Napoli 1948-71, ex Araybank 1940, sunk off Crete 1941, salvaged 1947, at Melbourne 15th May 1949

This vessel started life as a Bank Line ship – the ARAYBANK built in 1940. Hardly recognizable here after a massive rebuild when she was turned into the Italian emigrant ship – NAPOLI.

7 months after she was launched WW2 was raging, and she was sunk at Suda Bay in Crete when discharging military stores. After the war, Achille Lauro of Italy purchased the wreck which was towed to Genoa, and fitted with a 9 cylinder engine. Accommodation was added for 650 passengers. She served on the Australian route, before switching to the central American and Caribbean services for a further 20 years from 1951 to 1971.

Photo courtesy of Malcolm Cranfield

ERNEBANK

WEIRBANK

The 12th vessel delivered from the 21 ship order commenced in 1957 at Wm Doxford’s. She entered service in 1961 and was sold in 1978. Badly damaged and scrapped after a collision in 1980.

Articles about the ” Engine Room”

Click on the link below

https://bankline.wordpress.com/the-engine-room/

The ” Fish ” class vessels…

In order, the ROACHBANK,

PIKEBANK,

DACEBANK,

RUDDBANK,

TROUTBANK

and TENCHBANK.

Built by Sunderland Shipbuilders all in 1979. for the USA to S. Africa trade

1960 WILLOWBANK

Images courtesy of Sunderland Shipbuilders

LINDENBANK

LINDENBANK passing Portishead on 24th May 1968 Photo credit Malcolm Cranfield

Wrecked on Fanning Island on 17th August 1975

SHIP PARADE

Click on the link for 2022 calendar ship parade

https://bankline.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/blol_2022.pdf

Isle of Arran

This sailing vessel was purchased back in 1895 when Andrew Weir was building up the fleet rapidly. She gave a remarkable 20 years in service before falling victim to a U-boat in WW1.

Bank Line Magazine extracts – profiles of senior men.

http://banklineonline.com/profiles/

These are fascinating accounts of the lives of the old timers from earlier Bank Line days……(click on the link above to read through them…)

ROWANBANK

Arriving Rotterdam 15.5.75

Photo courtesy of Malcolm Cranfield

HAZELBANK

HAZELBANK