Bronze Age Gold from Wales

¾ Starboard bow view of M.V. ST. ESSYLT.

After the Second World War, Richard Street ordered two new cargo liners to reinstate the service to South America. The first of these was the St Essylt, a 6,855 gross ton motor vessel, completed at Sunderland in 1948. These vessels were of revolutionary design and very modern appearance, and were considered to be the finest cargo vessels of their size in the British merchant fleet. Two further vessels of similar design were acquired in 1954 and 1961, but Richard Street's sudden death in that year led to the premature demise of the venture. (Source: Shipping at Cardiff: Photographs from the Hansen Collection 1920-1975 by David Jenkins, 1993).

M.V. ST ESSYLT (6855 gt). Built 1948 by J.L. Thompson & Sons, Sunderland for the South American Saint Line. She had first class accomodation for twelve passengers. 1965 – Sold to China Navigation Co. (John Swire & Sons Ltd), Singapore, and renamed YUNNAN. 1971 – Sold to New Asia Steamship Co., Panama, and renamed LUCKY TWO. She was broken up at Kaoshiung in 1979.