TANTALLON
CASTLE (3) was built in 1954 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 7448grt, a length of 494ft 6in, a beam of
65ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots. She was launched
on 22nd October 1953 and entered service in 1954 on the South
Africa - USA/UK service. After 17 years service she was, in
October 1971, sold to Aria Shipping Company of Famagusta, and
renamed Aris II and in 1972 her name became Aris. In August
1978 she arrived at Aioi in Japan for breaking up by Ishikajima
Kogyo K.K. (Photo: UCPSC 01/182)
TINTAGEL
CASTLE (2) was built in 1954 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 7447grt, a length of 494ft 6in, a beam of
65ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots. Sister of the Tantallon
Castle she was the last ship built for Union-Castle before the
company was merged with Clan Line within the British & Commonwealth
Group in January 1956. She was sold to Armar Shipping Co. of
Cyprus in 1971, renamed Armar, and remained with the company
until 27th June 1978 when she arrived at Kaohsiung where she
was broken up by Nang Eng Steel Enterprise Co.
PENDENNIS
CASTLE was built in 1958 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage 28582grt, a length of 763ft 2in, a beam of 83ft 9in
and a service speed of 22.5 knots. She was the largest ship
built for Union-Castle as subsequent buildings were ordered
by British & Commonwealth. Due to a dockyard strike she
was named on the 10th December 1957 but not launched until 24th
December. Based on the earlier Pretoria Castle design, but considerd
to have an ungainly profile, her internal layout was the first
to differ significantly since the Arundel Castle set the pattern.
She commenced her maiden voyage on 1st January 1959 on the Southampton-
Cape Town- Durban mail run and was the first ship to have Stewardettes
- waitresses in the dining room. She was withdrawn from the
mail run on 14th June 1976 and replaced by Blue Star's refrigerated
cargo liner Andalucia Star but in Union-Castle livery. Sold
to Ocean Queen Navigation Copr. of Panama, but Philippine owned,
she was renamed Ocean Queen.and arrived in Hong Kong on 9th
August 1976 where she was laid up. In 1978, still laid up, she
was renamed Sinbad by Kinvarra Bay Shipping Co. of Liberia and
later in the year was renamed Sinbad 1. Four years later, in
April 1980, she arrived at Kaohsiung in Taiwan for breaking
up.
ROTHERWICK
CASTLE was built in 1959 by Greenock Dockyard Co at Greenock
with a tonnage of 9659grt, a length of 519ft 9in, a beam of
66ft 1in and a service speed of 16 knots. One of two 'R' class
reefers, much of her career with British & Commonwealth
was managed by the Clan Line's, Cayzer, Irvine & Co. of
London. In 1975 she was sold to Sea Fortune Shipping Co. of
Monrovia and renamed Sea Fortune and in 1980 became the Silver
Bays owned by Barbridge Shipping Ltd of Liberia. She was sold
again in 1981 to Jersey Shipping Ltd of Panama with Wallem Ship
Management as managers and was finally sold in 1983 to Mickle
Shipping Ltd of Panama and broken up at Chittagong. (Photo by
JK Byass)
ROTHESAY
CASTLE (2) was built in 1960 by Greenock Dockyard Co at Greenock
with a tonnage of 9659grt, a length of 519ft 9in, a beam of
66ft 1in and a service speed of 16 knots. Although the sister
of the Rotherwick Castle she actually had a lesser cargo carrying
capacity. She was sold to Lloyd Uruguayo S. A. of Montevideo
in 1975 and renamed Laura. On 28th August 1980 she sailed from
Kuwait bound for Karachi where she was broken up at Gadani Beach.
(Photo: C.H.Solomon)
WINDSOR
CASTLE (3) was built in 1960 by Cammell Laird & Co. (Shipbuilders
& Engineers) Ltd at Birkenhead with a tonnage of 37640grt,
a length of 783ft 1in, a beam of 92ft 7in and a service speed
of 22.5 knots. She was the largest ship owned by the company,
Cammell Lairds first building for Union-Castle and the largest
liner built in England. Replacing the Winchester Castle she
completed her maiden voyage to Cape Town in 11.5 days. In December
1950 having carried 35,000 passengers over 700,000 miles without
breakdown or delay, her 50th voyage was celebrated in style.
