TUDOR
PRINCE (3) was built in 1940 by Smith's Dockyard Co. at Middlesbrough
with a tonnage of 1914grt, a length of 315ft, a beam of 44ft
2in and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Norman
Prince she was completed in August 1940. On 22nd July 1946
she suffered an engine failure off the Skerries in the Irish
Sea and had to be towed 70 miles back to Liverpool by Alexandra's
tugs Alfred and Wapping. She was sold to F. Italo Croce in
1957 and renamed Croce Italo. In 1961 she was acquired by
Maritime Enterprise Co. of Beirut, renamed Ornello and was
broken up at La Spezia in May 1964. (Photo: RJ Scott)
STUART PRINCE (4) was
built in 1940 by Smith's Dockyard Co. at Middlesbrough with
a tonnage of 1948grt, a length of 315ft, a beam of 44ft 2in
and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Norman Prince
she was completed for Prince Line, with Furness Withy &
Co. as managers, in October 1940. In 1951 she was chartered
to the Bermuda & West Indies Steamship Co. and renamed
Fort Hamilton for operation with the Fort Avalon out of New
York. When she came off charter in 1958 she reverted to Stuart
Prince but was surplus to requirements and in the following
year was sold, with the Fort Avalon, to Cia. Maritima Med
Ltda of Beirut and renamed Halcyon Med. On 28th August 1960,
during a voyage from Azrew to Granton she was run down by
the Esso Switzerland 120 miles east of Gibraltar and sank
in two parts.
WELSH PRINCE (5) was
built in 1940 by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co. at Glasgow with
a tonnage of 5148grt, a length of 432ft 6in, a beam of 56ft
and a service speed of 12.5 knots. Sister of Rio Cape's Scottish
Prince she was launched on 23rd April 1940. On 7th December
1941 she struck a mine off Spurn Head and sank in shallow
water near Cromer with her superstructure still showing. Subsequent
inspection revealed that she had broken in two and was a total
loss.
HIGHLAND PRINCE (5) was
built in 1942 by Burntisland Shipbuilding Co. at Burntisland
with a tonnage of 7043grt, a length of 441ft, a beam of 57ft
and a service speed of 12 knots. Launched on 25th September
1942 she was handed over to Prince Line, with Furness &
Co. as managers, in the following December. She was sold to
Williamson & Co. of Hong Kong for £360,000 in April
1955 who renamed her Inchstuart. In December 1959 she was
transferred to the Douglas Steam Ship Co. and placed under
the management of Douglas Lapraik & Co. On 6th June 1969
she arrived at Hong Kong where she was broken up by Leung
Yau & Co.
ENGLISH
PRINCE (1) was built in 1943 by Wm. Doxford & Sons. at
Sunderland with a tonnage of 7275grt, a length of 442ft 11ins,
a beam of 56ft 6in and a service speed of 11 knots. Launched
on 22nd December 1942 she was completed for Prince Line in
the following April. In 1953 she was chartered to Shaw, Saville
& Albion keeping her name and livery. Reverting to Prince
Line in 1957 she remained with the company until 1961 when
she was sold to Amanda Shipping Ltd of Monrovia and renamed
Simos. In 1963 her owners transferred her port of registry
to Piraeus and placed her under the management of S. Sikiardis.
On 22nd July 1972 she ran aground in fog near Cape St. Vincent,
Portugal. Refloated on 22nd August she was condemned and proceeded
to unload her cargo at Setubal where she remained until 1973
when she was towed to Bilboa and broken up September of that
year. (Photo: G Scott)
CHINESE PRINCE (4)/NORDIC
was built in 1943 by J. L. Thompson & Sons at Sunderland
with a tonnage of 9485grt, a length of 490ft 4in, a beam of
63ft 6in and a service speed of 13 knots. Launched on 23rd
March 1943 she was handed over to Prince Line in the following
October. In 1950 she was transferred to Shaw, Saville &
Albion on a bareboat charter and renamed Nordic. After 14
years she reverted back to Prince Line and was put up for
sale in 1963. On 1st November 1964 she arrived at Hirao where
she was broken up.
