PORT
CURTIS (3) was built in 1953 by J. L. Thompson & Sons
at Sunderland with a tonnage of 5636grt, a length of 420ft,
a beam of 59ft 6in and a service speed of 13 knots. She was
completed in March 1953 as the Thistledown for Allen &
Black's Albyn Line but two years later was acquired by Port
Line on a five year time charter and renamed Port Curtis.
The connection between the two companies was that the head
of Port Line, Ronald H. Senior, was married to the sister
of Lord Joicey, the head of Allen & Black. She returned
to Allen & Black as the Thistledown in 1961 and in 1966
was transferred to Chapman's Somerton Shipping Co. of Hamilton,
Bermuda. The fleet of three ships had been taken over by Chapman
& Willan for their Carlton S.S. Co. of Newcastle at a
cost of £285,000. Later in 1966 she was sold to Ratnaker
Shipping Co. of Calcutta and renamed Ratna Jyoti. Remaining
with them for a further six years she was eventually broken
up by the Great Steel Corp. at Mazagan in the Philippines
at the end of 1972. (Photo: Iain Lovie Collection)
PORT
LAUNCESTON was built in 1957 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 10468grt, a length of 490ft 6in, a beam
of 65ft 10in and a service speed of 15 knots. Shortly after
delivery winch operators cabs were fitted abreast of each
mast, an installation which became standard throughout the
fleet. She came under the management of Blueport on 10th March
1968 and under the ownership of Trafalgar House Investments
Ltd in August 1971. In 1977 she was sold to Woburn Shipping
Co. of Singapore for operation on their Hamburg - Rotterdam
- Bombay - Singapore service and renamed United Vantage. Three
years later she was broken up at Kaohsuing by the Nan Long
Steel & Iron Co., arriving there on 23rd January 1980.
(Photo: John Rix Collection)
PORT
INVERCARGILL was built in 1958 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 10463grt, a length of 490ft 6in, a beam
of 65ft 10in and a service speed of 15 knots. Sister of the
Port Launceston she was launched by radio telephone from Sydney
on 22nd November 1957 and delivered on 26th March 1958. In
June 1967 she was one of fifteen vessels trapped in the Suez
Canal when it was blocked as a result of the 'Six Day War'
between Egypt and Israel. On 19th February 1969, still trapped
in the canal, she was declared a constructive total loss with
an insurance valuation of £1,411,000 which was paid
in the September. The insurance company, London & Liverpool
Steamship Owners Mutual Association, set up Invercargill Shipping
Co. as owners. By January 1971 all the trapped ships had been
abandoned to underwriters and were moored together with Polish
skeleton crews as watchmen. Eventually the Suez Canal reopened
and on 30th May 1975 the Port Invercargill was towed to Port
Said where she was sold to the Defteron Corporation of Greece
and renamed Kavo Kolones (2). From Port Said she was towed
to Piraeus where the cargo was unloaded. Examination of her
hull revealed that it was not corroded too badly and she was
put back into service but only for another four year until
August 1979 when she was broken up ay Kaohsiung by Shyed Sheng
Huat Steel & Iron Works. (Photo: Iain Lovie)
PORT
WANSTEAD was built in 1949 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 5393grt, a length of 475ft
10in, a beam of 64ft 4in and a service speed of 14 knots.
She was completed as the Wanstead for Watts, Watts & Co.
for their their London - Antwerp - Canadian east coast ports
and was the first of three sister ships built to a new revolutionary
design. The crew was accommodated in inboard cabins amidships
on the 'tween deck with a 9ft gallery running along the outside.
The crew mess rooms were outboard. Prior to departure of the
maiden voyage from London the ship was visited by the Prime
Minister and the Minister of Transport. In 1957 she was chartered
by Port Line and renamed Port Wanstead but only until 1960
when she was replaced by Wimbledon and reverted back to Wanstead.
She was chartered to Lamport & Holt in 1963 becoming the
Raeburn (3) but in the following year reverted to Wanstead
for a short time before being chartered to John Swire &
Sons of London and renamed Wanlui. Purchased by John Swire's
China Navigation Co. in 1969 she remained with them until
1975 when she was sold to the Maldives Shipping Co. of the
Maldive Islands and renamed Maldive Explorer. On 11th June
1978 she arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi where she was broken
up. (Photo: Iain Lovie Collection)
PORT
WIMBLEDON was built in 1958 by Barclay, Curle & Co. at
Glasgow with a tonnage of 9223grt, a length of 487ft 6in,
a beam of 64ft 4in and a service speed of 15 knots. She was
delivered in September 1958 as the Wimbledon to the Britain
Steam Ship Co. of London with Watts, Watts & Co. as managers.
Sister of the Weybridge she was chartered to Port Line in
1960 to replace the Port Wanstead and renamed Port Wimbledon.
At the end of the charter in 1965 she reverted to Wimbledon
until 1967 when she was acquired by the National Shipping
Corp. of Karachi and renamed Swat. In 1979 her owners changed
their name to the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation.
On 27th September 1982 she arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi
where she was broken up. (Photo: L. Dunn Collection)
PORT
DENISON (4) was built in 1959 by A/B Ekensbergs Varv. at Stockholm
with a tonnage of 6227grt, a length of 485ft, a beam of 61ft
8in and a service speed of 15 knots. Laid down as the Fair
Lady she was purchased by Harrisons (Clyde) Ltd on the stocks
and renamed Vimeira with the ownership under Dornoch Shipping
Co. and with J & J Denholm as managers. In 1960 she was
chartered to Port Line and renamed Port Denison. At the end
of the charter period in 1966 she reverted to Vimeira but
was then sold to Axel Johnson & Co. H. A. B. of Stockholm
who renamed her Star Altair. In 1978 she was acquired by the
Laertis Shipping Corp. of Piraeus with A. Bacolitsas Cis.
Nav. S. A. as managers and renamed Laertis. She then was sold
to Contessa Shipping Co. of Piraeus in 1985 but in the following
year, as the Tessa, was sent to Gadani Beach, Karachi where
she was broken up. (Photo: Iain Lovie Collection)
PORT
CAMPBELL (3) was built in 1960 by Lithgows Ltd. at Port Glasgow
with a tonnage of 7683grt, a length of 505ft, a beam of 66ft
and a service speed of 16 knots. She was completed in March
1960 as the Clarkspey for H. Clarkson & Co. with J &
J Denholm (Management) as managers. In 1961 she was chartered
to Port Line for five years and renamed Port Campbell. At
the end of the charter in 1966 she returned to her owners
and was immediately put up for sale and purchased by the Counties
Steam Navigation Co. who renamed her Kings Reach. In 1970
she was sold for £620,000 to the Mullion Group of Hong
Kong who renamed her Alderminster for operation by the Alderminster
Shipping Co. of London. During 1976 she became the Joli of
the Joli Shipping Inc. of Liberia and then the Flora C. with
Kyklops Cia. Nav. S. A. as owners, changing to Greek registry
in 1977. On 24th September 1982 she sailed from Coconado for
Calcutta from where she proceeded to Chittagong where she
was broken up by Burhani Metal Works on Bhatiari Beach. (Photo:
Iain Lovie)
PORT
NEW PLYMOUTH was built in 1960 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham
Richardson at Newcastle with a tonnage of 13085grt, a length
of 561ft 4in, a beam of 74ft 2in and a service speed of 18
knots. In May 1967 she carried, as an experiment, a single
container to Melbourne where it was delivered and unloaded
within half an hour. Although there were problems with the
Unions other companies quickly followed. She came under the
management of Blueport on 10th March 1968 and in July 1971
made the last M.A.N.Z. sailing from Auckland to the east coast
ports of the USA and Canada. During 1979 she came under management
of Cunard Shipping Services Ltd and in the September of that
year was sold to Tex-Dilan Shipping Co. of Panama and renamed
Plymouth. After one voyage to the Far East she was delivered
to Kaohsuing where she was broken up by the Chi Yung Steel
Enterprises Co. (Photo: John Rix Collection)
PORT
NICHOLSON (3) was built in 1962 by Harland & Wolff at
Belfast with a tonnage of 11711grt, a length of 573ft 6in,
a beam of 76ft 2in and a service speed of 18 knots. After
an uneventful career under the management of Port Line, Blueport,
Trafalgar House Investments and Cunard Shipping Services Ltd.
she was broken up by the Dah Yung Steel Manufacturing Co.
at Kaohsuing at the end of 1979 after only 17 years service.
(Photo: John Rix Collection)
PORT ALFRED was built in 1961 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 8296grt, a length of 500ft 2in, a beam of
67ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. She was completed
in March 1961 to replace the Port Saint John and intended
for the M.A.N.Z. service. In 1965 she towed the disabled Port
Townsville into Chesapeake Bay, the salvage being paid to
Port Line. Following other ships in the fleet through Blueport
management and Trafalgar House Investments ownership, in 1976
she was transferred to Cunard Steam Ship Co., retaining her
Port Line livery. In 1978 she was transferred within the Group
and renamed Masirah in order to replace T & J Brocklebank's
Mahseer (2). She initially retained her Port Line livery but
was eventually given the Brocklebank colours and placed under
the management of Cunard-Brocklebank. In July 1981 she was
laid up in the River Fal for seven months before undertaking
her final voyage for the company from London to Piraeus via
Suez, Lyttleton, Portland, Victoria, Istanbul and the Black
Sea. Laid up at Eleusis under the ownership of A. Bacolitsas
she was transferred to his Orpheus Ltd of Gibraltar and renamed
Masir, the obliteration of two letters being a sure sign that
her trading days were coming to an end. Remaining laid up
at Piraeus she eventually sailed for Rotterdam on 8th March
1986 where she loaded a cargo for the Philippines before proceeding
to Siracha near Bangkok where she was broken up. (Photo: John
Rix Collection)
PORT
ST LAWRENCE was built in 1961 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 8297grt, a length of 500ft 2in, a beam of
67ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. Sistership of the
Port Alfred she was the last conventional looking cargo ship
built for the company and, when completed, replaced the Port
Halifax. Following other ships in the fleet through Blueport
management and Trafalgar House Investments ownership, in 1976
she was transferred to Cunard Steam Ship Co. and then to T
& J Brocklebank and renamed Matangi. In September 1982
she was sold to Armier Shipping Co. of Valetta, Malta with
the name Nordave remaining for a few months before sailing
to Gadani Beach, Karachi where she arrived on 30th April 1983
for breaking up. (Photo: John Rix Collection)
PORT
HUON (2) was built in 1965 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 6081grt, a length of 489ft
4in, a beam of 67ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots.
On completion in March 1965 she immediately came under the
ownership of the Cunard Steam Ship Co and was the first of
three sisters. In January 1968 ownership reverted to Port
Line in readiness for the transfer to Blueport. In 1972 all
three ships were sold to the Societe Gestion Evge S.A. for
$5,000,000 and the Port Huon was renamed Julietta for operation
by Afromar Inc. of Piraeus. She was sold to Egyptian Reefer
& General Cargo Shipping Co. S.A.S. of Egypt in 1984 and
renamed Amana. Although still in service in 1990 it appears
that she is no longer operating. (Photo: John Rix Collection)
PORT
ALBANY was built in 1965 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 6081grt, a length of 489ft
4in, a beam of 67ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots.
