Jump to content

TSS Golfito

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

TSS Golfito
TSS Golfito
History
United Kingdom
NameGolfito
OwnerElders and Fyffes
OperatorElders and Fyffes
RouteSouthampton or Avonmouth in England to Barbados, Trinidad and up to five ports in Jamaica (Kingston, Port Antonio, Montego Bay, Oracabessa and Bowdin)
BuilderAlexander Stephen and Sons
Launched6 October 1948
FateScrapped 1972
General characteristics
TypePassenger-cargo ship/banana boat
Tonnage8,687 gross register tons (GRT)
Length448 feet (137 m)
Speed17.7 knots (32.8 km/h)

TSS Golfito was a 8,687 GRT[1] passenger-carrying banana boat of the Fyffes Line, a fleet of ships owned and operated by the UK banana importer Elders and Fyffes Limited. She was 448 feet (137 m) long[2] and had a top speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h)[1]

History

[edit]

She was built in 1949 by Alexander Stephen and Sons of Glasgow and scrapped at Faslane in 1972.[3]

Accommodation

[edit]

She had three passenger decks[4] with cabins for 94 first class passengers,[2] public rooms and open-air deck spaces. These were centred between four large refrigerated cargo holds, two forward and two aft, that could handle 140,000 stems (1,750 tons) of bananas.[4]

Trade

[edit]

Her main trade was general cargo outwards (mostly British manufactured goods), returning with bananas.[4]

Routing

[edit]

She was routed on 4-5 week voyages from Southampton or Avonmouth in England to Barbados, Trinidad and up to five ports on Jamaica (Kingston, Port Antonio, Montego Bay, Oracabessa and Bowden) where bananas were loaded through the cool of the night.[4]

Sister ship

[edit]

In 1956 she was joined by a sister ship, Camito. Together they provided a regular fortnightly service[3] between the UK and the Caribbean.

Notes and references

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Harnack, Edwin P (1964) [1903]. All About Ships & Shipping (11th ed.). London: Faber and Faber. p. 497.
  2. ^ a b The UK Passenger Ship Fleet of 1967, Ian Boyle, Simplon Postcards, undated.
  3. ^ a b PortCities Southampton, Golfito And Camito: Cargo And Passenger Ships, undated.[usurped]
  4. ^ a b c d Banana Boats, William H. Miller, The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society, undated reprint.

See also

[edit]