GOOD HOPE CASTLE (2) was built in 1965 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend with a tonnage of 10538grt, a length of 592ft, a beam of 77ft 5in and a service speed of 22.5 knots.

The second 'Mini Mail' fast cargo ship, her delivery was delayed by 3.5 months during which time the Capetown Castle had to undertake her sailings but her eventual arrival meant that seven ships could handle the mail contract requirements instead of eight.

She was the first of the pair to have her accommodation altered to cater for the government requirements.

On 23rd June 1973 a severe engine room fire spread to the accommodation and she had to be abandoned.

Eighty two survivors were picked up by the Liberian tanker George F. Getty and were landed at Ascension.

Taken in tow by the German owned salvage tug Albatros she reached Antwerp on 18th August.

There, the contract for the extensive repairs was awarded to Astilleros Espanoles and, as a result, she was towed to Bilboa by the tug Heros.

Repairs were completed by May in the following year and she was back in service on 31st of that month.

Like her sister, she also had the distinction of appearing on an Ascension Island postage stamp in May 1976.

In February 1978 she was sold to Costa Armatori SpA of Genoa and renamed Paolo C.

Review  - April 1966

Wheelhouse of Good Hope Castle

Painting the bridge front, pre health and safety issues! AB Phil Hayden

S/Stwd. Fred Wilkinson

Bob Tallach 3/O and probably Trevor Johns.

Officer’s lounge, Asst Purser, Think G Walter, ? , ?, Trevor Johns S/2/O, Stephen Wright.

Two four legged passengers Cape Town to East London, A B Bob Henshall, AB Phil Hayden and Bob Tallach 3/O

By invitation to the crew’s mess, an evening’s entertainment and pre Christmas Party in honour of Mrs. L’Estrange

Taken in December 1966 of the officers aboard the Good Hope Castle

Front row.  P Marret 1st Engineer,  F McKiernan Chief Purser,  Capt D L’Estrange Master,  

R Gemmell Chief Engineer,  A MacIntyre Chief Officer,  R Hooker Snr 2nd Engineer

Middle Row.   R Tallack 3rd Officer,  Cadet,  F Chatterton Jnr 2nd Engineer,  F Hill Assistant Purser,  Cadet,  P Goddard Radio Officer,  Cadet,  ?,  ?.

Back Row.  ?,  ?,  A White Ex 2nd Officer,  J Crutwell Jnr 2nd Engineer,  T Johns 2nd Officer,  ?,  Cadet,  ?,  E Tulip Chief Fridge Engineer

Good Hope Castle adrift in the South Atlantic after the fire

The pictures above were taken by Mike Line, then serving as a cadet on Southampton Castle

“I took a few until I ran out of film,  all on Kodak slides.  The press wanted the pictures and offered a good price,  but Head office refused to let me sell them.  I think they were used in the subsequent enquires”

The next sequence of pictures was taken by someone then serving aboard Clan Malcolm

They show her after the effects of the second fire and the burnt out accommodation and deck cargo

The German Bugsier Tug Albatros that towed Good Hope Castle from the South Atlantic to Antwerp

The German Bugsier tug Heros that towed Good Hope Castle from the Antwerp to Bilbao

Clansman - August 1973

Taken in January 1970 of the officers aboard the Good Hope Castle

Front row. Eddie Bremner 2nd Officer, Peter Lovell 1st Engineer, R. Kenyon Chief Officer, H. Charnley Master,

John Forbes Chief Engineer, Bill Parr, Purser. John Davies 2nd Engineer.

Back Row, C. Tingley Chief Electrician. second left, M. Thomas Chief Fridge Engineer, last in the row

I cannot put names to the rest but I have a list of all on the Photo, so I expect they will be soon recognised.

 S. Ivey Extra 2/O, M. Savage 3rd Officer, Cadets: N .Middlehurst, D. Daley, A. Lukes, G. Thomson.  D. Withers Chief Radio Officer.

J. Robertson Jnr 2nd Engineer, B. Cook Jnr 2nd Engineer, Junior Engineers: W. Saberton, G. Liddle, R. Hutton, Engineer Cadet:, J. Thomlinson, R. Hutton.

A. May 2nd Electrician

Clansman - June 1974

As Paolo C

Deck cranes fitted

Not as much care taken over her appearance

Clansman - October 1970

Bosun Arthur Weaver

Good Hope Castle before conversion

Good Hope Castle after conversion

Good Hope Castle

By David J Bray