DOLIUS
(3) was built in 1955 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 7960grt, a length of 491ft 6in, a beam of 62ft
5in and a service speed of 15 knots. Sister of the Demodocus
she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. She was transferred
to Glen Line and renamed Glenfruin in November 1970 and reverted
to Holt's and her former name in April 1972. In the following
November she was sold to Nan Yang Shipping Co. of Macao and
renamed Hungmien. Registered at Mogadishu she flew the Somali
flag and was operated by the Golden City Maritime Corp. S. A.
a member of the Ocean Tramping Co. of Panama. She was sold to
the Bureau of Maritime Transportation of Canton, China and renamed
Hong Qi 119. Renamed Zhan Dou 51 she was based at Guanzhou under
the same owners. Her eventual demise is unknown and she was
deleted from Lloyds Register in November 1991. (Photo: John
Clarkson Collection)
ANTENOR
(4)/DYMAS (2) was built in 1957 by Vickers Armstrong, Walker
Naval Yard at Newcastle with a tonnage of 7965grt, a length
of 491ft 6in, a beam of 62ft 5in and a service speed of 15 knots.
Launched on 4th October 1956 she was similar to the Demodocus
but the first of a class of three ships designated Mark A6.
She was completed for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in July 1957.
In November 1970 she was transferred to Glen Line and renamed
Glenlochy but reverted to Blue Funnel in 1972 when she was renamed
Dymas. She was sold to Nan Yang Shipping Co. of Macao in April
1973 and renamed Kaiyun. Three years later, in 1976 she was
sold to Highseas Nav. Corp S.A. of Panama without a change of
name and in 1983 was broken up at Huangpu in China. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection)
ACHILLES
(5)/DARDANUS (5) was built in 1957 by Vickers Armstrong, Walker
Naval Yard at Newcastle with a tonnage of 7969grt, a length
of 491ft 6in, a beam of 62ft 5in and a service speed of 15 knots.
Sister of the Demodocus she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship
Co. Renamed Dardanus in May 1972 she was sold to Nan Yang Shipping
Co. of Macao ,but registered in Somali, who changed her name
to Kiago. Four years later she was being operated by the Highseas
Navigation Corp. S.A. of Panama, a Chinese owned company with
the same name. On 5th June 1982 she arrived at Calcutta where
she was broken up. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
AJAX
(4)/DEUCALION (5) was built in 1958 by Vickers Armstrong, Walker
Naval Yard at Newcastle with a tonnage of 7969grt, a length
of 491ft 6in, a beam of 62ft 5in and a service speed of 15 knots.
Sister of the Demoducus she was completed for the China Mutual
Steam Navigation Co. and cost £1,450,000 as compared with
£650,000 which was the cost of the first A5/A6 vessel.
In May 1972 she was renamed Deucalion and in the following February
was sold to Nan Yang Shipping Co. of Macao for operation by
the Brilliance Steam Ship Co. who renamed her Kailock. She arrived
at Kaohsiung in Taiwan in August 1982 where she was broken up.
(Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
MENELAUS
(4) was built in 1957 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 8538grt, a length of 494ft 10in,
a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. The first
of a class of eight ships she was built for the Ocean Steam
Ship Co. These ships were the first Holt ships to be equipped
with Macgregor single pull hatch covers and a rudimentary form
of air conditioning in the public rooms. In 1972 she was transferred
to Elder Dempster Lines, renamed Mano and operated by the British
& Burmese Steam Navigation Co. She was switched to Elder
Dempster Lines in 1977 and given the name Oti to conform with
the others of the 'O' class. By this time Elder Dempster were
operating all the former Blue Funnel 'M' class, with the exception
of the Melampus, with name beginning with 'O'. In the following
year she was sold to Thenamaris Maritime Inc. of Pireaus and
was operated by Leon Rivera Lines of Cyprus as the Elstar. On
27th February 1979 she arrived at Busan in Korea where she was
broken up. (Photo: Fred Parkinson Collection)
MENESTHEUS
(2) was built in 1958 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 8510grt, a length of 494ft 10in,
a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. Sister
of the Menelaus she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. In
1977 she was transferred to Elder Dempster Lines and renamed
Onitsha. She was sold to Thenamaris Maritime Inc. of Piraeus
in 1978 and renamed Elisland for operation by Palermo Shipping
Co. of Cyprus. On 19th March 1979 she arrived at Kaohsiung in
Taiwan where she was broken up by Lung Fa Steel & Iron Co.
(Photo: Fotoflite)
MACHAON
(3) was built in 1959 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 8529grt, a length of 494ft 10in,
a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. Sister
of the Menelaus she was completed in February 1958 for the Ocean
Steam Ship Co. She was transferred to N.S.M. 'Oceaan' in 1975
and then to Elder Dempster in 1977 when she was renamed Obuasi.
