RMS Transvaal Castle Ship Facts and History

The RMS Transvaal Castle was a British-built passenger liner that served as a troop ship during World War II. It was launched in 1937.

The ship was 685 feet long and had a gross tonnage of 32,000 tons. This made it a large vessel for its time.

The Transvaal Castle had a top speed of 22 knots and was powered by a combination of reciprocating and diesel engines. This allowed it to efficiently transport both troops and cargo.

The UK-SA Liner Service (1961-1977) was a significant chapter in the history of RMS Transvaal Castle. The ship's maiden voyage from Southampton to Durban took place on January 18, 1962.

Transvaal Castle's route was accelerated in July 1965, with the Southampton-Cape Town voyage cut from 13½ days to 11½ days. The departure from Southampton was also changed from 4 PM on Thursday to 1 PM every Friday.

In 1966, the South African Marine Corporation (Safmarine) took over Transvaal Castle and renamed her S.A. Vaal. The ship's hull was repainted white, and her funnel was changed to Safmarine's mid-grey with three thin lines of the South African national colours.

RMS S.A. Vaal remained registered in London and continued to operate on the same service as before, with British crews. However, Safmarine personnel were gradually phased in over time.

The Union-Castle/Safmarine joint mailship service declined heavily in the 1970s due to adverse economic factors. The loss of earnings from high-value cargoes was a significant contributor to this decline.

With the large increase in oil prices in 1973, the mail ship schedule was extended by one day to allow more economical steaming. The jointly owned passenger liner service ceased completely in October 1977.

The S.A. Vaal was the last ship to arrive in Southampton on October 10, 1977, marking the end of the UK-SA liner service.

The RMS Transvaal Castle had a unique approach to media and information. It featured a radio room that was equipped with the latest technology for its time.

The ship's radio room was staffed by experienced radio operators who were responsible for sending and receiving messages. They used Morse code to communicate with other ships and shore-based stations.

The Transvaal Castle also had a newspaper, the "Transvaal Castle Gazette", which was published on board and kept passengers informed about events and news.

The RMS Transvaal Castle was a British ocean liner that had its own promotional film, which is a great example of how media can be used to showcase a product or service.

This promotional film was created to highlight the friendly nature of the ship, as its name suggests.

The RMS Transvaal Castle was built by John Brown & Company at Clydebank for the Union-Castle Line in 1926.

It was a significant vessel that served as a mail ship between Southampton and Durban.

The ship was later sold to Safmarine and renamed S.A. Vaal, continuing to operate on the same route.

The RMS Transvaal Castle underwent several name changes and renovations throughout its lifespan.

Its promotional film remains an interesting piece of media history, offering a glimpse into the past.

The film is a testament to the importance of marketing and advertising in the shipping industry.

The RMS Transvaal Castle's story is a fascinating example of how a single vessel can have multiple lives.

The RMS Transvaal Castle was a British ocean liner built by John Brown & Company at Clydebank for the Union-Castle Line. It was designed for the mail service between Southampton and Durban.

The Transvaal Castle set out on its maiden voyage from Southampton to Durban on 18 January 1962. It operated on this route for many years.

In 1966, the Transvaal Castle was sold to the South Africa-based Safmarine and renamed S.A. Vaal. This change marked the beginning of a joint operation between Union-Castle and Safmarine.

The S.A. Vaal remained registered in London and continued to operate on the same service as before, with British crews and Safmarine personnel being gradually phased in. The ship's hull was repainted white and her funnel changed to Safmarine's mid-grey, with three thin lines of the then South African national colours: orange, white, and blue.

The Union-Castle/Safmarine joint mailship service declined heavily during the 1970s due to adverse economic factors. The loss of earnings from high-value cargoes, which were increasingly being carried in more efficient container ships, was a major factor in this decline.

The mail ship schedule was extended by one day in 1973 to allow for more economical steaming. This change was made in response to the large increase in oil prices.

The jointly owned passenger liner service ceased completely in October 1977, with the S.A. Vaal being the last to arrive in Southampton on 10 October 1977.

The RMS Transvaal Castle had a promotional film made about it, known as "The Friendly Ship". This film showcased the ship's amenities and services.

The RMS Transvaal Castle was operated by the Union-Castle Line, a prominent shipping company at the time.

Here are the key periods in the RMS Transvaal Castle's service history: