Windsor Castle (3) (Union Castle)

[shipstamps]

Windsor Castle (3) was the largest mailship built for Union-Castle Line. She was built by Cammell Laird and Company of Birkenhead and launched on the 23rd June 1959 by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Windsor Castle's maiden arrival at Capetown was on the 22nd August 1960.
She made the final mailship departure from Capetown on the 6th September 1977, arriving at Southampton thirteen days later. In Oc¬tober 1977 Windsor Castle (3) was sold to a company within the John Latsis Group of Piraeus, Greece and renamed Margarita L. On the 3rd October 1977 she left Piraeus for conversion to a luxury floating accommodation ship, for service at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In June 1991 Margarita L returned to Greece and was laid up at Eleusis Bay.

[D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen]

Built in 1959-'60 by Cammell Laird & Co., Birkenhead, #1287, for the Union Castle Mail Steamship Co., London.
Cargo/passenger ship, Gt:36.123, Nt:20.227, Dw:16.252, Loa:238,68m. Lbpp:222,51m. B:28,20m. D:15,24m. Draught:9,80m. 4 Pametrade/Cammell Laird turbines:49.400 hp. (36.337 kW.) 2 screws, 23½ kn. pass. 1st. class:191, touristclass:591, crew:475, IMO.5391923.
Maiden voyage 18-08-'60 Southampton - Durban.
19-09-'77 out of service, 03-10-'77 sold to John S. Latsis, Piraeus (Margarita Shipping & Trading Co., Panama) renamed MARGARITA L.
In Piraeus converted as a luxury hotel ship for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, later in Rabegh as office and entertainment center for S.A. Construction Co.
In '84 owner Santa Marianna Shipping & Trading Co., Panama, '91 back to Greece, laid up in Eleusis Bay.
Arrived on 21-07-2005 in Alang under the name RITA for scrap.
(Upper Volta 1974, 40 Fr. StG.?)
LR88/89 + internet.