The Ayrshire Dockyard Co Ltd of Irvine, Ayrshire, built a class of six sister ships for Clan Line. Clan Macnab was launched in 1921 and gave her name to the class.[1]Clan Macnair, Clan Macnaughton and Clan Macneil were launched in 1921, ClanMacfarlane was launched in 1922 and Clan Macfadyen was launched in 1923.[2]
Clan Macneil was launched on 1 December 1921, completed in February 1922 and passed her sea trials on 14 February.[3]
Clan Macneil was 410 ft 6 in (125.12 m) long, had a beam of 53.3 ft (16.25 m) and draught of 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m). Her tonnages were 6,111 GRT and 3,788 NRT.[4]
Clan Line operated cargo liner services between Britain, India, South Africa and East Africa,[6] and also Australia and the USA.[7]
On 8 August 1937 Clan Macneil collided with the Belgiancargo shipPrincess Marie Jose in the North Sea off Dunkirk, France. Five of Princess Marie Jose's passengers were seriously injured.[3]Princess Marie Jose beached herself there to avoid sinking, and was refloated on 10 August.[8]
The UK Government requisitioned Clan Macneil on 23 March 1940. The Ministry of War Transport returned her to her owners on 11 MArch 1946.[3] Of the six Clan Macnab-class ships, she was one of only two that survived the Second World War.[1]
Clan Macneil arrived in Port Glasgow on 1 May 1952[3] to be scrapped by Smith and Houston.[9] Demolition work started the next day.[3]
^"Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 47760. London. 11 August 1937. col F-G, p. 6.
^"Clan Macneil". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
Bibliography
Clarkson, John; Fenton, Roy; Munro, Archie (2007). Clan Line Illustrated Fleet History. Preston: Ships in Focus. ISBN978-1-901703-47-4.
Harnack, Edwin P (1938) [1903]. All About Ships & Shipping (7th ed.). London: Faber and Faber.
Jordan, Roger (1999). The World's Merchant Fleets: 1939. The Particulars and Wartime Fates of 6,000 Ships. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN1-86176-023-X.
Talbot-Booth, EC (1936). Ships and the Sea (Third ed.). London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd.