The BENRINNES (official no. 168560) I was on was built by TODD – CALIFORNIA SHIPBUILDING CORPORATION, RICHMOND, CALIF.COMPLETED: APRIL 1942.TONNAGE: 7,410 grt, 4,231 net, 10,322 dwt.LENGTH: 425 feet. BEAM: 57 feet.DRAUGHT: 27 feet.SPEED: 10 ½ knots.MACHINERY: TRIPLE EXPANSION STEAM ENGINES, 2500 ihp BY THE GENERAL MACHINERY CORPORATION, HAMILTON, OHIO.
THIS SHIP WAS BUILT AS THE OCEAN VOLUNTEER FOR THE MINISTRY OF WAR TRANSPORT AND WAS MANAGED BY W. H. COCKERLINE & Co. Ltd.
DURING 1946 THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SHIP WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE ALCYONE SHIPPING FINANCE Co. Ltd. OF LONDON, BEING SOLD TO THAT COMPANY DURING 1949 AND BEING RENAMED ALCYONE UNION. BEING ACQUIRED BY THE BEN LINE IN DECEMBER 1950 AND RENAMED BENRINNES.
I JOINED THE BENRINNES AT HULL ON THE 21st OCTOBER TO TAKE HER ‘ROUND THE COAST’, WHILE HER REGULAR CREW WERE HOME ON LEAVE. THIS MEANT WE WERE TO TAKE HER TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS, DISCHARCHING THE CARGO SHE HAD BROUGHT FROM HER REGULAR VOYAGE TO THE FAR EAST.
FROM HULL WE WENT TO NORTHFLEET AT GRAVESEND IN KENT THEN ACROSS THE RIVER THAMES TO TILBURY IN ESSEX WHERE WE STARTED TO LOAD FOR THE FAR EAST AGAIN, STORING UP THE SHIP AND GETTING HER READY FOR HER CREW TO REJOIN HER.
I PAID OFF THE BENRINNES ON THE 3rd NOVEMBER 1955.
THE BENRINNES WAS SOLD FOR FURTHER TRADING IN JANUARY 1959 WHEN SHE WAS SOLD TO THE QUEENSLAND SHIPPING Co. Ltd., OF NASSAU, BAHAMAS, THE GREAT SOUTHERN STEAMSHIP Co., BEING HER MANAGERS, AND RENAMED TWINBEAR. IN 1962 SHE WAS RENAMED KUALA TREGGANU, HER OWNERS REMAINING THE SAME.
DURING JANUARY 1963 SHE ARRIVED AT OSAKA, JAPAN, FOR BREAKING UP BY THE AMAKASU SANGYO KISEN K.K.
ALL BEN LINE SHIPS ARE NAMED AFTER SCOTTISH MOUNTAINS, BENRINNES IS AN 840 FOOT MOUNTAIN IN THE GRAMPIANS, NEAR DUFFTOWN.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: THE BEN LINE BY GEORGE BLAKE.
BEN LINE BY GRAEME SOMNER.