Clan "R's"

[vic mcclymont]

The Clan "R's" had a bit of history attached to the original order.
B&C had been under intense pressure from Safmarine to allow them access to the lucrative fruit trade..
Sir Nicholas Cayzer eventually agreed to hand over the rights etc to Safamarine providing that they supported B&C bid for the Mail Contract renewal in the mid sixties this was agreed along with B&C providing technical support to Safmarine.
With the agreement sealed Sir Nicholas order from the Greenock Dockyard four new reefers, this was show that although he had signed away certain rights he could not be controlled by Safmarine.
The original order for the ships was to be for U-C.
Now those that can remember the Castle "R" will agree that they were fast approaching, if not past there sell by date.
B&C's original intention was have the new ships manned by white crew, the "R" boats to reduce operating costs would be manned by native crews.
The Union refused, stating that U-C were always manned by white crew and that would be the way that it would remain. No matter what was on offer the Unions refused to agree to any deal.
B&C's response, no problem the ships will be transferred to Clan Line and they will be operated and run by native crew.
Originally they had Zulu deck and engine room crew with Natal Indians as Steward, this was changed in the late sixties, but that's another story.

[robpage]

They were good crews to be with unless the Zulus had a drinking session, then they weren't much fun

[vic mcclymont]

On the S.A. coast you didn't get much sense out of them