RV-Pandaw(1947)

History of the Pandaw

The vessel that would one day bear the name Pandaw was one of the six boats commissioned after WWII, with the same design of the pre-war IFC vessels, for the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. After the Second World War ended in 1945 and the British returned to Burma (now reverted to the original Burmese name Myanmar), it was understood that the country would gain her independence soon and that the IFC and other British-owned enterprises like timber and oil would be nationalised.

The vessels were commissioned in 1947 to the famous Yarrow & Co. shipyard on the river Clyde of Glasgow, at a period of time when Scotland was the greatest shipbuilding name in the world. Then, the expression 'Clydebuilt' was synonymous with shipbuilding excellence.

The ship was boarded up to be protected from sea waves and she sailed for Rangoon (now reverted to the original Burmese name Yangon) in 1950. By that time, Burma has been independent for four years and the IFC has been nationalised and turned into the Inland Water Transport Board. Many ex-flotilla men, but no British, continued serving on their beloved ships.

Irawaddy Princess

Address  :  10,Tha Zin Rd , AHLONE , YANGON
Phone    :   (01) 22-5377

Shwe Keein Nayee

Shwe Kainnayi (Mandalay-Bagan)

Inland Water Transport, Mandalay.
Tel : (02) 36035

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