Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Anchor Line announce the withdrawal of their U.K. to Aden, Karachi and Bombay passenger service

   The crews of Anchor Line ships were astonished when the company announced

that their passenger sailings from Liverpool to Karachi and Bombay are to be discontinued early next year.

A spokesman for the long established Glasgow-based company

said that although the service had been operating between India

  and the U.K. for more than 100 years the decision had been taken

because the ships employed on the routes had reached an age

when their replacement had become necessary if the service

was to continue.

 “The volume of passenger traffic over the route is not enough

to justify the high capital cost of passenger tonnage.

   The regular cargo service from Glasgow and Liverpool to

Aden, Karachi and Bombay will be maintained.

   A North Atlantic cargo service the company operates jointly

with Cunard between London, Glasgow and New York was not

affected and would continue.

   The three passenger ships –  CILICIA, built in 1938, CIRCASSIA

in 1937 and CALEDONIA, 1948, will be withdrawn after

completing scheduled homeward voyages by March 1966.”  

   These vessels - well known and instantly recognisable on the

service – are all products of the Fairfield Shipbuilding

& Engineering Co. Ltd. of Govan, Glasgow. 

  CILICIA and CIRCASSIA will be scrapped and CALEDONIA

will be sold.

   About 50 shore staff and the crews of the three ships will be

made redundant.