SS Benalbanach (1946)
Encyclopedia
Benalbanach was a 7,803 ton heavy lift
cargo ship
which was built in 1946 as Empire Athelstan. In 1947 she was sold and renamed Benalbanach. Further name changes were Camelot in 1965 and Dragon Castle in 1969. She was scrapped in 1975.
. In April 1947, Empire Athelstan was put up for sale by tender, at a minimum purchase price of £340,000
, with delivery after 31 May and before 31 August 1947.
Empire Athelstan was powered by two Metropolitan-Vickers
steam turbines, double reduction geared to one screw
. She could achieve 15 knots (29.4 km/h). She had two derrick
s with a lifting capacity of 120 tons.
, who traded as Ben Line Steamers Ltd. She was renamed Benalbanach, the second of five Ben Line ships to bear that name. In 1949, Benalbanach transported military supplies to Malaya
and Hong Kong
, the latter as defence against incursions from mainland China
then involved in a Civil War
. She served with Ben Line until 1963 when she was laid up at Hartlepool
.. In 1965 she was sold to the Ministry of Transport
and renamed Camelot.
. In February 1968 she was laid up in the River Fal
. In 1969, ownership of Camelot passed to the Sea Transport Branch of the Board of Trade
. Later that year, she was sold to Mercur Shipping Enterprise, Panama
and renamed Dragon Castle.
. Later that year, she was sold to Brodospas for scrap, arriving at Split
, Yugoslavia
on 5 December 1975.
.
Empire Athelstan, Benalbanach and Camelot had the UK Official Number 169213. Empire Athelstan used Code Letters
GKJD. Benalbanach, Camelot and Dragon Castle had the IMO Number 5040869.
Heavy lift ship
A heavy lift ship is a vessel designed to move very large loads that cannot be handled by normally equipped ships. They are of two types: semi-submerging capable of lifting another ship out of the water and transporting it; and vessels that augment unloading facilities at inadequately equipped...
cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
which was built in 1946 as Empire Athelstan. In 1947 she was sold and renamed Benalbanach. Further name changes were Camelot in 1965 and Dragon Castle in 1969. She was scrapped in 1975.
Empire Athelstan
Empire Athelstan was the first postwar merchant ship built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Barrow in Furness. She was yard number 94, launched on 15 January 1946 and completed in June 1946. She was built for the Ministry of Transport and initially managed by P Hendersonn & Co, and then by Alfred Holt & CoBlue Funnel Line
Alfred Holt and Company, marketed as the Blue Funnel Line, was founded by Alfred Holt on 16 January 1866.The main operating subsidiary was the Ocean Steam Ship Company, which owned and operated the majority of the company's vessels....
. In April 1947, Empire Athelstan was put up for sale by tender, at a minimum purchase price of £340,000
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
, with delivery after 31 May and before 31 August 1947.
Empire Athelstan was powered by two Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers, Metrovick, or Metrovicks, was a British heavy electrical engineering company of the early-to-mid 20th century formerly known as British Westinghouse. Highly diversified, they were particularly well known for their industrial electrical equipment such as generators, steam...
steam turbines, double reduction geared to one screw
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
. She could achieve 15 knots (29.4 km/h). She had two derrick
Derrick
A derrick is a lifting device composed of one tower, or guyed mast such as a pole which is hinged freely at the bottom. It is controlled by lines powered by some means such as man-hauling or motors, so that the pole can move in all four directions. A line runs up it and over its top with a hook on...
s with a lifting capacity of 120 tons.
Benalbanach
In 1947, Empire Athelstan was sold to E G Thompson (Shipping) Ltd, LeithLeith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
, who traded as Ben Line Steamers Ltd. She was renamed Benalbanach, the second of five Ben Line ships to bear that name. In 1949, Benalbanach transported military supplies to Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, the latter as defence against incursions from mainland China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
then involved in a Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
. She served with Ben Line until 1963 when she was laid up at Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
.. In 1965 she was sold to the Ministry of Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
and renamed Camelot.
Camelot
Camelot was placed under the management of the British India Steam Navigation Co LtdBritish-India Steam Navigation Company
British India Steam Navigation Company was formed in 1856 as the Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company. The company had been formed out of Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co, a trading partnership of the Scots William Mackinnon and Robert Mackenzie, to carry mail between Calcutta and Rangoon. It...
. In February 1968 she was laid up in the River Fal
River Fal
The River Fal flows through Cornwall, United Kingdom, rising on the Goss Moor and reaching the English Channel at Falmouth. On or near the banks of the Fal are the castles of Pendennis and St Mawes as well as Trelissick Garden. The River Fal separates the Roseland peninsula from the rest of...
. In 1969, ownership of Camelot passed to the Sea Transport Branch of the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
. Later that year, she was sold to Mercur Shipping Enterprise, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and renamed Dragon Castle.
Dragon Castle
Dragon Castle was operated by Mercur for six years. In 1975, she was sold to Cuatebol Shipping S.A., Panama, operating under the management of Societa Italia Gestioni, ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Later that year, she was sold to Brodospas for scrap, arriving at Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
on 5 December 1975.
Official number and code letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO NumbersIMO ship identification number
The IMO ship identification number is made of the three letters "IMO" followed by the seven-digit number assigned to all ships by IHS Fairplay when constructed. This is a unique seven digit number that is assigned to propelled, sea-going merchant ships of 100 GT and above...
.
Empire Athelstan, Benalbanach and Camelot had the UK Official Number 169213. Empire Athelstan used Code Letters
Code letters
Code letters were a method of identifying ships before the introduction of modern navigation aids. Later, with the introduction of radio, code letters were also used as radio callsigns.-History:...
GKJD. Benalbanach, Camelot and Dragon Castle had the IMO Number 5040869.
External links
- Photo of Benalbanach
