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SOUTH AFRICAN TRADER.
Cargo Built 1954 as SJOA Fairfield SB Co., Glasgow for Skibs OIS, Akersviken. 9506GT. 5735NT L490'. B62'6" Dr29'. Two steam turbines, 15 knots. Acquired by South African Marine Corp., Cape Town 1958, renamed SOUTH AFRICAN TRADER. Renamed S A TRADER 1966. 13 May 1972 damaged beyond repair, internal explosion followed by fire. Sold for breaking up. Ship on right. Sisters; S A PIONEER ex SOUTH AFRICAN PIONEER 1966 ex SIRA 1957 and S A TRANSPORTER ex SOUTH AFRICAN TRANSPORTER 1966 ex SIMOA - South Africa 1961. SOc. SG250 (LB 15/263-286.16/77. EWA Vol. 7. p47. SB Jan. 1966)

SOUTH AFRICAN TRADER built as a cargo vessel under yard No 760 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Comp. Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland for Global Marine Transport Ltd. Panama on behalf of Skibs A/S Akersviken, C. Gorrissen & Klaveness A/S, Norway.
1953 Keel laid down.
08 April 1954 launched as the SJOA.
Tonnage 9,506 gross, 5,735 net, 12,239 dwt., dim. 149.6 x 19.1 x 11.55m, length bpp. 140.2m.
Powered by two Parsons type steam turbines built by the shipbuilder. 7.000 shp., double reduction geared to a single screw shaft, speed 16 knots.
18 September 1954 completed, homeport Oslo, Norway.

1958 Sold to South African Marine Corp. Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa, renamed SOUTH AFRICAN TRADER.
1966 Renamed in S. A. Trader.
13 May 1972 whilst on a voyage from Beira, Mozambique to Naples during heavy weather in position 26 12S 33 32E she suffered an engine room explosion and fire and lost power, due to heavy rolling of the ship in the seas the cargo shifted.
17 May 1972 towed into Lorenço Marques (Maputo) in a heavy damaged condition.
28 June 1972 she left under tow from Lorenço Marques bound for the scrapyard in Kaohsiung. Taiwan where she on 12 August 1972 arrived by Ching Tai Steel Corp.
22 August 1972 scrapping commenced .

South Africa 1961 50c sg250, scott265, 1962 scott277 and 1966 scott297. (she is the ship on the right of the stamp, comparing the ship with a photo in the book Safmarine she is simplified design.)