TSS Camito facts for kids
TSS Camito c. 1956
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | TSS Camito |
| Owner | Fyffes Line |
| Operator | Fyffes Line |
| Route | Southampton or Avonmouth in England to Barbados, Trinidad and up to 5 ports in Jamaica (Kingston, Port Antonio, Montego Bay, Oracabessa and Bowdin) |
| Builder | Alexander Stephen & Sons, Glasgow, |
| Launched | 27 March 1956 |
| Identification | IMO number: 5059173 |
| Fate | Scrapped 1973 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger-cargo ship/Banana boat |
| Tonnage | 8,687 GRT |
| Length | 448 feet |
| Speed | 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
The TSS Camito was a special kind of ship. It was known as a "banana boat" because it carried lots of bananas. But it also carried people! This ship belonged to the Fyffes Line company. It was a big ship, weighing 8,687 tons. The Camito was actually the second ship to have this name.
Contents
Building and End of Service
The Camito was built in 1956. It was made by a company called Alexander Stephen and Sons. Their shipyard was in Glasgow, Scotland. The ship served for many years. In 1973, it was taken apart for scrap metal in Taiwan.
What Was Inside the Ship?
The Camito had three decks for passengers. These decks had cabins for 96 people. These were first-class passengers. There were also common rooms for people to relax. And there were open areas on the deck.
Carrying Bananas
The ship was also designed to carry a lot of fruit. It had four large refrigerated cargo holds. Two were at the front and two were at the back. These holds could carry 140,000 "stems" of bananas. That's about 1,750 tons of bananas!
What Did the Ship Carry?
The main job of the Camito was to trade goods. When it left England, it carried general cargo. This was mostly British-made products. When it came back, it was full of bananas.
Where Did the Ship Travel?
The Camito usually made trips that lasted 4 to 5 weeks. It started its journey from Southampton in England. Sometimes it left from Avonmouth.
Ports of Call
The ship would first go to Trinidad. This was to refuel. Then it would visit up to five different ports in Jamaica:
- Kingston
- Port Antonio
- Montego Bay
- Oracabessa
- Bowden
The ship always started its Jamaican journey in Kingston. It always finished loading in Port Antonio. Port Antonio was special because the ship could dock right next to the land.
Loading Bananas
At other Jamaican ports, things were different. The ship would anchor in the bay. Smaller boats, called lighters, would bring the bananas. These lighters were rowed by one person. The bananas were loaded onto the Camito through special doors in the side of the ship. Loading bananas happened all day and all night!
Sister Ship: TSS Golfito
The Camito had a sister ship. It was called the TSS Golfito. The Golfito was older. But it looked very similar to the Camito. Together, these two ships offered a regular service. They sailed every two weeks. They traveled between Southampton and the West Indies.
What Does TSS Mean?
When the Camito was new, its full name was TSS Camito. The "TSS" stands for "Twin Screw Ship." This means it had two propellers. These propellers helped the ship move through the water. This was the official name from its owners, Fyffes. Sometimes people just called it "SS" for "Steam Ship."
