Bloemfontein Castle
Ship Number
1421
Vessel Type
Passenger / Cargo Ship
Built
Belfast
Yard
Musgrave Yard
Slip Number
14
Launch Date
August 25, 1949
Launched By
Mrs Leif Egeland
Delivered
March 25, 1950
Owner
Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co.
Weight
18400 grt
BP Length
560 feet
Breadth
76 feet
No. of Screws
Twin
Speed (approx)
19 knots
Propulsion
Two H&W-B&W double acting 8 cylinders 620mm bore by 1,400mm stroke
Official No.
183205
Registered
London
Fate
Scrapped
 Bloemfontein Castle

When conceived Union Castle had expected this ship to have a long career carrying emigrants to South Africa but with the cessation of assisted passages in 1948 the Company made alterations during construction and eventually emerged as their first one class vessel. She entered service on the 6th of April London-Rotterdam-Cape-Beira a route terminal that she alone served via the Cape. On the 8th of January 1953 she rescued 234 passengers and crew from the Holland Afrika liner Klipfontein which was sinking after hitting submerged rocks off Mozambique, a month later Captain J. A. Fergurson and Senior Officers received commemorative gifts from the Holland Afrika Line. Surplus to requirements she was sold to Chandris Lines on the 9th of November 1959, renamed Patris and made her first voyage for the Company now called the National Greek Australian Line on the 14th of December to Australia. Began 1972 by cruising out of Sydney before being placed on the Sydney-Singapore service. Became an accommodation ship at Darwin in February of 1975 after hurricane Tracey virtually destroyed the town.
 
In 1976 she returned to Greece and was converted for use as a car carrier for the Venice/Ancona-Patras route, fitted with side loading doors. She was sold in 1980 to the Michail A. Karageorgis group, renamed Mediterranean Island and in 1981 was renamed again to Mediterranean Star for the Star Navigation Corporation, same group.
 
Sold for breaking to St. Vincent owners in 1988 renamed Terra.