By Sea to Mombasa

	By Sea To Mombasa
Although there were several shipping lines operating between Europe and Mombasa in the 1950s and early 1960s, the two most prominent were Union Castle (British and Commonwealth Shipping) and British India Steam Navigation Company - later taken over by P&O. The three Union Castle ships were one class - unlike BI which carried First Class and Tourist.
	Union Castle Mail Steamship Co Ltd

MV BRAEMAR CASTLE departing Dar-es-Salaam. On the starboard yardarm (superior to the Royal Mail pendant) she is displaying Flag Hotel - "I have a pilot on board" while on the port yardarm she shows Flag Quebec - "My vessel is healthy and I require free pratique ". - PHOTO Bill Reeves

MV KENYA CASTLE loading at Kilindini. Like the BRAEMAR CASTLE and the RHODESIA CASTLE, this was a one class ship. Union Castle pioneered one class ships with the custom built BLOMFONTEIN CASTLE built for the South African run by Harland and Wolfe, Belfast, in 1950. PHOTOS - Ron Bullock
	mv BRAEMAR CASTLE (above) There were three sister ships operating between London and Dar-es-Salaam in 1962: the BRAEMAR CASTLE, KENYA CASTLE and the RHODESIA CASTLE. PHOTOs Contemporary Union Castle Publicity Material
	KENYA CASTLE in Kilindi Harbour, Mombasa (left) and at Dar-es-Salaam (right) PHOTOs Contemporary Union Castle Publicity Material
	KENYA CASTLE at Dar-es-Salaam (left) and an unidentified liner at Durban (right). Durban was the southern terminal for Union Castle and BI ships working the East African coast via Suez PHOTOs - Union Castle
	BRAEMAR CASTLE at sea in 1954 prior to modernisation refit (left) PHOTO Ron Bullock. BRAEMAR CASTLE (right) in 1962 after the extensive re-fit to a one-class ship. While changes to the after deck and main mast are apparent, the most obvious change was to the funnel. PHOTO Malcolm McCrow

BRAEMAR CASTLE at Aden (above) PHOTO - Malcolm McCrow.		KENYACASTLE shares Dar-es-Salaam Harbour with the British cruiser HMS CEYLON - PHOTO Ron Bullock. Dar-es-Salaam means "haven of peace".
BRAEMAR CASTLE (centre) with International Signal flag P (Blue Peter) on the yard indicating that she is preparing to depart - even although the cranes are still working the holds. Kilindini, Mombasa in October 1962. She routed via Aden, Port Suez, Port Said, Genoa, Marsailles and Gibraltar to London, arriving in King George V Dock on a dark November's morning.
	Double and Single air conditioned cabins on A Deck. PHOTOs Contemporary Union Castle Publicity Material
	The Dining Room (left) - much less grand than the First Class Dining Room of BI's ss KENYA and ss UGANDA. The Lounge (right) PHOTOs Contemporary Union Castle Publicity Material
	The swimming pool PHOTOs Contemporary Union Castle Publicity Material
	British India Steam Navigation Company
	The ss KENYA alongside No1 Wharf, Kilindini (left ) - PHOTO Len Young. The ss UGANDA (right) - - in the white hulled paint scheme which was introduced in the mid-50s. The UGANDA had a higher funnel than the KENYA because there had been complaints about soot on the after deck of the KENYA when she entered service. PHOTO Contemporary BI Publicity Material
	The fo'c's'le (left) of one of the BI "M" class ships, MULBERA, which together with MODASA was on the East African run prior to the introduction of the KENYA and the UGANDA. The ss UGANDA on her maiden voyage at Kilindini in the original black hulled livery prior to 1955 (right). PHOTOs - Ron Bullock

BI's ss KAMPALA astern of the KENYA CASTLE in Kilindini in 1954. PHOTOS - Ron Bullock
	Port Said in 1954. PHOTOs - Ron Bullock
	The well-remembered "cats" which weaved out from the shore to allow passengers to walk out to the ships. Bum boats with an endless variety of goods - but caveat emptor! (buyer, beware!) PHOTOs RON BULLOCK.

Two shots of MULBERA - at sea and alongside at Port Sudan in the late 40s PHOTO Kevin Patience

In the 70s the ss UGANDA was a regular, if not frequent, visitor to the River Tay. Originally operated with the ss KENYA between London and East Africa via Suez, she had been converted to accommodate school pupils in RN-like messdecks. But the fare-paying passengers had roomy cabins and access to the original lounges and first class dining room. Several school cruises originated and/or terminated at Dundee where she is seen departing on a cruise to the Baltic. PHOTO Malcolm McCrow
	The ss UGANDA in the 1970s after being refitted as a Schools Cruise Ship (left) by which time she had passed to P&O but retained her familiar BI colour scheme. PHOTO P&O. The ss UGANDA in her penultimate guise as a hospital ship in the Falklands War. PHOTOs Contemporary P&O Publicity Material and UK Ministry of Defence.
	East Africa 50 Years Ago	If you are particularly interested in the SS UGANDA you may like to visit Ashley's SS UGANDA Log