Design and Construction (1951):

Elder Dempster Lines was one of the major shipping lines serving West Africa. In their heyday as well as operating many cargo ships they operated three liners (the Aureol, Accra and Apapa) on scheduled services from Liverpool to Ghana and Nigeria.

The Aureol was launched on the 28^th March 1951. She is named after the large mountain which rises up behind the city of Freetown in Sierra Leone.

The Elder Dempster Lines Era (1951 – 1974):

The Aureol sailed on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Lagos on the 15^th October 1951. She was the largest passenger ship built for Elder Dempster Lines. Her curved bow, terraced superstructure, tripod mast and cruiser spoon stern made her one of the handsomest ships of the day, drawing comparisons to the Caronia of 1948. For the next 21 years she plied between Liverpool and Lagos. In 1972 Elder Dempster sent the Aureol to sail out of Southampton instead. She sailed on her first voyage from Southampton to Lagos on the 26^th April 1972. Sadly by the mid 1970s the winds of change were sweeping through Africa and also air travel was impacting on ocean travel. She arrived in Southampton for the last time on the 14^th October 1974.

The Latsis Era (1974 – 2001):

After being retired from Elder Dempster Lines the Aureol was sold to the Latsis family’s Marianna Shipping of Panama and arrived in Piraeus for refitting in November 1974. In June 1974 she was renamed Marianna VI and used as an office and leisure centre for Petrola Int. S.A. Construction Company in Jeddah. She was replaced by Margarita L. (former RMS Windsor Castle) in February 1979 and then laid up in Jeddah. From 1989 she was laid up in Eleusis Bay, Greece where she remained until sold for scrap in 2001.

Her Final Months (2001):

In 2001 despite being in remarkably intact condition after so many years laid up, the former Aureol was sold for scrap and was towed to Alang, India arriving there in June 2001.