MANTOLA (1921)

Service dates: 1921-1953

Official number: 146274

Shipping lines: BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY LTD.

Ship type:

• Passenger Ship

Passenger/Cargo Ship.

Career

15.10.1921

Launched.

14.12.1921

Delivered as Mantola for British India Steam Navigation Company at a cost of £527,000 and was an exact sister to Madura.

09.03.1922

Left on her return maiden voyage from Calcutta. She suffered a bad fire in her jute cargo. At one stage it looked as though it might result in the destruction of the ship, which settled on the bottom of Kidderpore Dock with the weight of water on board. Incendiarism was suspected, as fire broke out successively in Nos.4, 5 and 6 holds, but the subsequent inquiry concluded that it was a case of spontaneous combustion. Over 2,000 tons of cargo had to be landed and the passenger bookings cancelled, but after temporary work, she was able to return under her own steam and permanent restoration work was carried out by Swan, Hunter’s Tyne yard.

1923

She made an experimental homeward call at Le Havre and during her career attained great popularity with one Tanganyikan couple, who met on her first voyage, married and then travelled out and hope on her across thirty years and then went into retirement on her.

1924

Placed on the UK/East Africa service.

1927

Re-measured. Now 127 or 91 first class passengers.

1933

Re-measured. Now 180 one-class passenger capacity.

07.1934

Shortly after leaving London for Beira, she experienced vibration from her starboard propeller and had to return to Tilbury for docking before resuming her voyage.

15.12.1936

Suffered a minor fire at London.

13.05.1939

Suffered a fire when she arrived at Alexandria with a deep-seated fire in No.3 lower hold. Steam and water were applied by the ship’s equipment and a harbour tug and the outbreak was brought under control the same day. The damaged cargo was landed for inspection, whereupon the ship was found to be undamaged and able to resume her voyage.

04.1940/07.1946

Came under the Liner Division.

1940

She had evacuated the last 4,000 refugees from Bordeaux when she had a narrow escape in the English Channel. A 250-pound bomb hit her deck, bounced off and exploded astern.

03.1946

She was the first British India Steam Navigation Company ship to return to the East African run.

26.04.1953

Sold for £102,000 to British Iron & Steel Corporation Ltd and was broken up at Blyth where the demolition was carried out by Hughes Bolckow Shipbreaking Co Ltd.

Ship technical details (PDF)