Reina

[Mo Docherty]

Reina Del Mar
(PSNCo:1956-1964)

Reina Del Mar was the last PSNCo pasenger ship on their South American route, entering service in April 1956. She had been built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast, and was 20234 gross tons, and 560ft long. She carried 207 first, 216 cabin and 343 tourist class passengers. She ran for PSNCo for only eight years before being withdrawn from the South American run in March 1964. Reina Del Mar was sent back after her builders in Belfast for conversion into a two-class cruise ship with 1047 passengers. She was chartered to the Travel savings Association, which was jointly owned by Union-Castle Line, Canadian Pacific, Royal Mail Lines, and the founder, Max Wilson. Reina Del Mar reappeared in June 1964 with the black TSA logo on a yellow funnel, and was managed by Union-Castle.

That was some run fellas,certainly puts cruise ships/liners of today in the shade,beautiful ship.

[vic mcclymont]

1964 TSA was purchased by UCL and repainted UC colours.
1973 purchased by UCL.
1974 due to rising fuel prices it was decided to withdraw from cruising and she was sold for scrap after six week lay up in Southampton.
Vic

[Doc Vernon]

Saw her quite often , and liked her best in the UCL Colours! She was a cracker!!

Cheers

Reina Del Mar.JPG

[Doc Vernon]

Brings back many good Memories of the South African Ports , and others of course but Cape Town especially where in those days the Harbour was always so full, lined with Ships from all over the World, a hustle bustle Port resembling but not of course as large as KG5 London.
Many large Cranes at work 24 Seven then, with night time Floodlights to guide those clever Crane Drivers! Oh yes them were the days , good Mates too. Where oh where have all those lovely times gone !
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

so right there Vernon, a busy port indeed and even more so when the USA navy was there.

Simonstown dock yard for RN ships and others.

I often wonder how busy it is now with mainly container ships and little else one would imagine.

[Doc Vernon]

Still kept busy John , but not quite the same , as there are now fewer Berths as well, but yes mainly Container Ships these days with the odd Cruise Liner and other Cargo Ships.
With the new Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (well not so new anymore either) although looks good, has taken away a lot of space that was once used for Ships of the Likes!
Cheers

[Bryan Portwig]

back in the day - 1947 vanguard appeared

HMS Vanguard 1947.jpg

HMS Vanguard 1947.jpg

with the then royal family on board

- - - Updated - - -

still the fairest cape in all the world - doc !

cape town.jpg

ct waterfront.jpg

[happy daze john in oz]

With the Table in the background how could you not like such a place?
One of the most impressive ports around the world.
The approach is quite something to observe

[Doc Vernon]

Never tired when getting the chance to skip up on Deck and watch our approach to Table Bay Harbour, it was always so facinating.
As said who coud not love that !
Forever Cape Town!

[vic mcclymont]

Always on standby, never ever saw arrival or departure at Cape Ports or for that matter any ports we called at.
Vic