On 12th August she made her 124th and final sailing for Union-Castle
and left Southampton with much ceremony which included an RAF
fly past. On her return she had been sold to John Latsis of
Piraeus and renamed Margarita L. She proceeded to Greece where
she was converted for use as a static luxury accommodation ship
at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. There, she was deployed as an office
and leisure centre for the Petrola International S.A. construction
company replacing the Marianna IV. A special jetty was built
two miles north of Jeddah with car parks, swimming pools and
other sports facilities and the ship was equipped with a helicopter
pad on the fore deck. In 1983 she was overhauled in Bahrain
before returning to Jeddah where she remained until June 1991
when she returned to Piraeus to be laid up. (Photo: Union-Castle
Line)
TRANSVAAL
CASTLE was built in 1961 by John Brown & Co. (Clydebank)
Ltd at Clydebank with a tonnage of 32697grt, a length of 760ft
2in, a beam of 90ft 2in and a service speed of 22.5 knots. When
launched, on 17th January 1961, she was described as an Hotel-Class
Ship with eleven fare grades ranging from de luxe suites to
ordinary berths and carried forty Stewardettes. Operating on
the mail run she was never as popular as either the Pendennis
Castle or Windsor Castle. On 1st January 1966 she was transferred
to the South African Marine Corp (UK) Ltd of London, renamed
S.A. Vaal, but maintaining the Red Ensign, Union-Castle crew
and management, and the same route. In February 1966 registry
was transferred to Cape Town. She made her last voyage for Union-Castle-Safmarine
on 2nd September 1977 and was withdrawn from service on her
return and sold to Festivale Maritime Inc. a subsidiary of Carnival
Cruise Lines of Miami. Rebuilt at Kawasaki with extra decks
and renamed Festivale she joined the Mardi Gras (ex Empress
of Canada) on their 'Fun Ship Cruises'. In 1978 she cruised
in the Caribbean based in san Juan, Puerto Rica and in 1982
was based in in Miami operating 7 day cruises to Nassau-San
Juan- St Thomas. She was acquired by Premier Cruises of Port
Canaveral in 1996 and renamed IslandBreeze operating for her
owners in the Caribbean during the northern winter and on charter
to Thomson Holidays in the Mediterranean during the summer.
At the beginning of 2000 she was renamed Big Red Boat III as
part of Premier's corporate identity. However, in September
2000 Premier Cruises ceased trading and the ship was seized
by creditors for non payment of debts.
(Photo: UCPSC 05/199A)
REINA
DEL MAR was built in 1956 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 20263grt, a length of 600ft 10in, a beam of
78ft 5in and a service speed of 17 knots. She was built for
the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., an associate company of Royal
Mail Lines, for their South American via Panama service. At
the time she was the largest, fastest and only fully air-conditioned
passenger liner operating a regular service between the UK,
France, Spain and the west coast of South America. On 5th March
1964 she completed her final South American voyage and was chartered
to the South African Max Wilson's Travel Savings Association
for cruising and transatlantic summer sailings. The shareholders
of TSA became Canadian Pacific, Union-Castle and Royal Mail.
During 1964 she was refurbished for her new role and equipped
with a cinema and extra lido decks as it was also the intention
to use the ship as a hotel at its ports of call. Under Union-Castle
management the ship commenced her first sailing to New York
on 10th June 1964. In the October Union-Castle became the sole
owner of TSA but not the ship. However, in the November the
ship was painted in Union-Castle livery and operated winter
cruises from South Africa to South America; Union-Castles only
venture into the cruise business. In 1969 Royal Mail became
the registered owner of all PSNC ships but the Reina del Mar
never traded under the Royal Mail umbrella and was chartered
to Union-Castle for five years. In 1973 she was acquired by
Union-Castle before the charter expired and traded for a further
two years before being broken up at Kaohsiung in Taiwan by Tung
Cheng Steel Co. in late 1975.