In 1978 she was sold to Thenamaris Maritime Inc. of Piraeus
for operation by the Palermo Shipping Co. of Cyprus as the Elsea.
Within a few days she was transferred to Tartan Shipping Ltd
of Monrovia, renamed Med Endeavour and broken up at Kaohsiung,
Taiwan in 1979. (Photo: Maritime Photo Library)
MEMNON
(4)/STENTOR (5) was built in 1959 by Vickers Armstrong (Shipbuilders)
Ltd at Newcastle with a tonnage of 8504grt, a length of 494ft
6in, a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. Completed
for the China Mutual Steam Navigation Co. in 1959 she was renamed
Stentor for deployment on the South East Asia - Australia service
in 1975. In 1977 she was transferred to Elder Dempster Lines
and renamed Owerri. After only one year she was sold to Thenamaris
Maritime Inc. of Piraeus for operation by the Henlow Shipping
Corp as the Europe, realising £172,000. On 3rd July 1982
she was laid up at Stylis and five years later was renamed Primus
for her last voyage to Alang in India where she arrived on 5th
February 1988 for demolition. (Photo: World Ship Photo Library)
MELAMPUS
(2) was built in 1960 by Vicker Armstrong (Shipbuilders) Ltd
at Newcastle with a tonnage of 8509grt, a length of 494ft 10in,
a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. Sister
of the Menelaus she was launch on 15th December 1959 and completed
for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in the following June. In June
1967 she became trapped, together with the Agapenor, in the
Great Bitter Lake when the Suez Canal was blocked at both ends
during the 'Six Day War' between Israel and Egypt. The trapped
ships were abandoned to the Liverpool and London War Risks Association
who eventually sold them to the Grecomar Shipping Agency Ltd.
When the canal was cleared the Melampus left on 20th May 1975
under tow and bound for Port Said, Dhekelia, Cyprus and Trieste
where, after an overhaul, she was sold to the Greek Leventakis
Group for operation by the Korissianev Shipping Co. S.A. and
renamed Annoula II. After a further seven years trading she
arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi in November 1982 and after
remaining at anchor for some time was broken up during 1983.
(Photo: Fred Parkinson Collection)
MARON
(3)/RHEXENOR (3) was built in 1960 by Caledon Ship Building
& Engineering Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 8538grt, a
length of 494ft 10in, a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed
of 16.5 knots. She was launched on 26th February 1960 and delivered
to Ocean Steam Ship Company in the following April. In 1975
she was moved to the South East Asia to Australia and renamed
Rhexenor. Two years later she was transferred to Elder Dempster
Lines and renamed Opobo, staying with the company for only one
year. She was sold to Thenamaris Marine Inc. of Piraeus in 1978
and renamed Elfortune. Later in the same year she was operated
by Belton Shipping Corp. of Monrovia with the name Europe II.
In 1984 she was sold to Trade Shipping Ltd. of Malta, retaining
her name, and was laid up at Piraeus. She was broken up at Aliaga
during April 1987.(Photo: World Ship Photo Library)
GUNUNG
DJATI was built in 1936 by Blohm & Voss K.a.A. at Hamburg
with a tonnage of 16662grt, a length of 578ft, a beam of 72ft
and a service speed of 18 knots. She was launched as the Pretoria
on 16th July 1936 for the Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie and commenced
her maiden voyage from Hamburg to South Africa via Southampton
on 19th December. In 1939 she was requisitioned by the German
Navy as an accommodation ship based at Hamburg. She was taken
over by the British Government as a war prize in 1945 for use
as a troopship. Renamed Empire Doon she was managed by the Orient
Line for the Ministry of War Transport but it was soon ascertained
that she had problems with her boilers and was laid up. She
was reboilered in 1949, brought up to troopship standard and
renamed Empire Orwell in recognition of Orient Line management
retaining also the MOWT's 'Empire', the Troopship's 'River'
and the Orient Line's 'O' nomenclature. In 1958 she was chartered
to Pan-Islamic Steam Ship Co. of Karachi to carry pilgrims and
at the end of the season was laid up in the Kyles of Bute. Alfred
Holt & Co. purchased her in November of the same year for
pilgrimage duties. It was Holt's intention to rename her Dardanus
but she entered service as the Gunung Djati, the name of the
leading Javanese Haji and an Islamic missionary. Operated by
the Ocean Steam Ship Co. she was refitted by Barclay Curle at
Glasgow who replaced the troopship accommodation with space
for 2000 pilgrims and 106 first class passengers. On 7th March
1959 she sailed from Liverpool bound for Djarkarta where she
joined the Tyndareus which was operating a similar service.
