DWARKA

From SN Guides

DWARKA

Dwarka was the second of the class of four passenger liners (DUMRA, DWARKA, DARA, and DARESSA ) built in the aftermath of WW2, to service the British India Line's passenger routes in the Persian Gulf. These ships took the place of the "V" class and "B" class vessels which had previously comprised the "Fast Gulf Mail" and "Slow Gulf Mail" services

DWARKA (ON: 181650) was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd at Wallsend-on-Tyne (Yard No. 1828), being launched on 25.10.46 and delivered on 25.06.47

4851 tons gross; 2672 tons net;4525 tons deadweight 382.4ft x 54.8ft x 23.6ft with a draft of 21ft 09 inches 1 x 5-cylinder Doxford opposed piston diesel: 4200 bhp Steam for auxiliaries was supplied by 2 oil-fired Scotch boilers Trial speed 15.29 knots ; Service speed 14 knots

When built, there was accommodation for 20 1st Class, 30 2nd Class and (a maximum of) 1537 Deck passengesr, this latter figure depending on the monsoon season. In later years, the passenger configuration was altered, and finally from 1979, to 52 Cabin, 534 Bunked and 533 Deck passengers

When delivered the ship had a crew of 130. The deck crew in earlier days was recruited in Bombay as was the catering crew, the former coming from the Surat distrct while the latter was virtually all Goanese. The engine crew was recruited in Calcutta.

Cargo was carried in four holds, each hatch being served by two derricks and steam-driven oil bath winches. No.4 tween deck was outfitted for refrigerated cargo (6000 cu ft), but this facility was discontinued in 1979.

DWARKA was the third BI vessel to carry the name, which originated from a town and headland at the northwest point of Kathiawar (Gujerat)

When completed in 1947, the vessel had a black hull with white ribband, this conforming to the traditional BI livery. However, from 1955, along with the other passenger vessels of the fleet, the hull was changed to white with a black ribband (and black boottopping)

Based in Bombay(Mumbai), the original voyage circuit was Bombay > Karachi > Gwadur> Muscat > Bahrain > Kuwait > Abadan > Basra > Kuwait > Bahrain > Muscat > Gwadur > Karachi > Bombay followed by a 5 day turnround. In later years this was modified to Bombay > Karachi > Port Qaboos (Mutrah) > Dubai > Umm Daid/Doha >Bahrain > Kuwait and return to Bombay via the same ports. This was the pattern throughout the DWARKA's career of almost 36 years.

In April 1973, the vessel was transferred to the P & O Passenger Division, but in May 1975, she reverted to BI ownership. In May 1982, this celebrated ship was sold for demolition at Gadani Beach.

Acknowledgements:

BI News (various issues), "BI Centenary" by George Blake, "BI" by Laxon & Perry, "Merchant Fleets Vol.11" by Duncan Haws, Marine Propulsion International(September 1979 and March 1980),