SOUTHAMPTON
CASTLE was built in 1965 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson
at Walsend with a tonnage of 10538grt, a length of 592ft, a
beam of 77ft 5in and a service speed of 22.5 knots. She was
built under the government's Shipbuilding Credit Scheme whereby
80% of the £6 million cost was advanced at an interest
rate of 4.875% and repayable over 10 years. First of a pair
of fast cargo ships she continued to maintain the 11.5 day mail
contract and was referred to as a 'Mini Mail' At the time they
were the fastest cargo ships afloat. In October 1967 accommodation
for 12 Government (Commonwealth Office) allocated passengers
was added so that calls at Ascension and St. Helena could continue
following the withdrawal of the Capetown Castle. The additional
calls added 336 miles to the voyage. On 4th May 1976 she had
the distinction of appearing on an Ascension Island postage
stamp. In the following year, on 11th October 1977, she sailed
from Cape Town on the last mail contract sailing, an event that
was marked with, an albeit sad, ceremony. In 1978, after being
laid up at Southampton Docks, she was sold to Costa Armatori
SpA of Genoa and renamed Paola C. It doesn't appear that she
is still trading. (Photo: UCPSC 01/182)
GOOD
HOPE CASTLE (2) was built in 1965 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham
Richardson at Walsend with a tonnage of 10538grt, a length of
592ft, a beam of 77ft 5in and a service speed of 22.5 knots.
The second 'Mini Mail' fast cargo ship, her delivery was delayed
by 3.5 months during which time the Capetown Castle had to undertake
her sailings but her eventual arrival meant that seven ships
could handle the mail contract requirements instead of eight.
She was the first of the pair to have her accommodation altered
to cater for the government requirements. On 23rd June 1973
a severe engine room fire spread to the accommodation and she
had to be abandoned. Eighty two survivors were picked up by
the Liberian tanker George F. Getty and were landed at Ascension.
Taken in tow by the German owned salvage tug Albatros she reached
Antwerp on 18th August. There, the contract for the extensive
repairs was awarded to Astilleros Espanoles and, as a result,
she was towed to Bilboa by the tug Heros. Repairs were completed
by May in the following year and she was back in service on
31st of that month. Like her sister, she also had the distinction
of appearing on an Ascension Island postage stamp in May 1976.
In February 1978 she was sold to Costa Armatori SpA of Genoa
and renamed Franca C. It doesn't appear that she is still trading.
(Photo: R Pabst)
KINPURNIE CASTLE (1) was built in 1954 by
Greenock Dockyard at Greenock with a tonnage of 8121grt, a length
of 512ft 7ins, a beam of 66ft 4in and a service speed of 16
knots. She was launched for Clan Line as the Clan Stewart and
entered service in February 1954. In 1961 she was transferred
to the South African Marine Corp. (Safmarine) and renamed South
African Sculptor. In the following year ,after the Round Africa
service was discontinued, she was transferred to Union-Castle
but managed by Clan Line and renamed Kinpurnie Castle. She was
sold to Astro Firme S. A. of Panama in 1967 and renamed Hellenic
Med. She served with them for a further eleven years until 15th
March 1978 when she arrived for demolition at Gadani Beach.
KINNAIRD
CASTLE was built in 1956 by Greenock Dockyard at Greenock with
a tonnage of 7718grt, a length of 502ft 10ins, a beam of 65ft
10in and a service speed of 16 knots. She was launched on 17th
January 1956 as the Clan Ross (3). In 1961 she was transferred
to Safmarine and renamed South African Scientist but in the
following year reverted to Clan Line and renamed Kinnaird Castle
for Union-Castle operations. During 1969 registered ownership
was transferred to King Line Ltd, without a change of name.
In October 1975 she was sold to Dasonab Nav. S.A. of Panama
and renamed Nazeer. She continued in service until 26th April
1978 when she arrived at Gadani Beach and broken up. (Photo:
Fotoship)
BALMORAL CASTLE (3) was built in 1965 by Greenock
Dockyard at Greenock with a tonnage of 7952grt, a length of
529ft 4ins, a beam of 68ft 11in and a service speed of 17.5
knots. She was launched for Clan Line as the Clan Robertson,
the first of four refrigerated ships built for the South African
fruit run. Out of season the ships were laid up at Southampton.
The Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co. was the owner and the four
ships were the last built by Greenock Dockyard. She was renamed
Balmoral Castle in November 1976 and became the Balmoral Universal
when the fleet joined the joint Union-Castle/Safmarine Universal
Reefer Consortium in 1979. In December 1982 she was sold to
National History Cia Naviera S.A. of Piraeus for $1,500,000
and renamed Psara Reefer. She was eventually broken up at Chittagong
where she arrived on 19th June 1984.