After three seasons she was sold to the Indonesian Government
in 1962 who continued to operate her for pilgrimages. In 1965
she was sold to P. T. Maskapai Pelajaran 'Sang Saka' of Djakarta
without a change of name and transferred to Pan-Islamic Steam
Ship Co. who continued the Mecca Pilgrimage service. She was
converted to diesel in 1973 and refitted at Hong Kong in 1975.
She returned to the Indonesian flag in 1980 as a naval accommodation
ship and was renamed Kri Tanjung, Penant 971. By 1984 she was
no longer operating as a seagoing vessel. (Photo: Glasgow City
Libraries & Archives)
CENTAUR
(3) was built in 1964 by John Brown and Company Ltd in Glasgow
with a tonnage of 8262grt, a length of 480.11in, a beam of 66ft
4in and a service speed of 20 knots. She was launched on 20th
June 1963 by Mrs. D Brand, wife of the Prime Minister of Western
Australia. Equipped with stabilisers she carried a crew of 98
and had the luxury of a swimming pool. Built for the Singapore-Fremantle
service she was Blue Funnel's first twin-screw motorship since
the end of World War 2 and was a replacement for the Charon
and Gorgon. Carefully designed to meet growing competition she
could carry 190 passengers and 4500 sheep or 700 head of cattle.
Considered expensive at a cost of £2,500,000 she proved
to be popular with regular passengers which justified the investment.
She was originally registered with Ocean Steamship Company but
in 1975, as part of the separation from Straits Steamship, she
was transferred to Eastern Fleets Ltd, Singapore – a company
in which Strait Steamship Company Ltd had a 64 % holding –
and three years to Blue Funnel (S.E. Asia) Private Ltd; Singapore.
Centaur was withdrawn from service in 1981, but during the Falklands
war she was chartered by the St Helena Shipping Co Ltd. as a
substitute for their requisitioned St Helena. Regrettably she
did not remain on this service, and in May 1985 she was sold
to China and renamed Hai Long by The Shanghai Haixing Shipping
Co and after 1986 as Hai Da. She was broken up by the Xinhui
Scrapyard in China during 1995. (Photograph by D P Manders)
PRIAM
(5) was built in 1966 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Built for the Ocean
Steam Ship Co. she was the first in a class of eight ships of
which four were initially operated by Glen Line. In 1978 the
growth of the containership rendered them obsolete and the Priam,
the Piesander, the Prometheus and the Protesilaus where sold
en bloc to C. Y. Tung. Operated by Panocean Shipping of Liberia
the Priam was renamed Oriental Champion. In 1980 she was transferred
to C. Y. Tung's Carterfold Shipping Co. retaining her name,
and in 1982 was sold to Vanderhoff Shipping Co. of Panama, again,
retaining her name. Two years later she was sold to Island Investment
& Agency Corp. Ltd and Wattling Nav. Inc of Panama without
a change of name. On 18th October 1985, during the Iraq-Iran
war, her steering gear housing was hit by an Iraqi missile and
she had to be towed to Bahrain. The cost of repairs proved to
be uneconomical and she was towed to Kaohsiung in Taiwan where
she was broken up. (Photo: World Ship Photo Library)
PEISANDER
(2) was built in 1967 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 11in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was delivered to the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in 1967 and transferred
to the China Mutual Steam Navigation Co. Ltd in 1972. Sold to
C.Y. Tung's Panocean Shipping Co. of Liberia in 1978 she was
renamed Oriental Exporter. In 1981 she was transferred to Carland
Shipping Ltd of Hong Kong and renamed Main Express. Later in
the same year she was sold to the Foreland Shipping Ltd of Monrovia
but with registry in Panama. Three years later she was sold
to Island Investment & Agency Corp. & Wattling Nav.
Inc. of Liberia and renamed Oriental Exporter for the second
time. On 11th December 1985 she left Bahrain for Kaohsiung,
Taiwan where she was broken up. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
PROTESILAUS
(2) was built in 1967 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 11in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was built for the China Mutal Steam Navigation Co. and became
the Oriental Importer when she was sold to C. Y. Tung's Panocean
Shipping Co. for operation by Balcombe Co. Ltd of Hong Kong
in 1978. She was transferred to Tung's Carbrook Shipping Ltd
in 1979 and then to Flint Shipping Ltd of Panama in 1982 without
a change of name. Two years later she was sold to Island Investment
& Agency Corp. Ltd and Wattling Nav. Inc of Panama without
a change of name. On 1st June 1985, during a voyage from Damman
to Kuwait in the Persian Gulf, she was hit by two Iranian missiles
and set on fire. One of the twenty eight crew members was killed,
two went missing and one was injured. The fire was extinguished
on the following day and she was towed to Bahrain where repairs
were deemed to be uneconomical. She was subsequently towed to
Kaohsiung in Taiwan for breaking up and arrived there on 18th
September 1985. (Photo: Fotoflite)
PROMETHEUS
(4) was built in 1967 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 11in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was completed for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in June 1967,
ten moths later than scheduled. In 1972 she was transferred
to the China Mutual Steam Navigation Co. with whom she stayed
for five years before being sold to C. Y. Tung's Blound Co.