She was delivered to Cunard Steam Ship Co. in November 1965
and was chartered to Port Line. In January 1968 ownership
was transferred to Port Line in readiness for the change of
management to Blueport and in December 1969 she was operating
on the short lived Atlas Line venture between Australia and
Japan. With her 'sisters' she was sold to Afromar Inc. of
Piraeus in 1972 and renamed Marietta. Although still in service
in 1990 it appears that she is no longer operating. (Photo:Vic
Brown Collection)
PORT
BURNIE was built in 1966 by Barclay, Curle & Co. at Clydeholm,
Glasgow with a tonnage of 6156grt, a length of 489ft 4in,
a beam of 67ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots. Delivered
in January 1966 she had the distinction of having the engines
controlled from the bridge. Her maiden voyage, which commenced
on 15th January 1966, was from Glasgow to New Zealand via
the Panama Canal. She transferred to Blueport in Match 1968
and came under the ownership of Trafalgar House Investments
Ltd in August 1971. With her 'sisters' she was sold to Afromar
Inc. of Piraeus in 1972 and renamed Anjeliki. Although still
in service in 1990 it appears that she is no longer operating.
(Photo: John Rix Collection)
PORT
CHALMERS (4) was built in 1968 by A Stephens & Sons at
Linthouse, Glasgow with a tonnage of 12398grt, a length of
612ft 2in, a beam of 81ft 5in and a service speed of 21 knots.
When launched on 9th October 1967 she was the largest 'reefer'
operating anywhere in the world and was the last ship to be
built by A Stephen & Sons before they became Upper Clyde
Shipbuilders Ltd. With her sister, the Port Caroline, they
were the final two ships and the largest built for Port Line,
their speed reducing the passage time to New Zealand by 7
days. She was taken over by Trafalgar House Investments in
August 1971 and after Blueport ceased operations in 1979 was
operated by Cunard Shipping Services Ltd. In January 1982
she was transferred to Brocklebank's and renamed Manaar (4).
This move enable crew costs to be cut by using Indian deck
personnel. Laid up in July 1982 she had the further distinction,
with her sister, of being the last ships operated by T &
J Brocklebank. In 1983 she was sold to Kappa Maritime and
renamed Golden Glory. Although her owners were Mint Crown
Shipping Corp. of Monrovia she flew the Greek flag. After
only 17 years service she arrived at Shanghai on 13th June
1985 where she was broken up. (Photo: Steve Hunt)
PORT
CAROLINE (4) was built in 1968 by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
at Linthouse, Glasgow with a tonnage of 12398grt, a length
of 612ft 2in, a beam of 81ft 5in and a service speed of 21
knots. When delivered she was managed by Blueport but within
five years had, with her sister the Port Chalmers, been made
obsolete by the increasing use of containers. Their freight
cost per ton was double that of the 'box boat' container ships
and although they could carry containers on deck their hulls
were designed for fast 'reefer' passages which restricted
the stowing of containers in the holds. She was taken over
by Trafalgar House Investments in August 1971 and after Blueport
ceased operations in 1979 came under the management of Cunard
Shipping Services Ltd who temporarily laid her up in the River
Fal. As an experiment to find profitable outward bound non
-containerised cargo she sailed on 4th December 1979 to Australia
with a cargo of cars and machinery in her refrigerated cargo
spaces which she discharged at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. In
1982 she was transferred to T & J Brocklebank, along with
her sister, and renamed Matra (4) but was immediately laid
up again in the River Fal. Plans were formulated to convert
both ships into either 'box boats' or 800 passenger cruise
ships but the former proved to be too expensive and it was
considered that 800 passengers was a too higher capacity for
Caribbean area cruising. With hindsight the capacity would
have been just about right or, possibly, too low. In 1983
she was sold to Kappa Maritime, with Dolphin Crown Shipping
Corp. of Piraeus as registered owners, and renamed Golden
Dolphin. Kappa Maritime also considered that the ships were
unsuitable for conversion into cruise ships and in 1985 were
sold to Chinese shipbreakers for $132 per lightweight ton.
The Golden Dolphin sailed from Fujairah in the United Arab
Emirates on 31st January 1985 and arrived at Shanghai in the
April where she was broken up. (Photo: Iain Lovie)
The history of Port Line
and its' ships has been extracted from
Merchant Fleets 21: Port Line by Duncan Haws
to whom we extend our grateful thanks.
