February’s unknown ship brought many replies but only a few identified her as the Katha.

D Frost writes:

The ship is Elder Dempster/P.Henderson’s one of 3 sister ships, Kaladan, (slightly different), Kalena, Katha or Kanbe all built by Lithgows in 1947.

Peter Sommerville writes: I think this months ship is one of three built for P. (Paddy) Henderson (British & Burmese Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.) by William Lithgows Ltd. of Port Glasgow in 1946/47 known as the ‘Kalewa’ class. There was a fourth ship in this class, the Kaladan built a few years later but had a flying bridge above the wheelhouse which excludes her from the line up. The Kalewa, Katha and Kanbe are the three ships in question which were acquired by Elder Dempster in 1952 and sold out the fleet in 1962/63. I am not certain which one is the ship in question but after looking at photographs of all three I will opt for the Katha (4,878 grt), launched September 1947 which did one voyage to India before being chartered to Elder Dempster on the West Africa run. In 1962 she broke down on a voyage to West Africa and was taken in tow and soon after sold becoming the Monrovia flagged Integrity and finally the Panama flagged United Carrier in 1977 before being broken up at Gadani Beach Pakistan in 1978.

Alan Dean writes:

The vessel is the mv Katha of Paddy Henderson after being taken over by Elder Dempster Lines in 1952. She was one of four near identical sisters built by Lithgows between 1947 and 1950. Kalatan was completed with the bridge slightly too low and can be identified by having an additional timber-framed extra bridge. Kalewa and Kanbe both had ventilators in front of the funnel which reached about three-quarters of the way up, but Katha’s were slighly lower. I sailed in both Kaladan and Kalewa in 1955 and was on Kentung (not a sister) on her maiden voyage in 1954.

Alan Blackwood writes:

This month’s ‘unknown’ is the 4,878 grt single screw shelter decker Katha. The second of four essentially identical ‘Kalewa’ class vessels constructed as war replacements by Lithgows Ltd. of Port Glasgow to the order of P. Henderson & Co., Katha was completed during November 1947 when registered at Glasgow to the ownership of the British & Burmese Steam Navigation Company and P. Henderson & Co. as managers. Following her maiden voyage to Indian & Burmese ports, she was placed on charter with Elder Dempster Lines Ltd. for operations to West Africa. Indeed as she proved to be eminently suited to the trade, her three sisters, as they became available, were also taken up for charter with the company. Whilst retaining Paddy Henderson’s black hulls, red boot topping separated by a thin white at the waterline, their funnels were repainted in E.D. yellow and thereafter flew P.Henderson’s houseflag at the mainmast truck and Elder Dempster’s at the fore truck. With overall dimensions of 446’6″ x 56’2″x 36’10” (moulded depth) and a maximum summer draft of 24’10” (s/dk. open), Katha’s propulsion machinery consisted of a 3 cylinder opposed piston 2 stroke single acting Doxford type oil engine of 2,400 bhp constructed by David Rowan & Co. of Glasgow to return a speed of 10.5 knots.

On 30th January 1952 Elder Dempster Holdings Ltd. acquired the entire shareholding of the British & Burmese Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. together with their fleet of 15 ships, all of which however would remain in the registered ownership of the autonomous Glasgow Company. Those vessels employed on the Burma trade would continue under Henderson management (retaining Henderson’s hull and funnel colours), but all others were transferred to that of Elder Dempster Lines for full integration to the West African trade schedules.

On 23rd January 1962 Katha’s main engine became disabled whilst on a homewards voyage from West Africa, necessitating her being taken in tow by E.Ds 1961 built Deido as far as the River Tagus estuary, when taken over by Lisbon tugs for berthing at the port. The vessel was put up for sale on an ‘as is’ basis and acquired by the Compania de Nav. Ira S.A. of Liberia when renamed Integrity, registered at Monrovia and remeasured at 4,883 grt. During December 1970 her shelter deck was closed, increasing gross tonnage to 7,058, permitting a revised summer draft of 26’8″. She was sold to Osborne Maritime Corporation Inc. of Panama during 1977 when renamed United Carrier and registered at Panama. During 1978 she was sold on to Sohail Breakers Ltd. and departed Karachi on 30th June to Gadani Beach, with demolition completed in 10 days during August of that year.

Peter Harris writes:

She is one of six near sisters built 47-50 4,876grt by Wm. Denny and Lithgows for Paddy Henderson.The Burmah Boats. She is carrying a yellow funnel as the Company was taken over by Elder Dempster in1952. Martaban and Yoma can be ruled out as they had accomodation running along No. 3 hatch whereas other four had a complete split superstructure. So that leaves Kaladan, Kambe, Katha and Kalewa. Looking at the bridge and island deckhouse I am going to say she is the Kalewa. She was sold in 1968 as Sincerity and scrapped in 1977.

Mike Goadby writes:

This months unknown ship is the 4,878 grt M/V Kenbe built by Lithgows, Port Glasgow, east yard in 1948 for Henderson Line. She was launched on the 26th December 1947 and completed in April 1948. She was fitted with a Doxford type 2SCSA engine of 2400 BHP which gave her a speed of 11 knots. She was sold along with her sister ship Katha to Tuiller, a major Switzerland based ship owner and renamed Loyalty and Integrity respectively. She arrived in Shanghai on the 6th February 1972 to be broken up. Her sister ship was sold to Gulf Shipping and renamed United Carrier and used for lightening bulk carriers off Chittagong and was scrapped in 1978.

John Jordan writes:

In 1947 P. Henderson of British and Burmese Company decided to open a route to West Africa. They built a few ‘K’ class ships at Lithgows in 1947/48. They were MVs Kalewa, Katha, and Kanbe. They were taken over in 1952 by Elder Dempster and in 1962/63 were sold off to Panamanian and Liberian interests.

I think the ship depicted is MV Kalewa, taken over by EDs in 1952 and sold to Panamanian interests and renamed MV Sincerity. Ships running to WA had Buff Funnels instead of the usual Henderson black. Kalewa was around 4,900 tons and had 11.5 knots on Doxford Diesels.

John Livingstone writes:

I do not know but will make a wild guess for Lyle’s 1943 built Cape Grafton.

Ray Purdy writes: I think February’s unknown ship is the Kanbe. Built at Lithgows Ltd., Port Glasgow for British & Burmese Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. ( Paddy Henderson’s) in 1948. Ono. 182086 / GRT 4,878 / Net 2,851 / length 446.5 ft / beam 56.2 ft. / Max speed 11 knots. I see she has a yellow funnel so was probably trading down West Africa, otherwise it would have been black. Change of name to Loyalty and owner to Cia de Nav Ira SA 1962. Taken to Shanghai for breaking up 6th February 1974.

John Tippett writes: I think the Febuary unknown ship is the Kanbe of British & Burmese S.N. Co., built in 1948, taken over by Elder Dempster when they aquired the fleet in 1952. In 1962 she was sold to Liberia and renamed loyalty.