Thanks, I spent 11 happy years in that ship, sailing up and down the South Atlantic. My cabin window is just visible in front of the lifeboat at the level of the lifeboat keel. My wife travelled with me on numeorus voyages.

Bob

It can't go on much longer, because it is now 26 years old! At the moment, sailing on one engine, and requiring a two-week drydock in Cape Town to fix it. They have now built a wharf where small ships can get alongside to load and discharge cargo. They already have a small ship called Helena, that will shortly be taking over the cargo service, and can apparently carry more cargo that the big ship, despite the fact that she is a lot smaller. Smaller aircraft can use the runway, and plans are afoot for a regular air service. Before the two St. Helenas came into service, they only had two ships, Good Hope Castle and Southampton Castle each calling at the island outward and homeward from UK to South Africa each voyage, and they only carried 12 cabin passengers each, plus 48 on deck between Ascension and St. Helena. I was in the Good Hope Castle for two years! Whilst we were away in the Falklands for 13 months, 1982/83, they chartered Centaur in to fill the gap. It will be interesting to see what happens!

Bob

Yes, They advised me about it a few days ago. Don't know why they have to spoil a pleasant sounding name by sticking MNG in front of it. I would have preferred Tahiti on its own. Still, a lot better than the indiginity of my first passenger liner, RMS Transvaal Castle, that ended up with the disgraceful name of "Big Red Boat!"

With a name like Tahiti, I would have thought it would be operating in the Pacfic, but I guess we will just have to wait and see. Their biggest problem will probably be maintenance as it is now almost 28 years old.

Here I am inside it on my final few days at sea in late 1992 – Bob

That is correct. At the moment, they are alongside in Gibraltar taking on bunkers. After that, they will be heading towards the Elbe in Germany, and after that to Portland to begin the two-year refit as a private yacht! At the moment, we have no idea who has bought it, but they apparenty paid twice as much as what it sold for in January!

Bob

I have considered building Ohio in the past, but the plans are quite vague, especially the pipework on deck.

Bob

Yes, but I have practically specialised in merchant ships for many years. I know that the Ohio was a merchant ship, but the ones that escorted her in were naval vessels of which I have liitle or no knowledge. If I did anything like that, it would be more likely to be ships like the Rochester Castle, Port Chalmers or Brisbane Star, that made it in under their own steam. Especially as I have sailed in a similar ship (Richmond Castle) of the same era to Rochester Castle, and have also sailed in a wartime ship of the Blue Star Line (Rhodesia Star). If I did build Ohio, it would be in peactime condition. I can build tankers, here is the Louisiana, a very similar ship to Ohio, and of the same era and company.

Bob

The problem is that most ship modellers who are obsessed with naval ships would not want to make a merchant ship like the Ohio. I prefer the obscure and semi obscure subjects. I can build naval ships, if I want, but I seldom want! Bob