PORT
CURTIS (3) was built in 1953 by J. L. Thompson & Sons
at Sunderland with a tonnage of 5636grt, a length of 420ft,
a beam of 59ft 6in and a service speed of 13 knots. She was
completed in March 1953 as the Thistledown for Allen &
Black's Albyn Line but two years later was acquired by Port
Line on a five year time charter and renamed Port Curtis.
The connection between the two companies was that the head
of Port Line, Ronald H. Senior, was married to the sister
of Lord Joicey, the head of Allen & Black. She returned
to Allen & Black as the Thistledown in 1961 and in 1966
was transferred to Chapman's Somerton Shipping Co. of Hamilton,
Bermuda. The fleet of three ships had been taken over by Chapman
& Willan for their Carlton S.S. Co. of Newcastle at a
cost of £285,000. Later in 1966 she was sold to Ratnaker
Shipping Co. of Calcutta and renamed Ratna Jyoti. Remaining
with them for a further six years she was eventually broken
up by the Great Steel Corp. at Mazagan in the Philippines
at the end of 1972. (Photo: Iain Lovie Collection) 
PORT
LAUNCESTON was built in 1957 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 10468grt, a length of 490ft 6in, a beam
of 65ft 10in and a service speed of 15 knots. Shortly after
delivery winch operators cabs were fitted abreast of each
mast, an installation which became standard throughout the
fleet. She came under the management of Blueport on 10th March
1968 and under the ownership of Trafalgar House Investments
Ltd in August 1971. In 1977 she was sold to Woburn Shipping
Co. of Singapore for operation on their Hamburg - Rotterdam
- Bombay - Singapore service and renamed United Vantage. Three
years later she was broken up at Kaohsuing by the Nan Long
Steel & Iron Co., arriving there on 23rd January 1980.
(Photo: John Rix Collection) 
PORT
INVERCARGILL was built in 1958 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 10463grt, a length of 490ft 6in, a beam
of 65ft 10in and a service speed of 15 knots. Sister of the
Port Launceston she was launched by radio telephone from Sydney
on 22nd November 1957 and delivered on 26th March 1958. In
June 1967 she was one of fifteen vessels trapped in the Suez
Canal when it was blocked as a result of the 'Six Day War'
between Egypt and Israel. On 19th February 1969, still trapped
in the canal, she was declared a constructive total loss with
an insurance valuation of £1,411,000 which was paid
in the September. The insurance company, London & Liverpool
Steamship Owners Mutual Association, set up Invercargill Shipping
Co. as owners. By January 1971 all the trapped ships had been
abandoned to underwriters and were moored together with Polish
skeleton crews as watchmen. Eventually the Suez Canal reopened
and on 30th May 1975 the Port Invercargill was towed to Port
Said where she was sold to the Defteron Corporation of Greece
and renamed Kavo Kolones (2). From Port Said she was towed
to Piraeus where the cargo was unloaded. Examination of her
hull revealed that it was not corroded too badly and she was
put back into service but only for another four year until
August 1979 when she was broken up ay Kaohsiung by Shyed Sheng
Huat Steel & Iron Works. (Photo: Iain Lovie) 
PORT
WANSTEAD was built in 1949 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 5393grt, a length of 475ft
10in, a beam of 64ft 4in and a service speed of 14 knots.
She was completed as the Wanstead for Watts, Watts & Co.
for their their London - Antwerp - Canadian east coast ports
and was the first of three sister ships built to a new revolutionary
design. The crew was accommodated in inboard cabins amidships
on the 'tween deck with a 9ft gallery running along the outside.
The crew mess rooms were outboard. Prior to departure of the
maiden voyage from London the ship was visited by the Prime
Minister and the Minister of Transport. In 1957 she was chartered
by Port Line and renamed Port Wanstead but only until 1960
when she was replaced by Wimbledon and reverted back to Wanstead.
