Official No: 145979
Builder: A & J Inglis Ltd., Pointhouse
Launched: 5 October 1922
Into Service: February 1939
Out of service: 1945
Fate: Broken up 25 July 1955
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of a group of additional ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 to augment the ships of the RFA
Career Data:
22 August 1922 launched by A & J Inglis Ltd., Pointhouse as Yard Nr: 607 and named AYRSHIRE COAST for Coast Lines Ltd., Liverpool
4 October 1922 sailed on Builders trials
5 October 1922 completed – sister to Cambrian Coat (q.v)
1923 transferred to Burns & Laird Lines Ltd., Glasgow and renamed SPANIEL
1925 returned to Coast Lines Ltd., and name reverted to Ayrshire Coast
1 April 1926 arrived City Docks, Bristol from Liverpool
22 April 1926 arrived Avonmouth Docks from Liverpool
February 1939 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a Stores Carrier – name unchanged
8 November 1942 sailed Kirkwall in unescorted convoy WN358 to Methil arriving the next day. RFA OLIGARCH also sailed in this convoy
16 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS CEYLON off loading ammunition to the Cruiser
HMS CEYLON
1945 returned to her owners – name unchanged
1947 transferred to Belfast Steamship Co Ltd., Belfast and renamed ULSTER MARINER
27 July 1955 arrived Passage West for demolition by Haulbowline Industries Ltd
Notes:
The Coast Lines Group was originally formed in 1913 and consisted of a large group of Companies which were brought together in subsequent years. Transfers of ships between the constituent members were quite common after 1920 and Coast Lines retained all the previous Company names. Some of these were as follows with year of acquisition; British & Irish Steam Packet Co Ltd in 1917; City of Dublin Steamship Co Ltd, City of Cork Steamship Co Ltd and Belfast Steamship Co Ltd in 1918/19;
Burns & Laird Lines Ltd in 1922; British Channel Islands Shipping Co Ltd in 1937 and Tyne-Tees Steamship Co Ltd in 1943