UMTALI

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UMTALI

Post by shipstamps » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:36 pm


.Built as a cargo-passenger vessel by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle for Bullard King & Co. Ltd., London.
Launched under the name UMTALI. Two sisters the UMTATA and UMGENI.
Tonnage 8.162 gross, 4.903 net., 8.357dwt. Dim. 142.65 x 18.64 x 9.78m., draught 7.77m.
Powered by a two 3-cyl. triple expansion with exhaust turbine, ?hp, speed 14 knots.
Accommodation for 108 passengers.
July 1936 delivered to owners.

She and her sisters were the last and the largest passenger liners built for the Natal Direct Line, she were favorites by passengers to and from South Africa. With a well designed and comfortable passenger accommodation.
She sailed in the service from the West India Dock, London to Port Elizabeth, East London, Port Natal, Durban, Lourenco Marques (Maputo) and Beira.
When war broke out she was taken up for war service.
On 7 and 11 September 1940 damaged by bombs during an air raid on London by German bombers.
In Lloyd’s War Losses, the Second World War Vol. II we find the following information about her during the war: “Loaded with general cargo and discharging S.W. India Dock in London, when partly discharged on 07 September, when she sustained slight damage from oil and petrol bombs. On 11 September, a high explosive bomb fell alongside vessel causing damage. No casualties under the crew”.
She rescued the crew of the MOUNTPARK, which had been sunk by an air attack west of Tory Island, Ireland on 26 April 1941.
After the war again in the Natal Line service.
When the passenger supply declined, she was sold.
1957 Sold to Elder Dempster Lines, Ltd., renamed CALABAR. Used in the new opened monthly West Africa service from Tilbury near London to West Africa. When the airlines took over the passengers, she was sold.
Nov. 1962 sold to Thos. W. Ward for £45.000.
06 January 1963 she arrived at Inverkeithing for scrapping.

In South African waters, Passenger liners since 1930 by D.Hughes and P. Humphries. Elder Dempster Lines by Duncan Haws. Register of Merchant ships completed in 1936

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