She was chartered to Lamport & Holt in 1963 becoming the
Raeburn (3) but in the following year reverted to Wanstead
for a short time before being chartered to John Swire &
Sons of London and renamed Wanlui. Purchased by John Swire's
China Navigation Co. in 1969 she remained with them until
1975 when she was sold to the Maldives Shipping Co. of the
Maldive Islands and renamed Maldive Explorer. On 11th June
1978 she arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi where she was broken
up. (Photo: Iain Lovie Collection) 
PORT
WIMBLEDON was built in 1958 by Barclay, Curle & Co. at
Glasgow with a tonnage of 9223grt, a length of 487ft 6in,
a beam of 64ft 4in and a service speed of 15 knots. She was
delivered in September 1958 as the Wimbledon to the Britain
Steam Ship Co. of London with Watts, Watts & Co. as managers.
Sister of the Weybridge she was chartered to Port Line in
1960 to replace the Port Wanstead and renamed Port Wimbledon.
At the end of the charter in 1965 she reverted to Wimbledon
until 1967 when she was acquired by the National Shipping
Corp. of Karachi and renamed Swat. In 1979 her owners changed
their name to the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation.
On 27th September 1982 she arrived at Gadani Beach, Karachi
where she was broken up. (Photo: L. Dunn Collection) 
PORT
DENISON (4) was built in 1959 by A/B Ekensbergs Varv. at Stockholm
with a tonnage of 6227grt, a length of 485ft, a beam of 61ft
8in and a service speed of 15 knots. Laid down as the Fair
Lady she was purchased by Harrisons (Clyde) Ltd on the stocks
and renamed Vimeira with the ownership under Dornoch Shipping
Co. and with J & J Denholm as managers. In 1960 she was
chartered to Port Line and renamed Port Denison. At the end
of the charter period in 1966 she reverted to Vimeira but
was then sold to Axel Johnson & Co. H. A. B. of Stockholm
who renamed her Star Altair. In 1978 she was acquired by the
Laertis Shipping Corp. of Piraeus with A. Bacolitsas Cis.
Nav. S. A. as managers and renamed Laertis. She then was sold
to Contessa Shipping Co. of Piraeus in 1985 but in the following
year, as the Tessa, was sent to Gadani Beach, Karachi where
she was broken up. (Photo: Iain Lovie Collection) 
PORT
CAMPBELL (3) was built in 1960 by Lithgows Ltd. at Port Glasgow
with a tonnage of 7683grt, a length of 505ft, a beam of 66ft
and a service speed of 16 knots. She was completed in March
1960 as the Clarkspey for H. Clarkson & Co. with J &
J Denholm (Management) as managers. In 1961 she was chartered
to Port Line for five years and renamed Port Campbell. At
the end of the charter in 1966 she returned to her owners
and was immediately put up for sale and purchased by the Counties
Steam Navigation Co. who renamed her Kings Reach. In 1970
she was sold for £620,000 to the Mullion Group of Hong
Kong who renamed her Alderminster for operation by the Alderminster
Shipping Co. of London. During 1976 she became the Joli of
the Joli Shipping Inc. of Liberia and then the Flora C. with
Kyklops Cia. Nav. S. A. as owners, changing to Greek registry
in 1977. On 24th September 1982 she sailed from Coconado for
Calcutta from where she proceeded to Chittagong where she
was broken up by Burhani Metal Works on Bhatiari Beach. (Photo:
Iain Lovie) 
PORT
NEW PLYMOUTH was built in 1960 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham
Richardson at Newcastle with a tonnage of 13085grt, a length
of 561ft 4in, a beam of 74ft 2in and a service speed of 18
knots. In May 1967 she carried, as an experiment, a single
container to Melbourne where it was delivered and unloaded
within half an hour. Although there were problems with the
Unions other companies quickly followed. She came under the
management of Blueport on 10th March 1968 and in July 1971
made the last M.A.N.Z. sailing from Auckland to the east coast
ports of the USA and Canada. During 1979 she came under management
of Cunard Shipping Services Ltd and in the September of that
year was sold to Tex-Dilan Shipping Co. of Panama and renamed
Plymouth. After one voyage to the Far East she was delivered
to Kaohsuing where she was broken up by the Chi Yung Steel
Enterprises Co. (Photo: John Rix Collection) 
PORT
NICHOLSON (3) was built in 1962 by Harland & Wolff at
Belfast with a tonnage of 11711grt, a length of 573ft 6in,
a beam of 76ft 2in and a service speed of 18 knots. After
an uneventful career under the management of Port Line, Blueport,
Trafalgar House Investments and Cunard Shipping Services Ltd.
