Built under yard No. 733 as a passenger ship by Barclay Curle & Company, Glasgow for the British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd. (B.I.), London.
May 1953 laid down.
30 November 1955 launched under the name NEVASA, christened by Mrs. J.A. Boyd-Carpenter, wife of the then British Minister of Transport. She was named after a village Ahmednagar, Western India; now in Maharashtra. Possible also a corruption of Naivasha, town and lake northwest of Nairobi, Kenya.
Tonnage 20.527 grt, 10.880 net, 6.333 dwt., dim. 609.3 x 78.3 x 57.0ft., length bpp 560.7ft, draught 26.6ft.
Powered by two sets of three-stage Pametrada steam turbines, manufactured by shipbuilder, 18.400 shp, twin-screw speed during trials 20.96 knots. 17 knots service speed.
Passenger accommodation 220 first, 110 second, 180 third, and 1000 troopdeck dormitories passengers.
The accommodation provided was for 220 officers and their wives and young families traveling first class in cabins with from one to three berths. Second-class cabin class with from two to four berths was arranged for 110 warrant officers and their wives. The women services, together with wives and families and other ranks are accommodated in third class cabins, which carry 180 persons in rooms with four to six berths.
By emergency the capacity could be increased by 80 percent within a few days.
Six decks
She was fitted out as first troopship with Denny-Brown stabilizers.
12 July 1956 delivered to owners.
She was ordered when the B.I. got a contract for 15 years trooping duties with the British Government.
After completing she was chartered by the British Ministry of Transport, and that is the reason she did not show the B.I. funnel colors but the yellow funnel of the trooping service, as seen on Gibraltar stamp.
The first six year she was constantly used for the transport of troops and their equipment around the world.
When the British Government abandoned transport of troops via sea in favor of air transport her contract was cancelled, she made her last trooping voyage in 1962.
04 October 1962 she arrived at the River Fal by Falmouth for lay up.
When educational cruises did look a good prospect, the NEVASA was moved to Silley, Cox & Co., Ltd., Falmouth, and from October 1964 till October 1965 she was refitted, total cost less than £1 million. Her mast were shortened, two swimming pools a large assembly hall added.
Accommodation for 308 cabin passengers and 1.090 schoolchildren in dormitories with 12 to 42 berths.
15 till 18 September sea trials.
17 October 1965 she sailed from Falmouth for a shakedown cruise, with guests.
28 October 1965 she sailed from Southampton for her educational maiden cruise to Madeira, Tangier and Lisbon.
The next 10 years she was used in this educational cruises.
01 October 1971 managed by P&O Passenger Division
05 December 1972 taken over by the P&O.
02 April 1975 sold to Taiwan shipbreakers.
30 March she arrived at Kaohsiung for demolition.
Broken up by Nan Feng Steel Enterprise Co. Ltd, who commenced the work on 10 June 1975.
Gibraltar 2005 sg?
Source: Merchant Ships; World Built 1956. Register of Merchant Ships completed in 1956.
B.I. The British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd. by W A Laxon & F. W. Perry.
P&O a Fleet History, World Ship Society.