by northeast » Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:48 am
Sean, a very helpful observation which proves we did not look closely enough at this trio of vessels .... the two inside seem to be part-completed cargo vessels, there is a flat section in the centre one (just below the forward funnel of the white ship) which may be the base for her bridge structure. The inner one looks rather 'worn' so may be a repair job.
As for the white ship, she is clearly a merchant passenger ship with an unusual accomm extension forward of her bridge maybe covering what was her forward hold, depicted by the line of windows. Certainly not a product of this yard, so must be some post-war refit perhaps combined with adding this extension? The closely spaced funnels are unusual .... I am thinking of maybe a stranger from Canadian or Australasian waters, must look to the books!