Documents relating to the Union-Castle Line vessels ARUNDEL CASTLE (1921), GOOD HOPE CASTLE ex EMPIRE LIFE (1945), DRAKENSBERG CASTLE ex EMPIRE ALLENBY (1945) and BLOEMFONTEIN CASTLE (1950).

Box 1
Passenger/cargo liner ARUNDEL CASTLE (1921): Lloyd's Proving House certificates for the testing of anchors, chain cables and shackles, 1918-1957. Panama Canal Tonnage Certificate, issued 1 December 1937. Passenger and Safety Certificates, issued 23 October 1942 and 8 June 1944. International Load Line Certificate, issued 10 October 1955. Lloyd's Register of Shipping certificates for the testing of steam superheater elements and a pump casing by their manufacturers, 1956.

Box 2
Cargo liner GOOD HOPE CASTLE ex EMPIRE LIFE (1945): Lloyd's Proving House certificates for the testing of anchors, chain cables and shackles, 1944-1946. Lloyd's Register of Shipping survey of hull, boilers and machinery certificates (including midship section), 1944-1959. Handwritten copies of tonnage certificates for Suez and Panama Canals, issued 2 May 1945. Suez Canal Special Tonnage Certificate, issued 29 May 1952.

Cargo liner DRAKENSBERG CASTLE ex EMPIRE ALLENBY (1945): Lloyd's Proving House certificates for the testing of anchors, chain cables and shackles, 1944-1946. Lloyd's Register of Shipping survey of hull, boilers and machinery certificates, 1945-1959. Ministry of War Transport certificate regarding Regulation 47BB, issued 19 June 1945. Panama Canal Tonnage Certificate and Suez Canal Special Tonnage Certificate, issued 28 May 1953.

Box 3
Passenger liner BLOEMFONTEIN CASTLE (1950): Lloyd's Proving House certificates for the testing of anchors, chain cables and shackles, 1949-1952. Lloyd's Register of Shipping survey of hull, boilers and machinery certificates, 1949-1959. Suez Canal Special Tonnage Certificate, issued 6 April 1950. Staff Commander's file of information for different emergency muster stations on the PENDENNIS CASTLE (1958).

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Administrative / biographical background
During this period the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co Ltd was managed by Cayzer, Irvine & Co Ltd and formed part of the British & Commonwealth Shipping Co Ltd.