Ltd of Hong Kong and renamed Oriental Merchant in 1979. In the
following year she was sold to Panocean Shipping Co. Inc. of
Liberia and had her name modified to Oriental Merchant No.1.
Later in the same year she was transferred to Calm Isle Shipping
Ltd of Hong Kong and her name reverted to Oriental Merchant.
In 1984 she was sold to Island Investment & Agency Corp
&Wattling Nav. Inc.. On 21st March 1986 she arrived at Kaohsiung,
Taiwan where she was broken up. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
PHRONTIS
(2) was built in 1967 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Nagasaki
with a tonnage of 12299grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was built as the Pembrokeshire for Glen Line. By this time
Alfred Holt & Co. had become somewhat disillusioned with
British shipbuilding as ships were being delivered late due
to miss-management at the shipyards. Consequently, they placed
two orders with Mitsubishi but even so the Pembrokeshire was
delivered three months late, delays which cost Holt's money.
Renamed Phrontis in 1972 she was firstly transferred to the
Ocean Steam Ship Co. and later in the same year to the China
Mutual Steam Navigation Co. In 1978 she was chartered to Wilhelm
Wilhemsen. She was sold to Gulf Shipping Lines of London in
1982 and renamed Gulf Osprey. In the following year she was
sold to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and renamed
Iran Ejtehad. In April 1985 she arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi
with the name Dolphin VIII where she was broken up; the last
of the Priam Class to meet that fate.
PATROCLUS
(5) was built in 1966 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Nagasaki
with a tonnage of 12299grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was completed as the Glenalmond for Glen Line and, because
of delays at British shipyards, was actually the first Priam
Class to enter service. In 1973 she was transferred to the China
Mutual Steam Navigation Co. and renamed Patroclus for deployment
on a joint service with the Swedish East Asia Co. In the following
year she was transferred to N. S. M. 'Oceaan', the only Priam
Class vessel to fly the Dutch ensign. On 4th April 1978 N. S.
M. 'Oceaan's flag was run down for the last time on the Patroclus
as the decline in conventional cargo services had compelled
the company to cease trading. Returning to British registry
as a consequence she was laid up at Liverpool before being deployed
on the Ben-Ocean Joint Service. In February 1982 she was sold
to Rajab & Co. of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and renamed Rajab
1. On 18th July 1984, during a voyage from Bangkok to Dubai
with a cargo of maize, wheat, corn, rice, beans and wood, she
arrived at Port Rashid on fire. After four days the fire was
extinguished but water had seriously damaged her electrical
and firefighting equipment. On 20th August 1984 she incurred
serious damage to her main engine when salt water entered the
crankcase and, as a result, was sold to Molasses Trading &
Export Co. Renamed Sahar for her final voyage she arrived at
Gadani Beach, Karachi on 26th November 1894 where she was broken
up. (Photo: A Duncan)
PERSEUS
(4) was built in 1967 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was completed for Glen Line as the Radnorshire. In 1973
she was transferred to the China Navigation Co. and renamed
Perseus. After only eleven years with the Holt Group she was
sold to John Swire's China Navigation Co., a company in which
Holt's had a substantial interest, and renamed Kwangsi. Three
years later, in 1981, she was sold to undisclosed owners and
renamed Asia Dragon with registry in Panama. Shortly afterwards
she was sold on to the Saudi Venture Corporation of Jeddah,
later to be restyled Saudi Falcon Navigation Co., and renamed
Saudi ZamZam. Two years later, in 1984, she was sold to Chinese
shipbreakers. (Photo: Richard Cornish)
PHEMIUS
(5) was built in 1966 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was built for Glen Line as the Glenfinlas and renamed Phemius
when she was transferred to Blue Funnel in 1972. When Alfred
Holt & Co. gave up its interest in the Swire Group in 1978
she was sold to the China Navigation Co. as part of the financial
settlement. Renamed Kweichow she remained with the company until
she was sold to the Saudi Venture Corp. in 1983 and renamed
Saudi Kawther. She was broken up by Chinese shipbreakers in
1984. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
DOLIUS
(3) was built in 1955 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 7960grt, a length of 491ft 6in, a beam of 62ft
5in and a service speed of 15 knots. Sister of the Demodocus
she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. She was transferred
to Glen Line and renamed Glenfruin in November 1970 and reverted
to Holt's and her former name in April 1972. In the following
November she was sold to Nan Yang Shipping Co. of Macao and
renamed Hungmien. Registered at Mogadishu she flew the Somali
flag and was operated by the Golden City Maritime Corp. S. A.
