Hi.
I have just finished reading Captain Kong's visit to the "Ascension Island ".
In 1973 was working with the South African Cable Company on one of there Cable Ships on routine maintenance at Ascension.
The Southampton Castle was the last mailship to make the run for the Ocean Service Mail Contract. Her last northbound voyage commencing on 11 October 1977. Her sister ship, Good Hope Castle was involved in a serious fire about 30 miles south of the Ascencion Island in 1973,The Crew and all the passengers spent about 24 hours in lifeboats, they were all picked up by a passiing tanker and landed on Ascension. The Good Hope was salvaged. The two sister's were 180m long with GRT of 10538 tons. Service speed was 22,5 knots and they were designed to complete the mail run in 11,5 days. The sisters were both sold to Costa Crociere in 1978, Good Hope being renamed Paolo C and Southampton Castle renamed Franca C, Both were scrapped in 1984.
Have some Photo's if I can find them?
Reg.