Classic Liners from great Trans-Atlantic liners or Liners sailing the Globe and also Passenger-Cargo ships with 10 to 240 passengers

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Photograph by and © Chris Frame & Rachelle Cross, provided by Cunard Media company - ‘FleishmanHillard’

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Introduction:

Welcome to ssMaritime.com. In the past year I have managed to add some companies and individual ships to the list as well as having updated a good number of my earlier features, for believe me some of them really needed a good clean up! But for personal health reasons, sadly I am forced to slow down! Therefore, I will only update the occasional feature that is already online, when I am able, and if possible I may add a new ship now and then, but not as before. However, due to the flood of emails that arrive each day, I will no longer be able to answer any further emails!

Looking Back:

To date I have written well over 700 major Passenger and Passenger-Cargo Liners, and a good number of humble Migrant ships, many of these being converted War-Time Victory Class ships, such as the type C3 & C4 Class Vessels. Some of these ships were rebuilt into rather humble Migrant Liners, whilst others became far more modern and even glamorous Migrant Liners, such as Flotta Lauro’s TSS Roma and Sydney, as well as Sitmar’s TSS Fairsky, and these ships made significant inroads into maritime history. I hope that through the pages off ssMaritime you will discover many wonderful memories, be it for those past passengers and their relatives who may have sailed on these wonderful ships, from days of old until their demise in the late 1970s.

The author is seen aboard the MV Athena in 2011 whilst on a-

voyage from Australia to England on the classic ship built ---

in 1948 and was completely rebuilt from the hull up in 1995-

She is still sailing today as the CMC Cruises (UK) MV Astoria-

To Conclude:

I must say a very special thank you, to all ship lovers from around the world, for I have been astounded that there have been so many of you reading ssMaritime; in fact this site has now almost reached over 520.2 million readers to date from when my first site came online 23 years ago, and that, dear friends simply blows my mind! Without a doubt, the number of emails that continue to arrive each and every day certainly reflects those numbers, and as I look back to those early days when I was merely a clumsy computer hack, with some of the most awful pages and pictures, yet you were so kind for you still loved them, yet obviously those pages must have had something, mostly a good story and the details you were looking for. Please remember, that all my sites have always remained 100% non-commercial, for my purpose has been to provide wonderful memories and joy to all past passengers from around the world and those who really love passenger lines and older cruise ships! Be assured, it has been a great joy for me to present these many Classic ships, which I have been able to write about for so many years, therefore, enjoy the memories!

The ssMaritime Main Index is located Below & as well as at the Bottom of the Page and be assured that you will discover a “Ship lover’s delight” with over 700 great ships, both Liners, Migrant Ships as well as Passenger-Cargo Liners and all of these will have you reading and returning for a long to come!

Reuben Goossens - Retired.

Maritime Historian, Author, Lecturer & Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer.

Commenced in the Passenger Shipping & Cruise Industry in 1960.

Email: rg@ssmaritime.com.

You may enter the ssMaritime Main INDEX here, or discover my New & Updated Features below!

NEW & UPDATED Features

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Another NEW Feature

In 1937 & 1938 the Dutch Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij - “KPM” or the “Royal Packet Navigation Company’s” constructed three fine passenger-cargo liners being just before World War Two, these were the M.S. Boissevain, Tegelberg, and the Ruys. Amazingly these very Dutch liners, in reality hardly ever visited the Netherlands, as they were based fulltime in Asia! When built they were all white ships, with a buff funnel, with a very narrow black band atop of her funnel. As built they accommodated 82 passengers in a luxurious First Class, 72 passengers in high standards Second Class, and 500 Third Class passengers, being mostly migrants travelling to a new land.

The all white KPM combination liner, the M.S. Boissevain is seen arriving in port

They retained this livery until 1961, except during WW2, when each ship had various alterations

They all operated extended voyages from Hong Kong, Manila, Saigon, Bangkok, Singapore, Batavia, Rodriguez, Mauritius, Réunion, Tamatave, Lourenço Marques, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, and Cape Town. As well as Zanzibar, Mombasa, Mahé, Belawan Deli, Shanghai Hong Kong. Although their services did vary, but their schedules dramatically after World War 2 when they returned to commercial duties, for their schedule were greatly extended to also include South America.

In 1961/62 all three ships received extensive interior refits, as well as an exterior livery change as can be clearly seen from the photograph at the heading. There after, they sailed under the Royal Interocean Lines (RIL) banner, until their demise aged 30 years in 1968.

