Bulimba
Ship Number
1609
Vessel Type
Cargo Ship
Built
Govan Yard
Launch Date
September 25, 1958
Launched By
Mrs R B Monteath
Delivered
March 26, 1959
Owner
British India Steam Navigation Co
Weight
6796 grt
BP Length
395 feet
Breadth
59 feet
No. of Screws
Single
Speed (approx)
16 knots
Propulsion
Harland and Wolff - B&W Single Acting (S.A.) Diesel 6 Cylnder 8,600 SHP
Official No.
Registered
Fate
Ran Aground
 Bulimba

[Bulimba shortly after launch]

The first of the new class was given the Australian name of Bulimba (after a suburb of Brisbane) so it was appropriately launched with a bottle of Bulimba beer from Queensland rather than the usual champagne.
 
Between the time of launching and delivery the white painting on the hull was taken down a further strake to the main deck level, which made the B-class look rather larger they actually were. As the lead ship of the class, Bulimba was the focus of attention at all ports of call during her maiden voyage and was chosen to house the Australian exhibits for a trade fair to Malaysia in April 1963.
 
Perhaps because of this, she was sold on 19th November 1971, after 12 years’ trouble free service, to the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation and registered at Penang as the Bunga Kenanga.
 
In 1977 she became the Seasprite of the Seasprite Shipping Enterprises Corporation, registered first at Monrovia under the Liberian flag but transferred later the same year to Greek registry at Piraeus.
 
Her end came on 1st July 1979, when she ran aground in Kori Creek in the Gulf of Kutch and had to be abandoned as a total loss.