SCOTTISH
PRINCE (4) was built in 1944 by Burntisland Shipbuilding Co.
at Burntisland with a tonnage of 7138grt, a length of 443ft
1in, a beam of 57ft and a service speed of 12 knots. Similar
to the Highland Prince she was completed in June 1944. She
only remained with the company until 1952 when she was sold
to Rio Bello Cia. Naviera S. A. of Panama who renamed her
Vitali. In the same year she was transferred to Crest Shipping
Co. of Nassau for £640,000, placed under the control
of Ivanovic & Co. and renamed Hillcrest. She was sold
to Fidelitas Shipping Co. of Monrovia in 1959 and had her
name changed to Sophia. On 14th April 1966 she caught fire
and was beached at Ambelaki, Salamis. Subsequently abandoned
to the underwriters she was sold to the Janice Shipping Co.
of Famagusta who repaired her and continued trading with her
as the Yannis until November 1969 when she was broken up at
Shanghai. (Photo: A Duncan)
BRAZILIAN
PRINCE (2) was built in 1944 by United Shipyards Ltd at Montreal
with a tonnage of 7158grt, a length of 441ft 6in, a beam of
57ft 2in and a service speed of 10 knots. On 28th September
1944 she was delivered as the Outremont Park to the Canadian
Government's Park Steam Ship Co. and bareboat chartered to
the Ministry of War Transport with whom she remained until
the following year when she reverted to her original owner.
She was immediately put up for for sale but to Canadian flag
owners only and was subsequently purchased by Furness (Canada
) Ltd who renamed her Brazilian Prince for management by Prince
Line. In 1954 she was transferred to Furness (Montreal) Ltd
and in 1958 became the Federal Pioneer of the Federal Terminal
Lines Ltd of Montreal. After a further 13 years service she
was broken up in China during 1971. (Photo: A Duncan)
ROYAL PRINCE (4) was
built in 1944 by United Shipyards Ltd at Montreal with a tonnage
of 7160grt, a length of 441ft 6in, a beam of 57ft 2in and
a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Brazilian Prince
she was launched as the Fort Simcoe and delivered to the Park
Steam Ship Co. as the Elgin Park. Chartered to the Ministry
of War Transport she reverted to her original owner at the
end of the war and was immediately put up for sale to Canadian
flag owners only. She was purchased by Furness (Canada) Ltd
in 1946 and renamed Royal Prince for management by Prince
Line. In 1949 she was sold to Atlantic Freighters Ltd of Panama
and renamed Atlantic Star. Acquired by Faik Zeren of Istanbul
and renamed Nadir in 1961 she continued to trade until 1971
when she was broken up at Eregli.
EMPIRE ALLENBY was built
in 1945 by J. L. Thompson & Sons at Sunderland with a
tonnage of 9904grt, a length of 503ft 4in, a beam of 64ft
5in and a service speed of 15 knots. One of three fast standard
ships from Thompson's yard she was launched on 18th October
1944 for the Ministry of War Transport with Prince Line as
managers. With this type of ship no crew members were berthed
in the forecastle because of the risk of hitting a mine. The
officers were accommodated amidships and the crew in the poop.
She was acquired by the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co. Ltd
in March 1946 and renamed Drakensburg Castle and re-registered
in Cape Town in the June. Because their speed was in excess
of normal peacetime requirements for a cargo ship the working
life of the fast standard ship was considerably less than
other classes and, consequently, she arrived at Hong Kong
on 5th August 1915 where she was broken up by the Hong Kong
Salvage & Towage Co.
SAMTREDY was built in
1943 by California Shipbuilding Co. at Los Angeles with a
tonnage of 7219grt, a length of 422ft 10in, a beam of 57ft
and a service speed of 11 knots. A Liberty ship launched in
September 1943 as the John Tipton for the US War Administration
she was bareboat chartered to the Ministry of War Transport
who renamed her Samtredy for management by Prince Line. She
was acquired by Furness, Withy & Co. in 1947 for their
North Pacific routes and renamed Pacific Importer. In 1953
she was sold to Ditta Luigi Pittaluga of Genoa who changed
her name to Aquitania. Twelve years later she became the Aya
Marina when she was sold to Akrotiri Steam Ship Co. of Monrovia
in 1965. In February 1969 she was arrested in Rio de Janeiro
for unpaid port dues and was broken up in the following December.
SAMAVON was built in
1943 by New England Shipbuilding Corp at Portland, Maine with
a tonnage of 7219grt, a length of 422ft 10in, a beam of 57ft
and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Samtredy she
was launched as the Bronson Alcott for the US War Administration
but completed as the Samavon for the Ministry of War Transport
with Prince Line as managers. She was acquired by Furness,
Withy in 1947 and renamed Pacific Nomad. In 1954 she was sold
to the Panama Steam Ship Co. of Monrovia who changed her name
to Nikolos. She was purchased by the Diana Maritime Corp.
of Monrovia in 1960 and renamed Stamatis. On 3rd November
1966 during a voyage from Madras to Calcutta she was lost
in a typhoon when her anchors failed to hold her in the Madras
Roads. She was blown ashore some 3 miles from the port and
a second typhoon on the 10th November rendered salvage impossible
and she was subsequently demolished where she lay.
SAMDARING was built in
1944 by New England Shipbuilding Corp at Portland, Maine with
a tonnage of 7219grt, a length of 422ft 10in, a beam of 57ft
and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Samtredy she
was completed as the Samdaring and chartered to the Ministry
of War Transport with Prince Line as managers. In 1974 she
was acquired by Furness, Withy and renamed Pacific Ranger.
She was sold to Cia. Naviera Somelga of Panama in 1952 who
renamed her San Dimitris. After six years she became the Priaruggia
when she was acquired, in 1958, by Albaro Societa Italiana
di Nav. of Genoa. In 1960 she cracked amidships, was cut into
two and the after part joined to the company's Albaro which
had been condemned with engine failure. As the Albaro she
traded until 1963 when she was sold to the Aegean Cia. Nav.
S. A. of Pireaus who changed her name to Aigion. After a further
five years trading she was scrapped at Osaka during 1968.
SAMLONG was built in
1943 by New England Shipbuilding Corp at Portland, Maine with
a tonnage of 7219grt, a length of 422ft 10in, a beam of 57ft
and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Samtredy she
was launched as the Elias H. Derby for the US War Shipping
Administration but on completion was bareboat chartered to
the Ministry of War Transport as the Samlong with Prince Line
as managers. On D Day 6th June 1944 she sailed from Tilbury
to Normandy. She was damaged on 3rd August by an explosion
, probably by a mine, when in the Thames Estuary and was towed
back to Tilbury. In 1945 she was laid up in the River Blackwater
where she remained until 1948 when she was towed to Hendrik
ido Ambacht and broken up during 1949.
SAMTUCKY was built in
1943 by New England Shipbuilding Co. at Portland, Maine with
a tonnage of 7219grt, a length of 422ft 10in, a beam of 57ft
and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Samtredy she
was launched as the William Blackstone for the US War Shipping
Administration but completed for the Ministry of War Transport
as the Samtucky with Prince Line as managers. She was laid
up by the Ministry of Transport in 1947 and in the following
year reverted to the United States Marine Commission as the
William Blackstone. Placed in the Reserve Fleet she remained
in the James River until February 1962 when she was broken
up at Panama City, Florida.
OCEAN VENTURE was built
in 1941 by Permanent Metals Corp. Shipyard No.1 at Richmond,
California with a tonnage of 7174grt, a length of 441ft 6in,
a beam of 57ft and a service speed of 12 knots. Formerly the
Todd-California Shipbuilding Corp. the Permanent Metals Corp
was incorporated when Henry Kaiser put together a syndicate
to build 60 standard ships. Completed in December 1941 she
was bareboat chartered to the Ministry of War Transport as
the Ocean Venture with Prince Line as managers. On 8th February
1942 she was torpedoed by U-108 in the Atlantic position 37
05N 74 46W.
OCEAN VIRTUE was built
in 1941 by Permanent Metals Corp. Shipyard No.1 at Richmond,
California with a tonnage of 7174grt, a length of 441ft 6in,
a beam of 57ft and a service speed of 12 knots. Sister of
the Ocean Venture she was completed in July 1942 as the Ocean
Virtue for the Ministry of War Transport with Prince Line
as managers. On 21st July 1943 she took part in Operation
Husky, the invasion of Sicily, during which she was damaged
by bombs and settled in shallow water. She was subsequently
salvaged and in 1948 sold to Giacomo Costa fu Andrea Costa
who renamed her Andrea C. In 1959 she was converted into a
passenger ship and her length increased to 446ft 10in. Further
rebuilding took place in 1965 when a forecastle was added
and a continuous deck to the stern was incorporated. The tall
pepperpot funnel and the mainmast was removed. On 17th October
1981 she completed her cruising season at Genoa and was laid
up until 15th December 1982 when she arrived at La Spezia
for demolition.
EMPIRE PATROL was built
in 1928 by Stabilimento Tecnico at Trieste with a tonnage
of 3220grt, a length of 317ft 2in, a beam of 44ft 10in and
a service speed of 10 knots. She was completed as the Rodi
for Cia. Adriatica di Nav. of Bari and on 10th June 1940 was
taken as a prize at Malta and renamed Empire Patrol. In 1942
she was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport and placed
under the management of Prince Line. On 29th September 1945
during a voyage from Port Said to Castelorizo with 500 Greeks
returning home she caught fire when 38 miles out. As the fire
took control the passengers were taken off and many jumped
into the sea. She was taken in tow but on 3rd October capsized
and sank when 15 miles from Port Said with the loss of 38
lives.
