REINA DEL MAR

In 1956, the Reina Del Mar entered service with the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., an associate of Royal Mail Lines. She was built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast, with a GRT of 20 263. She was 600 ft 9 inches long with a beam of 78 ft. Powered by triple expansion double reduction geared steam turbines, she had a service speed of 18 knots. She was originally used on the UK-France-Spain to and the west coast of South America service and could carry 780 passengers in 3 classes. Her service with Pacific Steam Navigation Co ended when she completed her last South American voyage in March of 1964. She was refitted for cruising during 1964 and was then chartered to a South African organisation; Max Wilson's Travel Savings Association (TSA), the principle shareholders being Canadian Pacific, Union-Castle and Royal Mail. With Union-Castle Line managing the ship she commenced her first sailing to New York on 10th June 1964. In October Union-Castle Line took over ownership of TSA and in November she was painted in the famous lilac livery of the mailship operators. The Reina was still owned by PSNC and was chartered to Union-Castle for five years. In 1973 she was finally acquired by Union-Castle Line before the charter expired and she traded for a further two years. However, like so many other ships the writing was on the wall for her and she was sold for breaking up in Kaohsiung in late 1975.