As Blue Funnel used to say, "she carries two living cargos, neither of which is aware of the presence of the other."

This ship bring back memories, I had work on this ship as a relieve purser for 2 months in 1978 when she as still on the Fremantle, Singapore, Port Klang, Penang, and back to Singapore than Fremantle route.

Really beautiful vessel from Blue Funnel line. Even, that she was relatvie new, when I started spotting in 1970, I never have seen her.
Regards
from Bavaria
Gerolf (gedre)

Lovely picture Richard of a rather unusual ship in terms of design. Built by John Brown of Clydebank, their first build for Blue Funnel. The rather unusual design specification required that she be able to take up to 200 passengers, 4,500 sheep or 700 head of cattle, She also had to be flat bottomed and able to take to the mud when in certain Australian ports. In the event she was built as 8,262 grt, 480'9" LOA, twin screw powered by 2 x B&W 11cyl 2S.SA oil engines turbo charged with poppet valves. 9,250 BHP each at 180 rpm. Built by B&W Copenhagen. 10 derricks and 3 deck cranes,the cranes were the first on a Blue Funnel ship. Accommodation for 190 1st class passengers. Launched 20th June 1963 by Mrs. D Brand, wife of the Pime Minister of Western Australia and completed at a cost of £2.5m for Ocean S.S.Co.(Owners of Blue Funnel). First voyage Liverpool - Sydney then placed on the 3 weekly Fremantle-Western Australian Ports-Singapore. November '73 transferred to the Eastern Fleets section of the group & managed by Straits S.S.Co. but in Blue Funnel colours. Sept. 15th 1981 final departure from Fremantle, Singapore interport cruises her new role. 1982 chartered to St. Helena Shipping Co. to replace their vessel, St. Helena, requisitioned for Falklands Service during the war with Argentina.October '83 the St. Helena returned to normal service and the option to puchase the Centaur wasn't exercised. 1985 Sold tho the Shanghai Haixing Shipping Co. and renamed HAI LONG.
Regards,
Alastair