A fine painting of the MS Ruys after her 1962 RIL refilt

The Painting is by & © Rodar

Please Note: This feature contains 3 pages - Part 1; the KPM ships pre war years 1938 to 1942. Part 2; World War 2 services from 1942 to 1947, the commercial years from 1947 to 1968. Part 3; Brochures, Passenger schedules, Deck Plan, a Menu, and items of Memorabilia.

Enter the MS Boissevain, Tegelberg & Ruys Feature

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I am sure there will still be many who will recall the wonderful days of a voyage on one of the Elders & Fyffes passenger-banana ships T.S.S Golfito and Camito, will invoke countless romantic and seagoing memories. These ships offered a long and a memorable voyage featuring tropical nights and many wonderful ports of call, visiting some amazing Caribbean destinations, all in First Class comfort. The much-loved TSS Golfito and her slightly newer sister the TSS Camito were almost identical, and they operated on what was a popular passenger service from England to Barbados and Jamaica and return. Although bananas being their primary business on their return voyage to the U.K., they also transported other fruits. Whilst sailing to the Caribbean, general cargo was carried in their four holds.

An excellent stern view of the TSS Camito

This is their story, as well as an introduction to Elders & Fyffes Ltd beginnings and some of their earlier ships. I am sure there will still be many who will recall the wonderful days of a voyage on one of the Elders & Fyffes passenger-banana ships T.S.S Golfito and Camito, will invoke countless romantic and seagoing memories. These ships offered a long and a memorable voyage featuring tropical nights and many wonderful ports of call, visiting some amazing Caribbean destinations, all in First Class comfort. The much-loved TSS Golfito and her slightly newer sister the TSS Camito were almost identical, and they operated on what was a popular passenger service from England to Barbados and Jamaica and return. Although bananas being their primary business on their return voyage to the U.K., they also transported other fruits. Whilst sailing to the Caribbean, general cargo was carried in their four holds.

This is their story, as well as an introduction to Elders & Fyffes Ltd beginnings and some of their earlier ships.

Enter the TSS Golfito & Camito Feature

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NEW Feature

R.M.S. Carinthia II

A fine photograph of RMS Carinthia arriving in Sydney during her 1933 world cruise

RMS Carinthia was Cunard’s second ship to use this name, although the first SS Carinthia was a 5,598 GRT (Gross Registered Tons) freighter, which was in service from 1895 to 1900. Thankfully, this superb was again used for two later Passengers Liners, the first of these being completed in 1925 and the second in 1956.

RMS Carinthia operated as a Trans-Atlantic liner from Liverpool to New York, and later from London to New York during the warmer months of the year, whilst during the cold months she became a fine cruise ship, and operated a variety of cruises, as well as a long around the world cruise calling at some 40 ports of call. In 1935 she was painted all white which proved to be a suitable livery for cruising and she also looked very pleasing.

In 1939 she was refitted to become an Armed Merchant Cruiser, and the HMS Carinthia was stuck by a torpodoe from a German U-Boat, which saw her sink the next day. Read her interesting story and the many photographs, including those of SS Carinthia I and RMS Carinthia III.

Enter the RMS Carinthia II Feature

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A New Three Part Feature

SS Campana & T/v Irpinia

The French passenger liner, SS Campana was constructed by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK for Société Générale de Transport Maritimes (SGTM) in 1929. With this comfortable three-class liner having been completed she had an interesting career for 25½ years, operating mostly on the Marseille to South America service. She carried both, First Class passengers in sheer luxury, and Second Class in excellent comfort, whilst migrants to a new homeland resided in the rather basic Third Class section which had many dormitories, and just a few cabins.

The SGTM liner SS Campana

Although SS Campana did have an intermission for several years during WW2 when she remained in the Argentines for safety sake, however, was used by the Argentine Government under the name of Rio Jachal, operating return services between Buenos Aires and New York. Upon her return to SGTM she returned to her regular duties.

However, in due course with the arrival of new liners being built by the company it was decided in 1955 to place her on the market and she was quickly purchased.

An Italian company, Grimaldi Sicula Oceanica, who operated the ‘Grimaldi Siosa Lines,’ obtained the SS Campana and renamed her T/v Irpinia, and she headed for Italy. There she received an overall refit and a partial reconstruction. Her two her tall main masts were removed, as well as her aft decks being extended aft. In addition, she was given a new raked bow as well as being refurbished. Upon completion in 1955, she was placed on the Naples and Genoa to the Caribbean service.