DOVER
CASTLE (3) was built in 1965 by Greenock Dockyard at Greenock
with a tonnage of 7952grt, a length of 529ft 4ins, a beam of
68ft 11in and a service speed of 17.5 knots. Sister of the Balmoral
Castle she was launched as the Clan Ranald on 21st December
1964 and delivered to Clan Line with Union-Castle as owners
in the following June. In October 1967 she made Clan history
when she sailed into Durban flying the Royal Mail pennant as
she was deputising, with the Clan Ross, for the Good Hope Castle
while she was having her accommodation altered. She was renamed
Dover Castle in November 1976 and in 1979 became the Dover Universal
under the same ownership. In May 1981 she was sold to Invergordon
Shipping Co. of Piraeus and renamed Golden Sea. Four years later,
on 9th May 1985, she arrived from Jeddah at Gadani Beach where
she was broken up. (Photo: A Duncan)
WINCHESTER
CASTLE (2) was built in 1965 by Greenock Dockyard at Greenock
with a tonnage of 7952grt, a length of 529ft 4ins, a beam of
68ft 11in and a service speed of 17.5 knots. Launched as the
Clan Ramsay she was delivered to Clan Line with Union-Castle
as managers in March 1965. In 1977 she was renamed Winchester
Castle and with that change Clan Line passed into history, owning
no further ships. She became the Winchester Universal under
the same ownership in 1979 and in October of the following year
was sold to Braganza Bay Shipping Co. of Piraeus who renamed
her Lady Madonna. On 25th April 1985 she arrived at Gadani Beach
where she was broken up. (Photo: Ian Lovie)
KINPURNIE
CASTLE (2) was built in 1966 by Greenock Dockyard at Greenock
with a tonnage of 7952grt, a length of 529ft 4ins, a beam of
68ft 11in and a service speed of 17.5 knots. She was launched
as the Clan Ross and the last ship to be built by the Greenock
Dockyard. When completed in March 1966 ownership was under the
Houston Line, another subsidiary of the British & Commonwealth
Group, but managed by Cayzer, Irvine & Co. Ownership was
transferred to Union-Castle in 1976 when she was renamed Kinpurnie
Castle. Although the Southampton Castle completed the last Cape
mail run in 1977 the Kinpurnie Castle carried mails for the
very last time on a voyage from Southampton - Ascension Island
- Saint Helena -Cape Town - Port Elizabeth - East London - Durban,
returning the same way. She became the Kinpurnie Universal under
the same ownership in 1979 and , in December 1982, was sold
to National History Cia Naviera S. A. of Piraeus who renamed
her Syros Reefer. On 31st July 1984 she arrived at Chittagong
where she was broken up. (Photo: Ian Lovie)
IOLAIRE was built in 1902 by Wm. Beardmore
& Co. at Glasgow with a tonnage of 999grt, a length of 224ft,
and a beam of 30ft. She was built for Sir Donald Currie and
used as an officer cadet training ship. Operated like a miniature
Union -Castle ship it was said that she was even painted in
the livery of the company at times instead of her usual white.
Upon the death of Sir Donald in April 1909 she passed to Lady
Currie and in August 1914 was leased to the Admiralty for a
nominal sum. Equipped with guns at Portsmouth she became the
flagship of the anti-submarine patrol at Stornoway and when
the shore base was established it was named HMS Iolaire. In
1918 she was replaced at HMS Iolaire by the yacht HMS Amalthaea.
Between the wars she reverted to Union-Castle use but in 1939
rejoined the Navy as HMS Persephone. In 1941 she was purchased
by the Admiralty for use as a senior officer's accommodation
ship and remained in service until 1946 when she was decommissioned
and subsequently broken up at Blythe in Northumberland during
1948.
The histories of the ships
of the Union-Castle Line have been extracted from
Merchant Fleets 18: Union, Castle and Union-Castle Line by Duncan
Haws
to whom we extend our grateful thanks.
Available from TCL PUBLICATIONS
TANTALLON
CASTLE (3) was built in 1954 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 7448grt, a length of 494ft 6in, a beam of
65ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots. She was launched
on 22nd October 1953 and entered service in 1954 on the South
Africa - USA/UK service. After 17 years service she was, in
October 1971, sold to Aria Shipping Company of Famagusta, and
renamed Aris II and in 1972 her name became Aris. In August
1978 she arrived at Aioi in Japan for breaking up by Ishikajima
Kogyo K.K. (Photo: UCPSC 01/182) 
TINTAGEL
CASTLE (2) was built in 1954 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 7447grt, a length of 494ft 6in, a beam of
65ft 10in and a service speed of 16 knots. Sister of the Tantallon
Castle she was the last ship built for Union-Castle before the
company was merged with Clan Line within the British & Commonwealth
Group in January 1956. She was sold to Armar Shipping Co. of
Cyprus in 1971, renamed Armar, and remained with the company
until 27th June 1978 when she arrived at Kaohsiung where she
was broken up by Nang Eng Steel Enterprise Co. 
