Safmarine - "S" Class

In 1961 the “South African Statesman”, “South African Seafarer”, and “South African Shipper” joined the fleet. They were designed for carrying general dry cargo, and were built in Scotland in the 1950s for the Clan Line then the Springbok Shipping Co. In 1966 they all had South African prefix changed to S.A. One of the most obvious features of these ships was the fitting of a distinctive cowl top on the funnel. In the engine room there were two Babcock & Wilcox water tube boilers supplying super heated steam to three Parson type turbines geared down to a single shaft, giving approx 10,000shp and a speed of 17 knots. For electrical power three Ruston Hornsby diesel engines drove DC generators.

Photo © Trevor Jones