a member of the Ocean Tramping Co. of Panama. She was sold to
the Bureau of Maritime Transportation of Canton, China and renamed
Hong Qi 119. Renamed Zhan Dou 51 she was based at Guanzhou under
the same owners. Her eventual demise is unknown and she was
deleted from Lloyds Register in November 1991. (Photo: John
Clarkson Collection) 
ANTENOR
(4)/DYMAS (2) was built in 1957 by Vickers Armstrong, Walker
Naval Yard at Newcastle with a tonnage of 7965grt, a length
of 491ft 6in, a beam of 62ft 5in and a service speed of 15 knots.
Launched on 4th October 1956 she was similar to the Demodocus
but the first of a class of three ships designated Mark A6.
She was completed for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in July 1957.
In November 1970 she was transferred to Glen Line and renamed
Glenlochy but reverted to Blue Funnel in 1972 when she was renamed
Dymas. She was sold to Nan Yang Shipping Co. of Macao in April
1973 and renamed Kaiyun. Three years later, in 1976 she was
sold to Highseas Nav. Corp S.A. of Panama without a change of
name and in 1983 was broken up at Huangpu in China. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection) 
ACHILLES
(5)/DARDANUS (5) was built in 1957 by Vickers Armstrong, Walker
Naval Yard at Newcastle with a tonnage of 7969grt, a length
of 491ft 6in, a beam of 62ft 5in and a service speed of 15 knots.
Sister of the Demodocus she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship
Co. Renamed Dardanus in May 1972 she was sold to Nan Yang Shipping
Co. of Macao ,but registered in Somali, who changed her name
to Kiago. Four years later she was being operated by the Highseas
Navigation Corp. S.A. of Panama, a Chinese owned company with
the same name. On 5th June 1982 she arrived at Calcutta where
she was broken up. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection) 
AJAX
(4)/DEUCALION (5) was built in 1958 by Vickers Armstrong, Walker
Naval Yard at Newcastle with a tonnage of 7969grt, a length
of 491ft 6in, a beam of 62ft 5in and a service speed of 15 knots.
Sister of the Demoducus she was completed for the China Mutual
Steam Navigation Co. and cost £1,450,000 as compared with
£650,000 which was the cost of the first A5/A6 vessel.
In May 1972 she was renamed Deucalion and in the following February
was sold to Nan Yang Shipping Co. of Macao for operation by
the Brilliance Steam Ship Co. who renamed her Kailock. She arrived
at Kaohsiung in Taiwan in August 1982 where she was broken up.
(Photo: John Clarkson Collection) 
MENELAUS
(4) was built in 1957 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 8538grt, a length of 494ft 10in,
a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. The first
of a class of eight ships she was built for the Ocean Steam
Ship Co. These ships were the first Holt ships to be equipped
with Macgregor single pull hatch covers and a rudimentary form
of air conditioning in the public rooms. In 1972 she was transferred
to Elder Dempster Lines, renamed Mano and operated by the British
& Burmese Steam Navigation Co. She was switched to Elder
Dempster Lines in 1977 and given the name Oti to conform with
the others of the 'O' class. By this time Elder Dempster were
operating all the former Blue Funnel 'M' class, with the exception
of the Melampus, with name beginning with 'O'. In the following
year she was sold to Thenamaris Maritime Inc. of Pireaus and
was operated by Leon Rivera Lines of Cyprus as the Elstar. On
27th February 1979 she arrived at Busan in Korea where she was
broken up. (Photo: Fred Parkinson Collection) .jpg)
MENESTHEUS
(2) was built in 1958 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 8510grt, a length of 494ft 10in,
a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. Sister
of the Menelaus she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. In
1977 she was transferred to Elder Dempster Lines and renamed
Onitsha. She was sold to Thenamaris Maritime Inc. of Piraeus
in 1978 and renamed Elisland for operation by Palermo Shipping
Co. of Cyprus. On 19th March 1979 she arrived at Kaohsiung in
Taiwan where she was broken up by Lung Fa Steel & Iron Co.
(Photo: Fotoflite) 
MACHAON
(3) was built in 1959 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 8529grt, a length of 494ft 10in,
a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. Sister
of the Menelaus she was completed in February 1958 for the Ocean
Steam Ship Co. She was transferred to N.S.M. 'Oceaan' in 1975
and then to Elder Dempster in 1977 when she was renamed Obuasi.
In 1978 she was sold to Thenamaris Maritime Inc. of Piraeus
for operation by the Palermo Shipping Co. of Cyprus as the Elsea.
Within a few days she was transferred to Tartan Shipping Ltd
of Monrovia, renamed Med Endeavour and broken up at Kaohsiung,
Taiwan in 1979. (Photo: Maritime Photo Library) 
MEMNON
(4)/STENTOR (5) was built in 1959 by Vickers Armstrong (Shipbuilders)
Ltd at Newcastle with a tonnage of 8504grt, a length of 494ft
6in, a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. Completed
for the China Mutual Steam Navigation Co. in 1959 she was renamed
Stentor for deployment on the South East Asia - Australia service
in 1975. In 1977 she was transferred to Elder Dempster Lines
and renamed Owerri. After only one year she was sold to Thenamaris
Maritime Inc. of Piraeus for operation by the Henlow Shipping
Corp as the Europe, realising £172,000. On 3rd July 1982
she was laid up at Stylis and five years later was renamed Primus
for her last voyage to Alang in India where she arrived on 5th
February 1988 for demolition. (Photo: World Ship Photo Library)
MELAMPUS
(2) was built in 1960 by Vicker Armstrong (Shipbuilders) Ltd
at Newcastle with a tonnage of 8509grt, a length of 494ft 10in,
a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed of 16.5 knots. Sister
of the Menelaus she was launch on 15th December 1959 and completed
for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in the following June. In June
1967 she became trapped, together with the Agapenor, in the
Great Bitter Lake when the Suez Canal was blocked at both ends
during the 'Six Day War' between Israel and Egypt. The trapped
ships were abandoned to the Liverpool and London War Risks Association
who eventually sold them to the Grecomar Shipping Agency Ltd.
When the canal was cleared the Melampus left on 20th May 1975
under tow and bound for Port Said, Dhekelia, Cyprus and Trieste
where, after an overhaul, she was sold to the Greek Leventakis
Group for operation by the Korissianev Shipping Co. S.A. and
renamed Annoula II. After a further seven years trading she
arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi in November 1982 and after
remaining at anchor for some time was broken up during 1983.
(Photo: Fred Parkinson Collection) .jpg)
MARON
(3)/RHEXENOR (3) was built in 1960 by Caledon Ship Building
& Engineering Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 8538grt, a
length of 494ft 10in, a beam of 65ft 5in and a service speed
of 16.5 knots. She was launched on 26th February 1960 and delivered
to Ocean Steam Ship Company in the following April. In 1975
she was moved to the South East Asia to Australia and renamed
Rhexenor. Two years later she was transferred to Elder Dempster
Lines and renamed Opobo, staying with the company for only one
year. She was sold to Thenamaris Marine Inc. of Piraeus in 1978
and renamed Elfortune. Later in the same year she was operated
by Belton Shipping Corp. of Monrovia with the name Europe II.
In 1984 she was sold to Trade Shipping Ltd. of Malta, retaining
her name, and was laid up at Piraeus. She was broken up at Aliaga
during April 1987.(Photo: World Ship Photo Library) 
GUNUNG
DJATI was built in 1936 by Blohm & Voss K.a.A. at Hamburg
with a tonnage of 16662grt, a length of 578ft, a beam of 72ft
and a service speed of 18 knots. She was launched as the Pretoria
on 16th July 1936 for the Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie and commenced
her maiden voyage from Hamburg to South Africa via Southampton
on 19th December. In 1939 she was requisitioned by the German
Navy as an accommodation ship based at Hamburg. She was taken
over by the British Government as a war prize in 1945 for use
as a troopship. Renamed Empire Doon she was managed by the Orient
Line for the Ministry of War Transport but it was soon ascertained
that she had problems with her boilers and was laid up. She
was reboilered in 1949, brought up to troopship standard and
renamed Empire Orwell in recognition of Orient Line management
retaining also the MOWT's 'Empire', the Troopship's 'River'
and the Orient Line's 'O' nomenclature. In 1958 she was chartered
to Pan-Islamic Steam Ship Co. of Karachi to carry pilgrims and
at the end of the season was laid up in the Kyles of Bute. Alfred
Holt & Co. purchased her in November of the same year for
pilgrimage duties. It was Holt's intention to rename her Dardanus
but she entered service as the Gunung Djati, the name of the
leading Javanese Haji and an Islamic missionary. Operated by
the Ocean Steam Ship Co. she was refitted by Barclay Curle at
Glasgow who replaced the troopship accommodation with space
for 2000 pilgrims and 106 first class passengers. On 7th March
1959 she sailed from Liverpool bound for Djarkarta where she
joined the Tyndareus which was operating a similar service.
After three seasons she was sold to the Indonesian Government
in 1962 who continued to operate her for pilgrimages. In 1965
she was sold to P. T. Maskapai Pelajaran 'Sang Saka' of Djakarta
without a change of name and transferred to Pan-Islamic Steam
Ship Co. who continued the Mecca Pilgrimage service. She was
converted to diesel in 1973 and refitted at Hong Kong in 1975.
She returned to the Indonesian flag in 1980 as a naval accommodation
ship and was renamed Kri Tanjung, Penant 971. By 1984 she was
no longer operating as a seagoing vessel. (Photo: Glasgow City
Libraries & Archives) 
CENTAUR
(3) was built in 1964 by John Brown and Company Ltd in Glasgow
with a tonnage of 8262grt, a length of 480.11in, a beam of 66ft
4in and a service speed of 20 knots. She was launched on 20th
June 1963 by Mrs. D Brand, wife of the Prime Minister of Western
Australia. Equipped with stabilisers she carried a crew of 98
and had the luxury of a swimming pool. Built for the Singapore-Fremantle
service she was Blue Funnel's first twin-screw motorship since
the end of World War 2 and was a replacement for the Charon
and Gorgon. Carefully designed to meet growing competition she
could carry 190 passengers and 4500 sheep or 700 head of cattle.
Considered expensive at a cost of £2,500,000 she proved
to be popular with regular passengers which justified the investment.
She was originally registered with Ocean Steamship Company but
in 1975, as part of the separation from Straits Steamship, she
was transferred to Eastern Fleets Ltd, Singapore – a company
in which Strait Steamship Company Ltd had a 64 % holding –
and three years to Blue Funnel (S.E. Asia) Private Ltd; Singapore.
Centaur was withdrawn from service in 1981, but during the Falklands
war she was chartered by the St Helena Shipping Co Ltd. as a
substitute for their requisitioned St Helena. Regrettably she
did not remain on this service, and in May 1985 she was sold
to China and renamed Hai Long by The Shanghai Haixing Shipping
Co and after 1986 as Hai Da. She was broken up by the Xinhui
Scrapyard in China during 1995. (Photograph by D P Manders)
.jpg)
PRIAM
(5) was built in 1966 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Built for the Ocean
Steam Ship Co. she was the first in a class of eight ships of
which four were initially operated by Glen Line. In 1978 the
growth of the containership rendered them obsolete and the Priam,
the Piesander, the Prometheus and the Protesilaus where sold
en bloc to C. Y. Tung. Operated by Panocean Shipping of Liberia
the Priam was renamed Oriental Champion. In 1980 she was transferred
to C. Y. Tung's Carterfold Shipping Co. retaining her name,
and in 1982 was sold to Vanderhoff Shipping Co. of Panama, again,
retaining her name. Two years later she was sold to Island Investment
& Agency Corp. Ltd and Wattling Nav. Inc of Panama without
a change of name. On 18th October 1985, during the Iraq-Iran
war, her steering gear housing was hit by an Iraqi missile and
she had to be towed to Bahrain. The cost of repairs proved to
be uneconomical and she was towed to Kaohsiung in Taiwan where
she was broken up. (Photo: World Ship Photo Library) 
PEISANDER
(2) was built in 1967 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 11in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was delivered to the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in 1967 and transferred
to the China Mutual Steam Navigation Co. Ltd in 1972. Sold to
C.Y. Tung's Panocean Shipping Co. of Liberia in 1978 she was
renamed Oriental Exporter. In 1981 she was transferred to Carland
Shipping Ltd of Hong Kong and renamed Main Express. Later in
the same year she was sold to the Foreland Shipping Ltd of Monrovia
but with registry in Panama. Three years later she was sold
to Island Investment & Agency Corp. & Wattling Nav.
Inc. of Liberia and renamed Oriental Exporter for the second
time. On 11th December 1985 she left Bahrain for Kaohsiung,
Taiwan where she was broken up. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
.jpg)
PROTESILAUS
(2) was built in 1967 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 11in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was built for the China Mutal Steam Navigation Co. and became
the Oriental Importer when she was sold to C. Y. Tung's Panocean
Shipping Co. for operation by Balcombe Co. Ltd of Hong Kong
in 1978. She was transferred to Tung's Carbrook Shipping Ltd
in 1979 and then to Flint Shipping Ltd of Panama in 1982 without
a change of name. Two years later she was sold to Island Investment
& Agency Corp. Ltd and Wattling Nav. Inc of Panama without
a change of name. On 1st June 1985, during a voyage from Damman
to Kuwait in the Persian Gulf, she was hit by two Iranian missiles
and set on fire. One of the twenty eight crew members was killed,
two went missing and one was injured. The fire was extinguished
on the following day and she was towed to Bahrain where repairs
were deemed to be uneconomical. She was subsequently towed to
Kaohsiung in Taiwan for breaking up and arrived there on 18th
September 1985. (Photo: Fotoflite) 
PROMETHEUS
(4) was built in 1967 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 11in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was completed for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in June 1967,
ten moths later than scheduled. In 1972 she was transferred
to the China Mutual Steam Navigation Co. with whom she stayed
for five years before being sold to C. Y. Tung's Blound Co.
Ltd of Hong Kong and renamed Oriental Merchant in 1979. In the
following year she was sold to Panocean Shipping Co. Inc. of
Liberia and had her name modified to Oriental Merchant No.1.
Later in the same year she was transferred to Calm Isle Shipping
Ltd of Hong Kong and her name reverted to Oriental Merchant.
In 1984 she was sold to Island Investment & Agency Corp
&Wattling Nav. Inc.. On 21st March 1986 she arrived at Kaohsiung,
Taiwan where she was broken up. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
PHRONTIS
(2) was built in 1967 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Nagasaki
with a tonnage of 12299grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was built as the Pembrokeshire for Glen Line. By this time
Alfred Holt & Co. had become somewhat disillusioned with
British shipbuilding as ships were being delivered late due
to miss-management at the shipyards. Consequently, they placed
two orders with Mitsubishi but even so the Pembrokeshire was
delivered three months late, delays which cost Holt's money.
Renamed Phrontis in 1972 she was firstly transferred to the
Ocean Steam Ship Co. and later in the same year to the China
Mutual Steam Navigation Co. In 1978 she was chartered to Wilhelm
Wilhemsen. She was sold to Gulf Shipping Lines of London in
1982 and renamed Gulf Osprey. In the following year she was
sold to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and renamed
Iran Ejtehad. In April 1985 she arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi
with the name Dolphin VIII where she was broken up; the last
of the Priam Class to meet that fate. 
PATROCLUS
(5) was built in 1966 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Nagasaki
with a tonnage of 12299grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was completed as the Glenalmond for Glen Line and, because
of delays at British shipyards, was actually the first Priam
Class to enter service. In 1973 she was transferred to the China
Mutual Steam Navigation Co. and renamed Patroclus for deployment
on a joint service with the Swedish East Asia Co. In the following
year she was transferred to N. S. M. 'Oceaan', the only Priam
Class vessel to fly the Dutch ensign. On 4th April 1978 N. S.
M. 'Oceaan's flag was run down for the last time on the Patroclus
as the decline in conventional cargo services had compelled
the company to cease trading. Returning to British registry
as a consequence she was laid up at Liverpool before being deployed
on the Ben-Ocean Joint Service. In February 1982 she was sold
to Rajab & Co. of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and renamed Rajab
1. On 18th July 1984, during a voyage from Bangkok to Dubai
with a cargo of maize, wheat, corn, rice, beans and wood, she
arrived at Port Rashid on fire. After four days the fire was
extinguished but water had seriously damaged her electrical
and firefighting equipment. On 20th August 1984 she incurred
serious damage to her main engine when salt water entered the
crankcase and, as a result, was sold to Molasses Trading &
Export Co. Renamed Sahar for her final voyage she arrived at
Gadani Beach, Karachi on 26th November 1894 where she was broken
up. (Photo: A Duncan) 
PERSEUS
(4) was built in 1967 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was completed for Glen Line as the Radnorshire. In 1973
she was transferred to the China Navigation Co. and renamed
Perseus. After only eleven years with the Holt Group she was
sold to John Swire's China Navigation Co., a company in which
Holt's had a substantial interest, and renamed Kwangsi. Three
years later, in 1981, she was sold to undisclosed owners and
renamed Asia Dragon with registry in Panama. Shortly afterwards
she was sold on to the Saudi Venture Corporation of Jeddah,
later to be restyled Saudi Falcon Navigation Co., and renamed
Saudi ZamZam. Two years later, in 1984, she was sold to Chinese
shipbreakers. (Photo: Richard Cornish) 
PHEMIUS
(5) was built in 1966 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 12094grt, a length of 563ft 10in, a beam of
77ft 11in and a service speed of 21 knots. Sister of the Priam
she was built for Glen Line as the Glenfinlas and renamed Phemius
when she was transferred to Blue Funnel in 1972. When Alfred
Holt & Co. gave up its interest in the Swire Group in 1978
she was sold to the China Navigation Co. as part of the financial
settlement. Renamed Kweichow she remained with the company until
she was sold to the Saudi Venture Corp. in 1983 and renamed
Saudi Kawther. She was broken up by Chinese shipbreakers in
1984. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection) 
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