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SS ''Gothic'' was a passenger-cargo liner launched in December 1947, though not completed until a year later. She became the most famous of the quartet when she was designated a royal yacht from 1952 to 1954.
SS ''Gothic'' was a passenger-cargo liner launched in December 1947, though not completed until a year later. She became the most famous of the quartet when she was designated a royal yacht from 1952 to 1954.
Construction and commercial service
''Gothic'' was built by Swan Hunter, Wallsend-on-Tyne, England (yard 1759), the fourth and final of the ''Corinthic''-class liners ordered by the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line in 1946. Her sister ships were , and . She was launched on 12 December 1947, completed in December 1948, and departed on her maiden voyage on 23 December 1948, sailing fromLiverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
to Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
.
The quartet joined the much larger on the UK to New Zealand service. Each ship was around and accommodated 85 first class passengers. Each had 6 large holds, with space for of cargo, of which was for refrigerated goods.
In 1969 she was sold to China Steel Corp and arrived at Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung, officially Kaohsiung City, is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural Yushan Range with an area of . Kaohsiung City has a population of approximately 2.73 million p ...
for demolition on 13 August that year.
Royal yacht
In 1952, ''Gothic'' was sent toCammell Laird
Cammell Laird is a British shipbuilding company. It was formed from the merger of Laird Brothers of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century. The company also built railway rolling stock until 1929, ...
shipyards to be refitted to become the royal yacht for a tour of Australia and New Zealand. Although the tour was cancelled due to the death of King George VI
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until Death and state funeral of George VI, his death in 1952 ...
, considerable work had already been completed and she returned in 1953 to complete the refit, which included a white-painted hull. In 1954 the Queen's visit to Australia occurred and ''Gothic'' was used for the visit. The Australian Government film ''The Queen in Australia 1954'' featured the ship in Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
on arrival and Fremantle
Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia located at the mouth of the Swan River (Western Australia), Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australi ...
on departure three months later. This visit was part of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
's coronation world tour in 1954.Citations
References
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gothic Ocean liners of Australia Royal yachts of the United Kingdom Cargo liners 1947 ships Ships built by Swan Hunter Ships of the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line