1970 she was sold to Pargola (Shipping) Ltd of London
and immediately resold to the Pan-Islamic Steam Ship Co. of
Karachi who renamed her Safina-E-Haidar. On 8th February 1993
she arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi where she was broken up.
(Photo: Bibby Line Group)
GLOUCESTERSHIRE (2) was built in 1950 by Vickers-Armstrong
at Newcastle with a tonnage of 8827grt, a length of 470ft 10in,
a beam of 63ft 2in and a service speed of 14 knots. A conventional
cargo ship, she was completed as the Cingalese Prince (2) for
Prince Line Ltd in September 1950. In April 1960 she was chartered
to Shaw, Savill & Albion and renamed Bardic for the duration
of the charter which lasted for two years. When she came off
charter she reverted to Cingalese Prince until 15th January
1964 when, together with her sister the Eastern Prince, she
was acquired by Bibby's to replace the passenger cargo vessels
Warwickshire (2) and Leicestershire (2) and renamed Gloucestershire
(2). She remained with Bibby's until 1971 when she was sold
to Ferguson International Shipping Co. of Hong Kong who renamed
her Cresco. A year later she passed to Ribble Ltd of Liverpool
with Patt, Mansfield & Co. as managers, and sailed to Whampoa
where she arrived on 17th September for demolition.
STAFFORDSHIRE (3) was built in 1950 by Vickers-Armstrong
at Newcastle with a tonnage of 8827grt, a length of 470ft 10in,
a beam of 63ft 2in and a service speed of 14 knots. Sister of
the Gloucestershire she was completed as the Eastern Prince
for Prince Line Ltd in September 1950. In April 1960 she was
chartered to Shaw, Savill & Albion who temporarily renamed
her Bardic. She was acquired by Bibby's on 26th February 1964
and renamed Staffordshire. On 30th November 1970, during a voyage
from Liverpool to Rangoon she put into Colombo with engine trouble
and was sold there for £122,000. She arrived in Hong Kong
in tow on 6th March 1971 and was broken up be Fuji Marden &
Co. After she was disposed of there no longer any Bibby ships
serving Rangoon.
WORCESTERSHIRE
(2) was built in 1965 by Wm. Doxford & Sons (Shipbuilding)
Ltd at Pallion Yard, Sunderland with a tonnage of 7412grt, a
length of 507ft 2in, a beam of 67ft 2in and a service speed
of 17 knots. She was delivered to Bibby Line Ltd for general
charter work and in 1973 was transferred to Bibby Bulk Carriers
Ltd. In 1976 she was sold to Bordagain Shipping Co. of Monrovia
for $4,600,000 and renamed Bordagain with Sir Ramon de la Sota
Jr of the Larringa Group as manager. She was acquired by Pelagos
Maritime S.A., with Intermarine Ltd. of Panama as manager, in
1982 and renamed Katrinamar. After three further years service
she was broken up at Bhavnagar in India during 1985. (Photo:
Bibby Group)
DERBYSHIRE (3) was built in 1966 by Wm. Doxford
& Sons (Shipbuilding) Ltd at Pallion Yard, Sunderland with
a tonnage of 7412grt, a length of 507ft 2in, a beam of 67ft
2in and a service speed of 17 knots. Sister of the Worcestershire
(2) she was delivered to Bibby Line Ltd in February 1966 and
transferred to Bibby Bulk Carriers Ltd in 1973. In 1976 she
was sold for $4,600,000 to Naviera de Transportes Chrysovalandrou
S. A. of Panama and renamed Captain Lygnos for management by
Lamda Servios Generales S. A. of Piraeus. She was renamed Chrysovalandrou
in 1981 and on 24th November of that year, during a voyage from
Piraeus to Poland, she caught fire in the engine room. On 26th
November she anchored off Cartagena and her crew abandoned her
and allowed her to burn herself out. The amidships was gutted
and on 6th December she was towed into port and broken up by
D. Franciscu Jimenez.
TORONTO CITY was built in 1966 by Wm. Doxford
& Sons (Shipbuilding) Ltd at Pallion Yard, Sunderland with
a tonnage of 5192grt, a length of 464ft, a beam of 63ft 7in
and a service speed of 17 knots. She was delivered to Chas.
