| British RMS GOTHIC, imo 5134088/ 171m/ 15,902gt/ twin screw/ 17kn/ pax 85 first class; 12/1948 completed by Swan Hunter & William Richardson, Wallsend-on-Tyne, for Shaw Savill & Albion Co., Ltd., Southampton; 23/12/1948 maiden voyage Liverpool - Sydney and then placed on the London service; 03/1951 detailed for use as Royal Yacht for visit of King George VI to Australia and New Zealand and converted by Cammel Laird, Birkenhead; 10/10/1951 because of the King's poor health it was decided that his place would be taken by Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh; 15/12/1951 the refit was completed and she left for Mombasa on 12/01/1952 to embark the royal couple on completion of their trip to Africa. The death of the King forced the cancellation of the cruise. 08/1953 she was again refitted for the postponed royal visit and left London on 10/11/1953 for Jamaica where the Queen was to embark; 28/04/1954 the royal party disembarked at Aden and the GOTHIC proceeded to Malta where the fittings and furnishings were transferred to the new royal yacht BRITANNIA; 09/1954 GOTHIC then returned to London and resumed Shaw Savill service; 02/08/1968 en route Bluff/UK and 300 miles east of New Zealand, the bridge caught fire and the four passengers (all SSA staff going home on leave) and three crew were killed. She arrived back in Wellington on 06/08/1968 and arrived Liverpool on 10/08/1968. She made one final voyage in 05/1969 and then proceeded to Kaohsiang, Taiwan where she was scrapped. For her delivery voyage to Taiwan she was transferred to the Cairn Line. [Merchant Fleets, vol.10 by Duncan Haws] |
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