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- Transvaal
Castle
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- Transvaal
Castle - S.A.Vaal - IslandBreeze - Big Red Boat III
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- Page
1: Union-Castle - Safmarine
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- The Transvaal Castle was launched in 1961
by John Brown & Co, Clydebank. She was delivered to Union-Castle
Line,
and served on their route to South Africa from Southampton from
1962. She remained in Union-Castle Line colours only until 1966, when she was
transferred to the South African Marine Corp (UK), remaining
on the same service under the British flag, with Union-Castle
Line
crew and management as S.A.Vaal. In 1969 she was transferred
to the South African flag.
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- S.A.Vaal was withdrawn in Southampton on October
10th, 1977 and sold to Carnival Cruise Line, who rebuilt her in
Japan with extra decks, almost doubling the passenger capacity.
The external appearance was not spoilt, however, and she has
remained the handsome ship of Union-Castle days. Internally,
the public rooms were much changed from the traditional liner,
as the Carnival postcards below show.
She returned to service in 1978 as Festivale, on Caribbean
cruises in partnership with ex-Canadian Pacific liners Mardi
Gras and Carnivale, revolutionising the cruise industry.
Page
2 shows
postcards from the Carnival era.
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- Following
the delivery of purpose-built cruise ships to Carnival, she was sold to Dolphin Cruise
Line
who renamed her IslandBreeze. She was chartered to UK
holiday company Thomson during the late 1990s,
and passed to Premier cruises with the rest
of the Dolphin ships. Page
3 shows
postcards of the IslandBreeze. IslandBreeze was
later renamed Big Red Boat III. On 4th June 2003 Big
Red Boat III (sailing as Big Boat) steamed from Freeport
enroute to the shipbreakers at Alang, India, via Gibraltar. She
had the sad distinction of being the first Carnival Cruise liner
to be scrapped. I have no postcards as Big Red Boat III -
if you can help please email simplon@simplon.co.uk.
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- This page
shows company and commercial postcards from the South African
mail run days. All postcards are shown in proportion, with continental-sized
cards at approx 430 pixels.
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- Transvaal
Castle/S.A.Vaal details:
32697 Gross
Tons, Length: 760ft, 728 one class Passengers, Speed 22.5
knots, Engines: Parsons turbines, total 44000shp.
- Festivale/IslandBreeze details: 38175 Gross Tons, 1400
Passengers
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- Transvaal Castle Pages:-
- Transvaal
Castle - Page 1 - Union Castle/Safmarine - this page!
- Transvaal Castle
- Page 2
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Transvaal Castle
- Page 3
- Dolphin/Thomson/Premier Cruises
- Transvaal Castle
- Page 4
- Island Breeze Interior Photographs
- Transvaal Castle
- Page 5
- Festivale Interior Photographs
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- Associated Pages:-
- Union-Castle
Line
- Dolphin
Cruise Line
- Premier
Cruise Line
- Carnival
Cruise Line
- Cruise
Ship Postcards
- Ocean
Liner Postcards
- Simplon Postcards Home Page
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- References:-
- UNION-CASTLE
LINE - A
Fleet History by Peter Newall: Published by Carmania Press in 1999
- This is the
definitive history of the Union-Castle Line - Available from
Mainmast Books
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- Transvaal Castle
- (Union-Castle
Line: 1961-66)
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- Union-Castle
Line official card of Transvaal Castle.
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- Dearden
& Wade, Bournemouth, card of Transvaal Castle (s/n:
5167).
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- J.Arthur
Dixon card of Transvaal Castle (s/n: SS.1889).
- This
cards was available on board, as well as in shops ashore.
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- Terence
J.Mcnally, Capetown, card of Transvaal Castle (s/n: 238).
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- Terence
J.Mcnally, Capetown, card of Transvaal Castle in Durban
Harbour (s/n: 340).
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- M.N.W.Edwards
card of Transvaal Castle sailing on her maiden voyage
up coast from Table Bay, February 2nd 1962 (s/n: Br.S.10).
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- S.A.Vaal
- (Safmarine:
1966-77)
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- J.Arthur
Dixon card of S.A.Vaal (s/n: SS.6295 - a retouched version
of SS.1889 above).
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- Terence
J.Mcnally, Capetown, card of S.A.Vaal leaving Capetown
(s/n: 408).
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- Terence
J.Mcnally, Capetown, card of S.A.Vaal leaving Capetown
(s/n: 318).
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- Protea,
Capetown, card of S.A.Vaal at East London, South Africa
(s/n: 394).
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- Arthur
English, Capetown, card of S.A.Vaal entering Durban, South
Africa (s/n: 389).
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- Protea,
Capetown, card of S.A.Vaal at Capetown, South Africa (s/n:
674).
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- Arthur
English, Capetown, card of S.A.Vaal at capetown, South
Africa (s/n: 404).
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- M.N.W.Edwards
card of S.A.Vaal at Richard's Bay for her inauguration,
1st April 1976 (s/n: Br.S.18).
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- Photograph
of SA Vaal at Southampton in June 1976.
- Photo:
©1976 Copyright Ian Boyle.
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- Photograph
of SA Vaal at Southampton in June 1976.
- Photo:
©1976 Copyright Ian Boyle.
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- Transvaal Castle - Page 1 - Transvaal
Castle - Page 2
- Transvaal
Castle - Page 3
- Transvaal
Castle - Page 4
- Transvaal
Castle - Page 5
- Union-Castle
Line
- Dolphin
Cruise Line
- Premier
Cruise Line
- Carnival
Cruise Line
- Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards
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