Springbok Shipping Line

[vic mcclymont]

Springbok was originally set up by Sir Francis Vernon Thomson of Union Castle in South Africa in 1950. Although the company was set up it was never activated.
Due to increased pressure by Safmarine, B&C set up the Springbok Shipping Line in the UK in December 1958 when the Bullard and King Line was restyled as Springbok Line and registered in the UK.
In January 1960 the new company was operational with a number of Clan & Bullard & King line ships were transferred and renamed, this still did not satisfy the South Africans and by 1961 the company and its conference rights were sold top Safmarine.
The transferred ships were :-
UMGENI- GEMBOK - SOUTH AFRICAN FINNCIER
UMGAZI- GRYSBOK - SOUTH AFRICAN FARMER
UMZINTO- ROOIBOK- SOUTH AFRICAN SHIPPER
CLAN SHAW- STEENBOK - SOUTH AFRICAN SEAFARER
CLAN SINCLAIR- BOSBOK - SOUTH AFRICAN STATESMAN
CLAN STEWART- SPRINGBOK (proposed) she was in the process of beeing transferred when Safmarine took over Springbok and she was subsequently renamed SOUTH AFRICAN SCULPTOR,
The sale included the UK - SOUTH AFRICA -UK sailing rights thus effectively nearly doubling Safmarines conference sailings.

[Captain Kong]

I sailed in the Springbok Line of Cape Town.
It was on the GOOD HOPE CASTLE, When I joined in January 1959 in Birkenhead she had a South African Flag down aft and Cape Town on the stern. with a Union Castle funnel, Our first job was to repaint the funnel into Soringbok colours.
Black funnel and a blue, orange and white bands.
We did three trips to East Africa and the Cape then took her to Hong Kong to the breakers. June 1959
Cheers
Brian.

[Bryan Portwig]

good hope castle (1) capetown - i am not sure if she did indeed sail under the springbok line livery - but open to correction

[Bryan Portwig]

hello vic - looking at your list - i have images of all the ships you mention - with all three companies - clan springbok and safmarine with the exception of the south african financier - all though do have a model image of her

[Captain Kong]

The Good Hope Castle was a Springbok ship.
I painted the funnel in their colours a couple of times. she was EX u/c.
And they paid us a few pounds a month more than a UK ship. she was under the South African Flag and registered in Cape Town.
We took her to HONG KONG Breakers in June 1959, SafMarine offered us jobs with them but no one took it.

Thanks for the photo. she was an Empire Boat , built in 1945

[Doc Vernon]

Think that there is confusion here as thee were 2 Good Hope Castles it was the first one that was with Springbok Lines. That is the one i feel Capt was with.
Cheers

GOOD HOPE CASTLE (Union Castle Line) 1
Fast standard dry cargo ship built by Caledon Shipbuilding, Dundee, in 1945 as Empire Life for the Ministry Of War Transport, managed by T&J Harrison. She originally had accommodation for 54 passengers. Sold in 1946 to Union Castle Line and renamed Good Hope Castle, with her funnel heightened in 1950 and passenger number reduced to 12 in 1952 and removed in 1957. In 1959 following a charter to Springbok Line she was sold to Hong Kong ship breakers.

She was only on Charter to Springbok Lines for a short while. Springbok Shipping Line.JPG

Union-Castle Line - Page 5 - Ocean Liner Postcards
Good Hope Castle 2

Good Hope Castle was involved in a serious fire about 30 miles south of the Ascencion Island in 1973,The Crew and all the passengers spent about 24 hours in lifeboats, they were all picked up by a passiing tanker and landed on Ascension. The Good Hope was salvaged. The two sister's were 180m long with GRT of 10538 tons. Service speed was 22,5 knots and they were designed to complete the mail run in 11,5 days. The sisters were both sold to Costa Crociere in 1978, Good Hope being renamed Paolo C and Southampton Castle renamed Franca C, Both were scrapped in 1984.

[vic mcclymont]

Although they could maintain a service speed of 22.5 knots, they could comfortably do 30.
There service speed was 25 knots, as they called at Ascension and St Helena.
They were billed as the most powerful motor ships built at that time.
Vic

[Captain Kong]

The Captain of the AMSTERDAM, cruise ship of Holland America, Jonathan Mercer was a cadet on the GOOD HOPE CASTLE, 2, when she burned and spent a couple of days in a life boat before landing on Ascension.
I have sailed with him a few times on the AMSTERDAM of Holland America, on the World Cruises in 2014 2016 and this year. A real nice fellow.
I was on GOOD HOPE CASTLER ,1, IN 1959. She was transferred to Springbok and registered in Cape Town under the South African flag. She is in the photo above.