B&C and Safmarine

[vic mcclymont]

British and Commonwealth Shipping.
The Cayzer family had desires on owning the Union Castle Line, their first rejection was in 1934 after UCL was demerged from Royal Mail Line.
The second bid was in 1945, which was rejected by Vernon Thomson, the Chairman of UCL.
UCL was primarily a shipping company, whilst Clan was an integrated company. Owning shipyards, dock labour etc.
By 1950, Clan had expanded owning repair facilities, insurance facilities, aircraft and dock and aircraft loading facilities.
In 1950, Clan owned 50% of the fledgling Safmarine and with their backing Bomber Harris became Chairman.
In 1950, Clan, through its parent company founded Caledonian Investments when it changed its name to Caledonian Investment trusts, which had been the Foreign Railways Investment Trust.
Caledonia became the vehicle which the Cayzer’s would ultimately control their investment’s.
By 1956, Cayzer’ s controlled the board of the new company and set their domination.
The new PENNDENIS CASTLE , which was on the stocks at Belfast, was halted whist design changes mere implemented, a new 20 foot section was inserted, to allow for stabilisers.
An order was placed for the delivery of the WINDSOR CASTLE and TRANSVAAL and TRANSVAAL CASTLE.
Agreement was reached in 1966 that Safmarine would also build a new passenger ship, containers destroyed that idea.
Vic

[robpage]

B&C were a great company to work for , even though I had left many years before needing steam sea time , I was sad to see the demise due to over ambitious purchases in computers