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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withdrawn in Southampton on October 10th, 1977 and sold to Carnival Cruise Line, who rebuilt her in Japan with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
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Ship Postcards
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Liner Postcards
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