she was broken up by the Dah Yung Steel Manufacturing Co.
at Kaohsuing at the end of 1979 after only 17 years service.
(Photo: John Rix Collection)
PORT ALFRED was built in 1961 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 8296grt, a length of 500ft 2in, a beam of
67ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. She was completed
in March 1961 to replace the Port Saint John and intended
for the M.A.N.Z. service. In 1965 she towed the disabled Port
Townsville into Chesapeake Bay, the salvage being paid to
Port Line. Following other ships in the fleet through Blueport
management and Trafalgar House Investments ownership, in 1976
she was transferred to Cunard Steam Ship Co., retaining her
Port Line livery. In 1978 she was transferred within the Group
and renamed Masirah in order to replace T & J Brocklebank's
Mahseer (2). She initially retained her Port Line livery but
was eventually given the Brocklebank colours and placed under
the management of Cunard-Brocklebank. In July 1981 she was
laid up in the River Fal for seven months before undertaking
her final voyage for the company from London to Piraeus via
Suez, Lyttleton, Portland, Victoria, Istanbul and the Black
Sea. Laid up at Eleusis under the ownership of A. Bacolitsas
she was transferred to his Orpheus Ltd of Gibraltar and renamed
Masir, the obliteration of two letters being a sure sign that
her trading days were coming to an end. Remaining laid up
at Piraeus she eventually sailed for Rotterdam on 8th March
1986 where she loaded a cargo for the Philippines before proceeding
to Siracha near Bangkok where she was broken up. (Photo: John
Rix Collection) 
PORT
ST LAWRENCE was built in 1961 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 8297grt, a length of 500ft 2in, a beam of
67ft 10in and a service speed of 17 knots. Sistership of the
Port Alfred she was the last conventional looking cargo ship
built for the company and, when completed, replaced the Port
Halifax. Following other ships in the fleet through Blueport
management and Trafalgar House Investments ownership, in 1976
she was transferred to Cunard Steam Ship Co. and then to T
& J Brocklebank and renamed Matangi. In September 1982
she was sold to Armier Shipping Co. of Valetta, Malta with
the name Nordave remaining for a few months before sailing
to Gadani Beach, Karachi where she arrived on 30th April 1983
for breaking up. (Photo: John Rix Collection) 
PORT
HUON (2) was built in 1965 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 6081grt, a length of 489ft
4in, a beam of 67ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots.
On completion in March 1965 she immediately came under the
ownership of the Cunard Steam Ship Co and was the first of
three sisters. In January 1968 ownership reverted to Port
Line in readiness for the transfer to Blueport. In 1972 all
three ships were sold to the Societe Gestion Evge S.A. for
$5,000,000 and the Port Huon was renamed Julietta for operation
by Afromar Inc. of Piraeus. She was sold to Egyptian Reefer
& General Cargo Shipping Co. S.A.S. of Egypt in 1984 and
renamed Amana. Although still in service in 1990 it appears
that she is no longer operating. (Photo: John Rix Collection)
PORT
ALBANY was built in 1965 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 6081grt, a length of 489ft
4in, a beam of 67ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots.
