RMS St Helena (1963)

The RMS St Helena was a cargo liner operated by the St. Helena Shipping Company that operated between Britain and South Africa via the colony of Saint Helena during the late 20th century.

For other ships with the same name, see RMS St Helena.

History

St Helena was constructed in 1963 by Burrard Dry Dock in North Vancouver, Canada as the Northland Prince, and operated under that name on service between Vancouver and Alaska.[1] She was purchased by St. Helena Shipping, which had been formed as a joint venture between the Saint Helena government and British shipping firm Curnow Shipping to operate ocean service to the island after the Union-Castle Line ceased operations in 1977.[1] She underwent a refit and was renamed to St Helena, and entered service in September 1978 on a route from Avonmouth, England to Cape Town, South Africa, calling en route at Las Palmas, Canary Islands, and Jamestown, Saint Helena.[1] She continued in this service, interrupted by sailing for the British government during the Falklands War, until 1990 when she was replaced by a new ship, also named St Helena.[1] She was sold and laid up for several years, as planned service in the Indian Ocean never materialized, before being scrapped.[1]

St Helena measured 3,150 gross tons, and was 321 feet (98 m) long, with a beam of 46 feet (14 m).[1] She was propelled by a single diesel engine and propeller, which gave her a service speed of 16.5 knots (19.0 mph).[1] She had a passenger capacity of 88 in a single class configuration.[1]

References
  1. Miller Jr.,William (2001). Picture History of British Ocean Liners 1900 to the Present. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications. pp. 120. ISBN 0-486-41532-5.
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