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With
Reuben Goossens
Maritime
Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer, Author &
Lecturer
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Note: All ssmaritime and my other related ssmaritime sites are
100% non-commercial and privately owned sites. Be assured that I
am NOT associated with any cruise or shipping companies or
travel/cruise agencies or any other organisations! The author has
been in the passenger shipping industry since May 1960 and is now
semi-retired, but continues to write article on classic liners
and cruise ships in order to better inform cruise and ship
enthusiasts for their pleasure!
In
the late 1940’s the Turkish Maritime Lines decided to order
two new ships, however in contrast to their more recent additions
to the their fleet, considering their last three ships had all
been obtained from the United States, this time these two ships
would to be new ships and were built by Italian Ship builder;
S.A. Ansaldo in Genoa. In addition, these fine ships were also
especially designed to the companies own design and layout, a
trend that their future ships would follow, although being
constantly updated and enlarged upon.
A
generic colour postcard of the SS Samsun and
From
the author’s private collection
The
first to be built was SS Iskenderun at 6,570-tons. She was the
first of the pair of sisters and was completed late in 1950. She
was followed in 1951 by SS Samsun which was registered at a
slightly lesser tonnage of 6,543-tons.
Classes:
Both ships had accommodations for 25 passengers in deluxe suites
and 71 in First Class cabins, being a total of 96 passengers in
First Class, in addition there were 320 (330 on SS Samsun) in
Tourist Class, although when built, they were three class ships,
but this was soon altered to two classes.
Public Facilities: All First Class
public rooms were located on A (Weather, or Promenade Deck), with
the Dining Room between the Main Lounge located far forward and
the Smoke Rook with a fine Bar aft. The Tourist public rooms,
including the Dining Room and Smoke Room were located aft on B
deck. The ships only Swimming Pool was located up on Boat deck.
Although allocated to First Class, Tourist Class passengers were
allocated special times to use it.
Accommodations: There were ten twin
bedded deluxe suites some being able to accommodate either one or
two additional passengers. Each has a private sitting room as
well as a spacious bathroom. These were located on A and B Decks.
All other First Class cabins were either singles or two berth
cabins, but none had private facilities. These were on B and C
decks. Tourist Class (originally as built second they had third
classes) had three grades of accommodations, 44 in A grade, being
4 berth cabins. 72 in B grade, being mostly 6 berth cabins and
204 (214) in C grade, which were larger dormitories located in
the aft section of the ship and lower decks. In additions the
ships were able to carry up to 20 cars in the garage as well as
10 cars on deck.
Length: 433ft / 132m, Width: 57ft / 17.3m,
Draught: 18.9ft / 10.3m. Two S.A. Ansaldo built Steam Turbines
(boilers and auxiliary engines were overhauled in the
From
the author’s private collection
Voyages: According to their schedules
these varied greatly depending on the years as they passed,
however in 1951 from April to October they were as follows;
Beirut, Alexandria, Malta, Naples, Marseilles On their return
voyages they also called also at Genoa. Then from September 1951
to May 1952 the following service:
Kevin
and some friends sailed on the
They
are seen here during boat drill
Provided
by Kevin
The
1967 fares and sailing schedule
From
the author’s private collection
From June to September 1967:
From
the author’s private collection
The last service I will mention are the 1971
schedules; Covering both ships; SS Iskenderun in January and
December only, and SS Samsun January to March;
SS
Samsun is seen here at anchor in
From
the author’s private collection
Voyages were reported in 1973 and 1974 mostly
of the Sea of Marmara and the
The
SS Ankara and SS Iskenderun (inside) are seen laid up in 1975 at
the Istinye dry-dock at
Photograph
by & © Hurol-Hekimbasi
Although the ships continued cruising on
various services, but slowly these services diminished as air
travel competed with more attractive air fares and thus
eventfully both ships were withdrawn and sols in 1982 to the
breakers. Below we see the SS Iskenderun being broken up
alongside the 1927 built 6,178-ton (55-year-old) running mate SS
Ankara.
Here
we see the SS Ankara and the SS Iskenderun on the beach at the
breakers yard in July 1982
From
the author’s private collection
Please Note. This feature is unfinished
and more details regarding these ships will come in the near
future.
Reuben Goossens.
The
SS Samsun is seen at
From
the author’s private collection
Specifications -
1. SS Iskenderun & 2.
Built by:
Completed:
1. 1950 & 2. 1951.
Tonnage:
1. 6,570 GRT (Gross Registered Tons) & 2,870 Dead Weight.
.
2. 6,543 GRT & 2,830 Dead Weight.
Length:
433ft - 132m
Width:
57ft - 17.37m.
Draught:
18.9ft - 5.76m.
Engines:
Steam - D.R. Geared Turbines.
Screws:
Twin.
Speed:
16.6 Service, 18 max.
Passengers:
96 First, 116 Second and 252 Third Class.
After refit:
25 Deluxe, 71 First Class, 320 to 330 Tourist Class.
.
Partial Air-conditioning.
INDEX
whilst she has been at anchor as an accommodation vessel
***********************************
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Photographs
on ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author or from the
author’s private collection. In addition there are some
images that have been provided by Shipping Companies and private
photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors.
However, there are some photographs provided to me without
details regarding the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby
invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make
them-selves known to me (my email address may be found on www.ssmaritime.com only), in order that due
credit may be given.
This
notice covers all pages, although, and I have done my best to
ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this
notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is
updated!
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