Hill & Co.'s Bristol City Line for their Bristol to Canada
service in January 1966 and transferred to Bibby's when they
acquired a controlling interest in the company in February 1971.
With an ice strengthened hull and an advanced internal heating
system she continued to operate the same service. After three
years she was sold to Brandts (Leasing ) Ltd who renamed her
Ilkon Polly. In 1980 she was acquired by the Threadneedle Steamship
Co. of Monrovia who changed her name to Free Spirit and in 1982
she became the Panormos Horizon when she was purchased by Javelin
Maritime S. A. of Panama, part of John J. Rigos Maritime Enterprises.
She was sold to the ship disposal company Flowers Cove Shipping
Co. S. A. of Panama and renamed Kanika III in 1985. Sold on
to Dhirubbhai Shah & Associates she arrived at Sachana in
India on 14th September 1985 where she was broken up.
COVENTRY CITY was built in 1966 by Wm. Doxford
& Sons (Shipbuilding) Ltd at Pallion Yard, Sunderland with
a tonnage of 5192grt, a length of 464ft, a beam of 63ft 7in
and a service speed of 17 knots. Sister of the Toronto City
she was delivered in July 1966 for the same owner and service.
Acquired by Bibby Line Ltd in 1971 she remained with the company
until 1974 when she was sold, with her sister, to Brandts (Leasing)
Ltd and renamed Ilkon Dalio. In 1976 she was sold to Cie. de
Nav. D'Orbigny of Rouen who renamed her Javron. Five years later
she became the Bounty III when she was acquired by Cie Tahitenne
maritime of Papeete and on 27th November 1986 she sailed to
Kaohsuing where she was broken up.
WARWICKSHIRE (3) was built in 1967 by Wm.
Doxford & Sons (Shipbuilding) Ltd at Pallion Yard, Sunderland
with a tonnage of 7848grt, a length of 528ft 5in, a beam of
69ft 2in and a service speed of 17 knots. She was delivered
in October 1967 for the charter fleet. In 1973 she was chartered
to the Iranian Arya Shipping Lines S. A. who changed her name
to Arya Bod. When she came off charter in 1974 she reverted
to Warwickshire until 1980 when she was sold by Bibby Freighters
Ltd to Furama Maritime S.A. of Panama who renamed her Furama.
In 1984 she was renamed Sea Dragon when she was acquired by
Dragon Hill Maritime of Panama and then Dragon Hill by the same
owner. On 15th July 1985 she arrived at mainland China where
she was broken up.
PACIFIC BRIDGE was built in 1967 by Ishikawajima-Harima
Heavy Industries at Aio with a tonnage of 44795grt, a length
of 810ft 3in, a beam of 105ft 5in and a service speed of 15
knots. A Panamax bulk carrier ordered by Bibby Line Ltd in 1965
for the Seabridge Consortium she was launched on 27th October
1966 and delivered in January 1967. With an unmanned engine
room she could carry ore provided holds 2 and 8 remained empty.
In 1974 she was replaced by the Canadian Bridge, transferred
from Bibby Line Ltd to Bibby Freighters Ltd and sold to Anthemis
Shipping Co. of Monrovia who renamed her Petingo. She was subsequently
transferred to Greek registry. In 1980 she was sold to Yick
Fung Shipping & Enterprises Co. of Panama and, eight years
later, to Petingo Maritime Ltd. of Vanuatu, retaining her name
in both cases. On 30th June 1990, after loading iron ore at
Saldhana Bay for China, she suffered heavy weather damage to
her No.3 hatch which collapsed into the hold when 400 miles
south of Durban, South Africa. Two days later off Richards Bay
and down by the head her master sought permission to enter Port
Durnford but, as she was too deep, was refused and sent to Durban.
There, because of the risk of blocking the port, he was instructed
to wait 50 miles off shore until the crew of 40 could be taken
off. Further down by the head and only 5 miles off shore the
captain, who was on his last voyage before retirement, ordered
the engines to be shut down. On 3rd July the ship drifted ashore
4.5 miles from Durnford Point where she broke into four pieces
and was lost. As a result, there was an argument at the way
the ship had been denied a safe refuge.