PENDENNIS
CASTLE was built in 1958 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage 28582grt, a length of 763ft 2in, a beam of 83ft 9in
and a service speed of 22.5 knots. She was the largest ship
built for Union-Castle as subsequent buildings were ordered
by British & Commonwealth. Due to a dockyard strike she
was named on the 10th December 1957 but not launched until 24th
December. Based on the earlier Pretoria Castle design, but considerd
to have an ungainly profile, her internal layout was the first
to differ significantly since the Arundel Castle set the pattern.
She commenced her maiden voyage on 1st January 1959 on the Southampton-
Cape Town- Durban mail run and was the first ship to have Stewardettes
- waitresses in the dining room. She was withdrawn from the
mail run on 14th June 1976 and replaced by Blue Star's refrigerated
cargo liner Andalucia Star but in Union-Castle livery. Sold
to Ocean Queen Navigation Copr. of Panama, but Philippine owned,
she was renamed Ocean Queen.and arrived in Hong Kong on 9th
August 1976 where she was laid up. In 1978, still laid up, she
was renamed Sinbad by Kinvarra Bay Shipping Co. of Liberia and
later in the year was renamed Sinbad 1. Four years later, in
April 1980, she arrived at Kaohsiung in Taiwan for breaking
up. 
ROTHERWICK
CASTLE was built in 1959 by Greenock Dockyard Co at Greenock
with a tonnage of 9659grt, a length of 519ft 9in, a beam of
66ft 1in and a service speed of 16 knots. One of two 'R' class
reefers, much of her career with British & Commonwealth
was managed by the Clan Line's, Cayzer, Irvine & Co. of
London. In 1975 she was sold to Sea Fortune Shipping Co. of
Monrovia and renamed Sea Fortune and in 1980 became the Silver
Bays owned by Barbridge Shipping Ltd of Liberia. She was sold
again in 1981 to Jersey Shipping Ltd of Panama with Wallem Ship
Management as managers and was finally sold in 1983 to Mickle
Shipping Ltd of Panama and broken up at Chittagong. (Photo by
JK Byass) 
ROTHESAY
CASTLE (2) was built in 1960 by Greenock Dockyard Co at Greenock
with a tonnage of 9659grt, a length of 519ft 9in, a beam of
66ft 1in and a service speed of 16 knots. Although the sister
of the Rotherwick Castle she actually had a lesser cargo carrying
capacity. She was sold to Lloyd Uruguayo S. A. of Montevideo
in 1975 and renamed Laura. On 28th August 1980 she sailed from
Kuwait bound for Karachi where she was broken up at Gadani Beach.
(Photo: C.H.Solomon) 
WINDSOR
CASTLE (3) was built in 1960 by Cammell Laird & Co. (Shipbuilders
& Engineers) Ltd at Birkenhead with a tonnage of 37640grt,
a length of 783ft 1in, a beam of 92ft 7in and a service speed
of 22.5 knots. She was the largest ship owned by the company,
Cammell Lairds first building for Union-Castle and the largest
liner built in England. Replacing the Winchester Castle she
completed her maiden voyage to Cape Town in 11.5 days. In December
1950 having carried 35,000 passengers over 700,000 miles without
breakdown or delay, her 50th voyage was celebrated in style.
