Edinburgh Castle (1947 ship)

Edinburgh Castle was an ocean liner operated by the Union-Castle Line in service between Britain and South Africa during the mid 20th century.

Edinburgh Castle
History
United Kingdom
Name:	Edinburgh Castle
Owner:	Union-Castle Line
Operator:	Union-Castle Line
Builder:	Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Launched:	16 October 1947
Completed:	1948
Maiden voyage:	November 1948
Fate:	Scrapped 1976
General characteristics
Tonnage:	28,705 GT
Length:	747 ft (228 m)
Beam:	74 ft (23 m)
Propulsion:	Steam turbines
Speed:	22 knots (41 km/h) (service speed)
Capacity:	755
Crew:	400

She was built by Harland and Wolff of Belfast at a cost of £2.5 million, and was launched on 16 October 1947,[1][2][3] by Princess Margaret.[4] She made her maiden voyage in November 1948.[2] She was refit twice in the mid 1960s, with modifications externally to her masts and internally with the addition of air conditioning and added private bathrooms.[2][3] She was taken out of service in 1976 after fuel oil prices rose sharply in the preceding years, and sailed for scrapping in Taiwan in March.[1]

Edinburgh Castle measured 28,705 gross tons, and was 747 feet (228 m) long with a beam of 84 feet (26 m).[1] She was powered by steam turbines, which drove twin propellers that gave her a service speed of 22 knots (25 mph).[1] She had a passenger capacity of 755—214 in first class and 541 in tourist class—and a crew of 400.[1][2]