ATLANTIC BRIDGE/DORSETSHIRE (2) was built
in 1968 by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries at Aio with
a tonnage of 44842grt, a length of 810ft 3in, a beam of 105ft
5in and a service speed of 15 knots. Sister of the Pacific Bridge
she was launched for Bibby Bros. Ltd as their contribution to
the Seabridge Consortium on 26th March 1968. In 1977 she came
off charter and in September of that year arrived for the first
time at her home port of Liverpool where she was renamed Dorsetshire
(2) by Bibby Freighters Ltd. After five years service she was
sold to Sidonta Shipping Corp. S.A. of Andros in 1982 and renamed
Perinthos. In 1987 she was acquired by Desoulta Shipping Ltd.
of Piraeus who retained her name and, in 1989, by Savile Cia.
Nav. S. A. of Panama who changed it to Deniz S. In the following
year she was owned by Mosela Shipping S. A. of Turkey and in
1991 became the Miss Vicky when acquired by Scylla Maritime
S. A. of Panama. She was sold to Eastern Spirit S. A. of Panama
in 1994 and renamed Ivy V. Current records indicate that she
has either changed owners again or been broken up.
(2).jpg)
LEICESTERSHIRE
(2) was built in 1949 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 8908grt, a length of 498ft, a
beam of 60ft 3in and a service speed of 15.5 knots. Sister of
the Warwickshire she was delivered for the Burma service in
December 1948 and commenced her maiden voyage Birkenhead to
Rangoon with a full complement of 75 passengers on 21st January
1949. During the inbound voyage she collided with Regent Oil's
Regent Jaguar at Suez. From 1952 she spent much of her time
on charter to British India Line on their East Africa routes.
In 1965, when the passenger service was discontinued, she was
sold with her sister to the Typaldos Bros. of Piraeus who renamed
her Heraklion. On 8th December 1966, during a voyage from Crete
to Piraeus in a storm, she listed, took a heavy sea and, in
moments, capsized near the island of Falconera. Out of 281 persons
on board only 47 survived. The caused of the list was due to
lorries or cars shifting and the instability of car ferries
was therefore known, but not recognised, almost 30 years ago.
(From a painting by Charles F Turner) 
OXFORDSHIRE
(2) was built in 1957 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 21619grt, a length of 609ft 5in,
a beam of 78ft 3in and a service speed of 20 knots. When launched
on 15th December 1955 she was Bibby's largest passenger liner
and troopship with accommodation for 1300 passengers. She entered
service on 28th February 1957 at Liverpool on a 20 year charter
to the Ministry of Transport at a time when trooping by air
was becoming more popular than by sea. In May 1958 she made
her final sailing from Liverpool before moving to Southampton
which had become the sole trooping port. She made her final
trooping voyage in December 1962 from Southampton to Malta before
being laid up in the River Fal. The trooping contract was paid
off by the Government in January 1963 and she was chartered
to the Fairline Shipping Corp. of Liberia for six years and
on 20th May arrived at Fyenoord N. V. at Schiedam where, for
£2,300,000, she was converted into a passenger ship. During
the conversion she was known as Conox, an abbreviation of Conversion
Oxfordshire. In March 1964, during the conversion, she was purchased
by the Societa Italiana Trasporti Marittimi S.p.A. (Sitmar Cruises)
who renamed her Fairstar. After she was handed over she went
to Harland & Wolff at Southampton in the April where she
underwent her final fitting out and furnishing. On 19th May
she made her first sailing from Southampton to Brisbane. Nine
years later, in 1973, she was converted into a cruise ship for
sailings out of Sydney, NSW. On 1st September 1988 Sitmar Cruises
was acquired by P&O Lines Ltd, with P&O-Sitmar Cruises
as managers, for $210,000,000. P&O intended to rename her
Sitmar Fairstar but this never came about. In 1991 she was transferred
to the Fairstar Shipping Corp. of Monrovia and put under the
management of P&O Holidays Pty Ltd of Australia. In June
of that year, when cruising out of Singapore with 1130 passengers
and following an overhaul, she broke down as a result of a generator
failure and had to be towed into Vung Tau. The passengers who
had joined her in Singapore were flown back to Sydney and Ho
Chi Min City. On 21st January 1997 she sailed out of Sydney
Harbour on her last cruise having cruised more than 2,000,000
miles and passing the Sydney Opera House more than 1100 times.