On 12th August she made her 124th and final sailing for Union-Castle
and left Southampton with much ceremony which included an RAF
fly past. On her return she had been sold to John Latsis of
Piraeus and renamed Margarita L. She proceeded to Greece where
she was converted for use as a static luxury accommodation ship
at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. There, she was deployed as an office
and leisure centre for the Petrola International S.A. construction
company replacing the Marianna IV. A special jetty was built
two miles north of Jeddah with car parks, swimming pools and
other sports facilities and the ship was equipped with a helicopter
pad on the fore deck. In 1983 she was overhauled in Bahrain
before returning to Jeddah where she remained until June 1991
when she returned to Piraeus to be laid up. (Photo: Union-Castle
Line) 
TRANSVAAL
CASTLE was built in 1961 by John Brown & Co. (Clydebank)
Ltd at Clydebank with a tonnage of 32697grt, a length of 760ft
2in, a beam of 90ft 2in and a service speed of 22.5 knots. When
launched, on 17th January 1961, she was described as an Hotel-Class
Ship with eleven fare grades ranging from de luxe suites to
ordinary berths and carried forty Stewardettes. Operating on
the mail run she was never as popular as either the Pendennis
Castle or Windsor Castle. On 1st January 1966 she was transferred
to the South African Marine Corp (UK) Ltd of London, renamed
S.A. Vaal, but maintaining the Red Ensign, Union-Castle crew
and management, and the same route. In February 1966 registry
was transferred to Cape Town. She made her last voyage for Union-Castle-Safmarine
on 2nd September 1977 and was withdrawn from service on her
return and sold to Festivale Maritime Inc. a subsidiary of Carnival
Cruise Lines of Miami. Rebuilt at Kawasaki with extra decks
and renamed Festivale she joined the Mardi Gras (ex Empress
of Canada) on their 'Fun Ship Cruises'. In 1978 she cruised
in the Caribbean based in san Juan, Puerto Rica and in 1982
was based in in Miami operating 7 day cruises to Nassau-San
Juan- St Thomas. She was acquired by Premier Cruises of Port
Canaveral in 1996 and renamed IslandBreeze operating for her
owners in the Caribbean during the northern winter and on charter
to Thomson Holidays in the Mediterranean during the summer.
At the beginning of 2000 she was renamed Big Red Boat III as
part of Premier's corporate identity. However, in September
2000 Premier Cruises ceased trading and the ship was seized
by creditors for non payment of debts.
REINA
DEL MAR was built in 1956 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 20263grt, a length of 600ft 10in, a beam of
78ft 5in and a service speed of 17 knots. She was built for
the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., an associate company of Royal
Mail Lines, for their South American via Panama service. At
the time she was the largest, fastest and only fully air-conditioned
passenger liner operating a regular service between the UK,
France, Spain and the west coast of South America. On 5th March
1964 she completed her final South American voyage and was chartered
to the South African Max Wilson's Travel Savings Association
for cruising and transatlantic summer sailings. The shareholders
of TSA became Canadian Pacific, Union-Castle and Royal Mail.
During 1964 she was refurbished for her new role and equipped
with a cinema and extra lido decks as it was also the intention
to use the ship as a hotel at its ports of call. Under Union-Castle
management the ship commenced her first sailing to New York
on 10th June 1964. In the October Union-Castle became the sole
owner of TSA but not the ship. However, in the November the
ship was painted in Union-Castle livery and operated winter
cruises from South Africa to South America; Union-Castles only
venture into the cruise business. In 1969 Royal Mail became
the registered owner of all PSNC ships but the Reina del Mar
never traded under the Royal Mail umbrella and was chartered
to Union-Castle for five years. In 1973 she was acquired by
Union-Castle before the charter expired and traded for a further
two years before being broken up at Kaohsiung in Taiwan by Tung
Cheng Steel Co. in late 1975. 
SOUTHAMPTON
CASTLE was built in 1965 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson
at Walsend with a tonnage of 10538grt, a length of 592ft, a
beam of 77ft 5in and a service speed of 22.5 knots. She was
built under the government's Shipbuilding Credit Scheme whereby
80% of the £6 million cost was advanced at an interest
rate of 4.875% and repayable over 10 years. First of a pair
of fast cargo ships she continued to maintain the 11.5 day mail
contract and was referred to as a 'Mini Mail' At the time they
were the fastest cargo ships afloat. In October 1967 accommodation
for 12 Government (Commonwealth Office) allocated passengers
was added so that calls at Ascension and St. Helena could continue
following the withdrawal of the Capetown Castle. The additional
calls added 336 miles to the voyage. On 4th May 1976 she had
the distinction of appearing on an Ascension Island postage
stamp. In the following year, on 11th October 1977, she sailed
from Cape Town on the last mail contract sailing, an event that
was marked with, an albeit sad, ceremony. In 1978, after being
laid up at Southampton Docks, she was sold to Costa Armatori
SpA of Genoa and renamed Paola C. It doesn't appear that she
is still trading. (Photo: UCPSC 01/182) 
GOOD
HOPE CASTLE (2) was built in 1965 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham
Richardson at Walsend with a tonnage of 10538grt, a length of
592ft, a beam of 77ft 5in and a service speed of 22.5 knots.