HELVIG was built in 1937
by Helsingors Jernsk Msk at Helsingor with a tonnage of 2250grt,
a length of 345ft 6in, a beam of 45ft 11in and a service speed
of 11 knots. She was one of four similar sisters built for
A. Schmieglow & Axel Kampen's D/S A/S 'Torm' of Copenhagen
and traded between the Levant ports and New York with fruit.
In 1940 she was acquired by the Ministry of War Transport
for use by the Royal Navy as a mine depot ship. She returned
to the MOWT in 1941 and placed under the management of Prince
Line until 1945 when she was returned to her owners. In 1951
she was renamed Helvig Torm when she was sold to Dampskibsselskabet
Torm A/S of Copenhagen with Axel Kampen & Carl M. Andersen
as managers. In 1961 she was sold to the Ruthi Shipping Corp.
of Piraeus and renamed Ruthi. Three years later she was acquired
by Chripat Cia Naviera S. A. of Piraeus who changed her name
to Kallipateira. On 15th October 1968, during a voyage from
Constanza to Port Sudan via west African ports, she put into
Las Palmas with engine trouble. During a storm she was blown
ashore on Alcalavaneros Reef, was damaged beyond repair and
broken up locally.
.JPG)
TUDOR
PRINCE (3) was built in 1940 by Smith's Dockyard Co. at Middlesbrough
with a tonnage of 1914grt, a length of 315ft, a beam of 44ft
2in and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Norman
Prince she was completed in August 1940. On 22nd July 1946
she suffered an engine failure off the Skerries in the Irish
Sea and had to be towed 70 miles back to Liverpool by Alexandra's
tugs Alfred and Wapping. She was sold to F. Italo Croce in
1957 and renamed Croce Italo. In 1961 she was acquired by
Maritime Enterprise Co. of Beirut, renamed Ornello and was
broken up at La Spezia in May 1964. (Photo: RJ Scott) 
ENGLISH
PRINCE (1) was built in 1943 by Wm. Doxford & Sons. at
Sunderland with a tonnage of 7275grt, a length of 442ft 11ins,
a beam of 56ft 6in and a service speed of 11 knots. Launched
on 22nd December 1942 she was completed for Prince Line in
the following April. In 1953 she was chartered to Shaw, Saville
& Albion keeping her name and livery. Reverting to Prince
Line in 1957 she remained with the company until 1961 when
she was sold to Amanda Shipping Ltd of Monrovia and renamed
Simos. In 1963 her owners transferred her port of registry
to Piraeus and placed her under the management of S. Sikiardis.
On 22nd July 1972 she ran aground in fog near Cape St. Vincent,
Portugal. Refloated on 22nd August she was condemned and proceeded
to unload her cargo at Setubal where she remained until 1973
when she was towed to Bilboa and broken up September of that
year. (Photo: G Scott) 
SCOTTISH
PRINCE (4) was built in 1944 by Burntisland Shipbuilding Co.
at Burntisland with a tonnage of 7138grt, a length of 443ft
1in, a beam of 57ft and a service speed of 12 knots. Similar
to the Highland Prince she was completed in June 1944. She
only remained with the company until 1952 when she was sold
to Rio Bello Cia. Naviera S. A. of Panama who renamed her
Vitali. In the same year she was transferred to Crest Shipping
Co. of Nassau for £640,000, placed under the control
of Ivanovic & Co. and renamed Hillcrest. She was sold
to Fidelitas Shipping Co. of Monrovia in 1959 and had her
name changed to Sophia. On 14th April 1966 she caught fire
and was beached at Ambelaki, Salamis. Subsequently abandoned
to the underwriters she was sold to the Janice Shipping Co.
of Famagusta who repaired her and continued trading with her
as the Yannis until November 1969 when she was broken up at
Shanghai. (Photo: A Duncan) 
BRAZILIAN
PRINCE (2) was built in 1944 by United Shipyards Ltd at Montreal
with a tonnage of 7158grt, a length of 441ft 6in, a beam of
57ft 2in and a service speed of 10 knots. On 28th September
1944 she was delivered as the Outremont Park to the Canadian
Government's Park Steam Ship Co. and bareboat chartered to
the Ministry of War Transport with whom she remained until
the following year when she reverted to her original owner.
She was immediately put up for for sale but to Canadian flag
owners only and was subsequently purchased by Furness (Canada
) Ltd who renamed her Brazilian Prince for management by Prince
Line. In 1954 she was transferred to Furness (Montreal) Ltd
and in 1958 became the Federal Pioneer of the Federal Terminal
Lines Ltd of Montreal. After a further 13 years service she
was broken up in China during 1971. (Photo: A Duncan) 
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