Adelaide
Steamship Co, MV Moonta, later MV Lydia
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With Reuben
Goossens
Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship
Reviewer, Author & Maritime Lecturer
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author has been in the passenger shipping industry since May 1960 and is now
semi-retired, but continues and I hope that the
well over 675 Classic Liners and
Cargo-Passengers ships I have written on will continue to provide classic ship
enthusiasts and continue a great deal of information and pleasure!
Adelaide
Steamship Company Limited
MV Moonta
Postcard
of the Adelaide Steamship Co MV Moonta
Please Note: Photographs and
postcards on this page are from the author’s private collection, unless
noted otherwise.
Part One - MV Moonta
The much-loved Australian coastal passenger
cargo liner, MV Moonta was built in 1931 by Burmeister & Wain shipyard in
This
souvenir MV Moonta silver matches holder is 2 3/8” X 1 3/4"
It
was made by Angus & Coote, Sydney ^ It features the Company flag
A
serviette ring from the MV Moonta also made by the same Jeweller as the item
above
Sent in by Jonah
Moonta would depart Adelaide for her six day
voyage on Saturday at 7 PM and her itinerary was as follows: Port Lincoln, Port
Pirie, Port Augusta, and Port Lincoln (2nd.call),
then with one further port of call as required either to; Kingscote, Whyalla or
Port Hughes. She would return to the
The delightful MV Moonta is seen in Port Melbourne
Photographer is unknown, Please see photo notes at the bottom of the page
Whilst visiting these ports optional tours were available for her passengers to explore the many wonders to be found in the region. But many sailed on the Moonta just to enjoy the relaxation and entertainment that was on offer on board. However, she also offered good and reliable service, excellent and plentiful meals and comfortable accommodation. Then there was always time to play deck games, having fun in the pool, attend the dance at night as well as the special events such as fancy dress. Moonta became well known as being the perfect ship for a “Romantic Holiday” and fares started from just £6 that is AU$12.
An
Adelaide Steamship Co advertisement – It is only 6 pound – How
things have changed
It
is from $120 per day PP these days in a twin cabin
An image from an
Adelaide Steamship Company promotional material
Passengers
play some shuffleboard on board the Moonta
An image from an
Adelaide Steamship Company promotional material
Relaxing
out on deck and playing cards
An image from an
Adelaide Steamship Company promotional material
A wonderful photo of the Moonta with a tug
Photographer is unknown, Please see photo notes at the bottom of the page
The Moonta did serve during WWII, although little information is available, but she did have a gun mounted on her fantail. As a passenger ship the MV Moonta certainly had a successful career, however by the early fifties both road and rail transport began to damage the profitability of the cargo trade and thus Moonta’s profitability also commenced to suffer.
A wonderful study of this fine small ship with the
sun setting over her, before being sold
Photographer is unknown, Please see photo notes at the bottom of the page
In addition passenger numbers was slowly dropping off therefore the Adelaide Steamship Company decided to retire the Moonta in 1955 after 24 years of faithful service, and placed on the market. Upon completion of her Australian coastal career the Moonta had sailed some 750,000 miles in addition she had carried around 95,000 passengers, which is quite an achievement for this remarkable, yet a small ship!
Specifications –
MV Moonta:
Built
at: 1931 Burmeister
& Wain shipyard in
Delivered: November 21, 1931
Tonnage: 2,693 GRT
Length: 298ft
Width: 44ft
Draught: 15.10ft
Engines: B&W diesels
Screws: Single
Speed: 12.5 knots, max 13 knots
Passengers: 155
Part Two - MV Lydia
Postcard
of the MV Lydia
In 1955 the Moonta was sold to the Hellenic Maritime Lines who then sailed her to Piraeus were she received a refit and her accommodations was extensively remodelled as she now had what was called “Uniclass” accommodations, with cabins in five grades, A to E, which were located on A and B decks. They comprised of 4 A Grade cabins being twin bedded with private facilities, 15 B Grade singles, 14 C Grade double-bedded cabins all on A deck. Grades D and E was made up of 4 and 6 berth cabins located on A and B decks. In addition, there were also two dormitories with a total of 123 berths, which were located forward on B deck. She could also transport up to 180 forward deck (day) passengers between ports.
Renamed MV Lydia she was placed on the
The
Photographer is unknown, Please see photo notes at the bottom of the page
However, after eleven years of operation, the company decided in 1966 to place her laid up in Piraeus and she was on the market aged a good 35 years, however in the near future she would head for France and become an almost a brand new venue.
**************************************
Part Three - Casino Le
In 1967 The ex MS Moonta and Lydia proved to be a lucky ship, as she was purchased by a French company named “SEMETA” (Société d’Economie Mixte d’Etudes et d’Amenagement des Pyrénées Orientales) and her new venture was as a maritime symbol to mark the creation a brand new style resort at the “Port of Barcarès” in the Langedoc Rousillion region located on the Mediterranean coast of France.
The Lydia headed for Marseilles where her engines and propellers were removed and whilst there, she was converted into a unique and an amazing new tourist venue that contained Restaurants, Café’s as well as a Casino she was to become a fine Tourist attraction with many features and Maritime Museum.
The good news was that her owners retained many of her original fittings and only modernized certain areas. When completed she was towed to her new home at Le Barcares in the Langedoc Rousillion region where a special basin had been cut into the sand for her. When she arrived at her destination she entered the basin, which was then refilled with sand and thus in 1967, The ex MV Moonta became a landlocked all white vessel and she was renamed “Casino Le Lydia.”
Postcard
of the
Thankfully
she is superbly maintained at all times
Provided by Stan
Evans,
The
However, although popular she did change
owners on a number of occasions, for her original French owners, “SEMETA”
operated her from 1967 to 1974, but she was then sold to an unknown Japanese
Group in 1974 and they continued to operate her as usual. They then sold her in
1988 to an Mr. Alain Ferrand and he, or his company operated her until 1997.
Then in 2000 she was sold to the Partouche Group who owns and operates her to
this day. Thus the memory of the wonderful Australian Moonta lives on in
**************************************
Memories of a fine little Ship!
This Superb photograph of MV Lydia is a good
reminder of what really is a well-built passenger ship!
Now Online
Page Two … A
photographic tour of the interiors and the exterior of today’s
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