The second 'Mini Mail' fast cargo ship, her delivery was delayed
by 3.5 months during which time the Capetown Castle had to undertake
her sailings but her eventual arrival meant that seven ships
could handle the mail contract requirements instead of eight.
She was the first of the pair to have her accommodation altered
to cater for the government requirements. On 23rd June 1973
a severe engine room fire spread to the accommodation and she
had to be abandoned. Eighty two survivors were picked up by
the Liberian tanker George F. Getty and were landed at Ascension.
Taken in tow by the German owned salvage tug Albatros she reached
Antwerp on 18th August. There, the contract for the extensive
repairs was awarded to Astilleros Espanoles and, as a result,
she was towed to Bilboa by the tug Heros. Repairs were completed
by May in the following year and she was back in service on
31st of that month. Like her sister, she also had the distinction
of appearing on an Ascension Island postage stamp in May 1976.
In February 1978 she was sold to Costa Armatori SpA of Genoa
and renamed Franca C. It doesn't appear that she is still trading.
(Photo: R Pabst) 
KINNAIRD
CASTLE was built in 1956 by Greenock Dockyard at Greenock with
a tonnage of 7718grt, a length of 502ft 10ins, a beam of 65ft
10in and a service speed of 16 knots. She was launched on 17th
January 1956 as the Clan Ross (3). In 1961 she was transferred
to Safmarine and renamed South African Scientist but in the
following year reverted to Clan Line and renamed Kinnaird Castle
for Union-Castle operations. During 1969 registered ownership
was transferred to King Line Ltd, without a change of name.
In October 1975 she was sold to Dasonab Nav. S.A. of Panama
and renamed Nazeer. She continued in service until 26th April
1978 when she arrived at Gadani Beach and broken up. (Photo:
Fotoship) 
DOVER
CASTLE (3) was built in 1965 by Greenock Dockyard at Greenock
with a tonnage of 7952grt, a length of 529ft 4ins, a beam of
68ft 11in and a service speed of 17.5 knots. Sister of the Balmoral
Castle she was launched as the Clan Ranald on 21st December
1964 and delivered to Clan Line with Union-Castle as owners
in the following June. In October 1967 she made Clan history
when she sailed into Durban flying the Royal Mail pennant as
she was deputising, with the Clan Ross, for the Good Hope Castle
while she was having her accommodation altered. She was renamed
Dover Castle in November 1976 and in 1979 became the Dover Universal
under the same ownership. In May 1981 she was sold to Invergordon
Shipping Co. of Piraeus and renamed Golden Sea. Four years later,
on 9th May 1985, she arrived from Jeddah at Gadani Beach where
she was broken up. (Photo: A Duncan) 
WINCHESTER
CASTLE (2) was built in 1965 by Greenock Dockyard at Greenock
with a tonnage of 7952grt, a length of 529ft 4ins, a beam of
68ft 11in and a service speed of 17.5 knots. Launched as the
Clan Ramsay she was delivered to Clan Line with Union-Castle
as managers in March 1965. In 1977 she was renamed Winchester
Castle and with that change Clan Line passed into history, owning
no further ships. She became the Winchester Universal under
the same ownership in 1979 and in October of the following year
was sold to Braganza Bay Shipping Co. of Piraeus who renamed
her Lady Madonna. On 25th April 1985 she arrived at Gadani Beach
where she was broken up. (Photo: Ian Lovie) 
KINPURNIE
CASTLE (2) was built in 1966 by Greenock Dockyard at Greenock
with a tonnage of 7952grt, a length of 529ft 4ins, a beam of
68ft 11in and a service speed of 17.5 knots. She was launched
as the Clan Ross and the last ship to be built by the Greenock
Dockyard. When completed in March 1966 ownership was under the
Houston Line, another subsidiary of the British & Commonwealth
Group, but managed by Cayzer, Irvine & Co. Ownership was
transferred to Union-Castle in 1976 when she was renamed Kinpurnie
Castle. Although the Southampton Castle completed the last Cape
mail run in 1977 the Kinpurnie Castle carried mails for the
very last time on a voyage from Southampton - Ascension Island
- Saint Helena -Cape Town - Port Elizabeth - East London - Durban,
returning the same way. She became the Kinpurnie Universal under
the same ownership in 1979 and , in December 1982, was sold
to National History Cia Naviera S. A. of Piraeus who renamed
her Syros Reefer. On 31st July 1984 she arrived at Chittagong
where she was broken up. (Photo: Ian Lovie) 
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