Highland Chieftain

[john sefton]

HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
Motor vessel built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast and launched by them on 21 June 1928 for the Nelson line, Belfast, completed 26 January.
Yard No 806. 14.131Grt. Length 544ft with a beam of 69.2ft. Burmeister and Wain Diesel. Two screws. 10.000shp. speed 15 knots. maximum 16 knots. Carried 135 First class, 66 Second class and 500 Third class passengers.
Maiden voyage 21 February London-Buenos Aires. In 1932 the Royal Mail Lines took over the Nelson Lines ships. She served as a troop transport during the second World War. In 1948 she re-entered London-La Plata service after an overhaul. Now 14.232Grt. 104 First cIass and 335 Third class passengers.
In October 1959 she was sold the Calpe Shipping Co. Ltd. Gibraltar and renamed CALPEAN STAR. Used as a maintenance ship and transport for whaling fleets in the Antarctic.
In March 1960 the CALOPEAN STAR left the Antarctic with a damaged rudder for repairs at Montevideo. On 1 June after the ship had left Montevideo, there was an explosion in the engine room, which caused her to sink two nautical miles from the coast.
Log Book November 1997
Maldives SG2697

[FrenchShips]

Thanks for the stamp image.