The turbine steam ship T/v Irpinia seen after her 1955 refit

T/v Irpinia also proved a most popular cruise ship operating around the Mediterranean, thus in 1962 Grimaldi Siosa Lines decided to do some amazing constructions on her, as well as giving her an completely new interior, with 14 fine public venues, and many more cabins with private facilities! Externally, she became a more modern and a stylish looking ship with a new fashionable single funnel and a new tall signal, radar mast atop her Bridge and other streamlining along her decks, as well as enclosing one of a huge lounge aft on Lido (promenade) Deck. She now had two beautifully appointed classes, each having its own swimming pool. In addition, her old steam turbine engines were removed and brand new Fiat diesel engines were installed, giving her a superior speed.

The excellent and popular liner and cruise ship the motor ship, M/v Irpinia is seen after 1962

Enter Part One of the 3 page … SS Campana & T/v Irpinia Feature

Part Three has 2 T/v & M/v Irpinia Deck Plans, brochures and memorabilia

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A Fully Updated Feature with 2 New Pages Added

Flags of the Netherlands & Royal Rotterdam Lloyd

August 2017: In mid July, I received a wonderful story from a daughter, who was born in Australia, but her Mum, Father and Baby brother sailed on the M.S. Sibajak from Rotterdam on May 17, 1958. If you have read Page Three, you will have noted that I also was on this voyage, was bound for Wellington New Zealand, whilst Family Salden-Van Mulken was heading to Melbourne Australia. Of course the story regarding my voyage can be found on the Sibajak Index at the bottom of the page.

This is a delightfully written and a comprehensive story regarding the family departing their hometown down the south east of Holland travelling by bus to Rotterdam, and then comes a comprehensive description of the voyage, with personal photographs of the families’ voyage to Melbourne.

Family photographs taken out on Deck and during the Crossing the Equator Ceremony

The story of the voyage was written, by (the now late) Mrs. Mia Van Mulken, and it is a beautifully told story that includes all of the ports of call. She brings the voyage back to life with her remarkable descriptions. Included are full colour brochures in Dutch, which can be enlarged, as well as a four-page Royal Rotterdam Lloyd Instruction letter re their voyage, etc, this letter is located on Part Two, which has yet another brochure and some further photographs.

An aerial photograph of the M.S. Sibajak seen at Sea sailing at full speed bound for Australia

For interest, I have also updated all the other M.S. Sibajak pages to make them suitable for Google Chrome and some other search engines, but if you have problems, just head for good old Google!

Enter the Family Salden-Van Mulken Story - HERE

Or: www.ssmaritime.com/Sibajak-SaldenVanMulken-family.htm

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New Feature ~ Anchor Line

A Trio Identical Sisters Built 10 Years Apart

RMS Circassia (III) 1937 - RMS Cilicia 1938

& RMS Caledonia (V) 1948

R.M.S. Circassia (III) the first of the identical trio of ships built in 1937

The first two of these three ships, RMS Circassia and Cilicia were built pre-WW2, and both served on their dedicated passenger service from Liverpool sailing via Gibraltar, Port Said, Aden, Karachi to Bombay, India and return. However within two years both ships were commissioned to enter the war and they served well in various guises. They returned to their passenger services having received a comprehensive refit. Then 10 years after the Circassia had been built the third of the trio was completed, the RMS Caledonia and these ships had a fine career and they were greatly loved for their luxurious public venues, excellent accommodations, fine service and their superb catering in the Dining Room.

Enter the Anchor Line Feature

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I trust that the above new and updated feature above will be greatly enjoyed as they it has many new and/or larger photographs; in addition I have added new details to some of its and added additional details where applicable!

Reuben Goossens.

Enter our … ssMaritime Main INDEX

Where you will discover over 700 Classic Passenger & Passenger-Cargo Liners!

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Visit the Following Special Maritime Sites

Visit the author’s cruise pages

www.cruise-australia.com

Also visit Maritime Links & our Maritime Art pages!

“Blue Water Liners sailing to the distant shores.
I watched them come, I watched them go, and I watched them die.”

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

Where the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos Story

Please Note: ssmaritime and associated sites are 100% non-commercial and the author has never sought funding or favours, never have and never will!

Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are either by the author or from the author’s private collection. In addition, some images and photographs that have been provided by Shipping Companies or private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors however, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer or owner concerned. Therefore, I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address can be found on www.ssmaritime.com) in order that due credit may be given.