She was subsequently renamed Ripa and broken up at Alang where
she arrived on 10th April 1997. (Photo: Bibby Line Group) 
SHROPSHIRE
(3) was built in 1959 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 7244grt, a length of 490ft 11in,
a beam of 63ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. A cargo
ship she was delivered in April 1959 and when not in service
on the Burma route was chartered out. After 13 years service
she was sold to Lefkonia Cia. Naviera S. A. of Panama and renamed
Argiro. Two years later, in 1974, her port of registry was changed
to Piraeus with the same name and owners.. On 26th October 1981
she was laid up at Piraeus and in 1984 her owners changed her
name to Naftilos and her port of registry to Malta. Later in
that year ownership was passed to Naftilos Shipping Ltd of Valetta
for one voyage only. On 6th March 1985 she unloaded her cargo
at Chittagong and then proceeded to Tulatali where she was broken
up by S. H. International. (Photo: Bibby Line Group) 
CHESHIRE
(3) was built in 1959 by Cammell Laird & Co. at Birkenhead
with a tonnage of 7201grt, a length of 490ft 11in, a beam of
63ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. Sister of the Shropshire
she was launched on 23rd April 1959 and commenced her maiden
voyage from Liverpool to Burma on 10th March before spending
much of her time on charter. She was sold on 7th June 1968 at
Hamburg to Messageries Maritimes who renamed her Mozambique
for service to the east coast of Africa and Madagascar. On 17th
April 1970 she assisted in the rescue of the crew of the Liberian
tanker Silver Cloud which had split in two following an explosion
and in September 1974 she evacuated several hundred civilians
who were trapped by fighting during the Mozambique civil war.
Sold to Pacific International Lines Pte. of Singapore on 9th
September 1976 she was renamed Kota Mewah and eight years later,
on 24th August 1984, she arrived at Kaohsuing where she was
broken up. (Photo: Bibby Line Group) 
YORKSHIRE
(3) was built in 1960 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 7218grt, a length of 490ft 11in,
a beam of 63ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. Sister
of the Shropshire she joined her sisters on the Burma service
and subsequent charters to Avenue Shipping in August 1960. In
1963 she was chartered to the Indo-China Steam Navigation Co.
and renamed Eastern Princess for that purpose. When she came
off charter in 1964 she reverted to Yorkshire and went on charter
to companies which included Clan Line and Cia Sud-Americana
de Vapores of Chile - in their liveries. In 1971 she was sold
for £1,000,000 to Bordagain Shipping Co. of Monrovia who
renamed her Bordabekoa. Ten years later, in 1981, she was acquired
by Douglas S. A. of Panama, later to become Inter Douglas S.
A. in 1983, who changed her name to Sea Reliance. On 8th March
1984 she arrived at Bombay where she was broken up. (Photo:
Bibby Line Group) 
LANCASHIRE
(3) was built in 1963 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Govan with a tonnage of 8919grt, a length of 465ft, a
beam of 65ft and a service speed of 15 knots. A cargo ship,
she commenced her maiden voyage from Birkenhead - Rangoon -
Continent - UK in August 1963 and was then made available for
charter. In 1970 she was sold to Pargola (Shipping) Ltd of London
and immediately resold to the Pan-Islamic Steam Ship Co. of
Karachi who renamed her Safina-E-Haidar. On 8th February 1993
she arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi where she was broken up.
(Photo: Bibby Line Group) 
WORCESTERSHIRE
(2) was built in 1965 by Wm. Doxford & Sons (Shipbuilding)
Ltd at Pallion Yard, Sunderland with a tonnage of 7412grt, a
length of 507ft 2in, a beam of 67ft 2in and a service speed
of 17 knots. She was delivered to Bibby Line Ltd for general
charter work and in 1973 was transferred to Bibby Bulk Carriers
Ltd. In 1976 she was sold to Bordagain Shipping Co. of Monrovia
for $4,600,000 and renamed Bordagain with Sir Ramon de la Sota
Jr of the Larringa Group as manager. She was acquired by Pelagos
Maritime S.A., with Intermarine Ltd. of Panama as manager, in
1982 and renamed Katrinamar. After three further years service
she was broken up at Bhavnagar in India during 1985. (Photo:
Bibby Group) 
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