She was delivered to Cunard Steam Ship Co. in November 1965
and was chartered to Port Line. In January 1968 ownership
was transferred to Port Line in readiness for the change of
management to Blueport and in December 1969 she was operating
on the short lived Atlas Line venture between Australia and
Japan. With her 'sisters' she was sold to Afromar Inc. of
Piraeus in 1972 and renamed Marietta. Although still in service
in 1990 it appears that she is no longer operating. (Photo:Vic
Brown Collection) 
PORT
BURNIE was built in 1966 by Barclay, Curle & Co. at Clydeholm,
Glasgow with a tonnage of 6156grt, a length of 489ft 4in,
a beam of 67ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots. Delivered
in January 1966 she had the distinction of having the engines
controlled from the bridge. Her maiden voyage, which commenced
on 15th January 1966, was from Glasgow to New Zealand via
the Panama Canal. She transferred to Blueport in Match 1968
and came under the ownership of Trafalgar House Investments
Ltd in August 1971. With her 'sisters' she was sold to Afromar
Inc. of Piraeus in 1972 and renamed Anjeliki. Although still
in service in 1990 it appears that she is no longer operating.
(Photo: John Rix Collection) 
PORT
CHALMERS (4) was built in 1968 by A Stephens & Sons at
Linthouse, Glasgow with a tonnage of 12398grt, a length of
612ft 2in, a beam of 81ft 5in and a service speed of 21 knots.
When launched on 9th October 1967 she was the largest 'reefer'
operating anywhere in the world and was the last ship to be
built by A Stephen & Sons before they became Upper Clyde
Shipbuilders Ltd. With her sister, the Port Caroline, they
were the final two ships and the largest built for Port Line,
their speed reducing the passage time to New Zealand by 7
days. She was taken over by Trafalgar House Investments in
August 1971 and after Blueport ceased operations in 1979 was
operated by Cunard Shipping Services Ltd. In January 1982
she was transferred to Brocklebank's and renamed Manaar (4).
This move enable crew costs to be cut by using Indian deck
personnel. Laid up in July 1982 she had the further distinction,
with her sister, of being the last ships operated by T &
J Brocklebank. In 1983 she was sold to Kappa Maritime and
renamed Golden Glory. Although her owners were Mint Crown
Shipping Corp. of Monrovia she flew the Greek flag. After
only 17 years service she arrived at Shanghai on 13th June
1985 where she was broken up. (Photo: Steve Hunt) 
PORT
CAROLINE (4) was built in 1968 by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
at Linthouse, Glasgow with a tonnage of 12398grt, a length
of 612ft 2in, a beam of 81ft 5in and a service speed of 21
knots. When delivered she was managed by Blueport but within
five years had, with her sister the Port Chalmers, been made
obsolete by the increasing use of containers. Their freight
cost per ton was double that of the 'box boat' container ships
and although they could carry containers on deck their hulls
were designed for fast 'reefer' passages which restricted
the stowing of containers in the holds. She was taken over
by Trafalgar House Investments in August 1971 and after Blueport
ceased operations in 1979 came under the management of Cunard
Shipping Services Ltd who temporarily laid her up in the River
Fal. As an experiment to find profitable outward bound non
-containerised cargo she sailed on 4th December 1979 to Australia
with a cargo of cars and machinery in her refrigerated cargo
spaces which she discharged at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. In
1982 she was transferred to T & J Brocklebank, along with
her sister, and renamed Matra (4) but was immediately laid
up again in the River Fal. Plans were formulated to convert
both ships into either 'box boats' or 800 passenger cruise
ships but the former proved to be too expensive and it was
considered that 800 passengers was a too higher capacity for
Caribbean area cruising. With hindsight the capacity would
have been just about right or, possibly, too low. In 1983
she was sold to Kappa Maritime, with Dolphin Crown Shipping
Corp. of Piraeus as registered owners, and renamed Golden
Dolphin. Kappa Maritime also considered that the ships were
unsuitable for conversion into cruise ships and in 1985 were
sold to Chinese shipbreakers for $132 per lightweight ton.
The Golden Dolphin sailed from Fujairah in the United Arab
Emirates on 31st January 1985 and arrived at Shanghai in the
April where she was broken up. (Photo: Iain Lovie)
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