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With
Reuben
Goossens
Maritime
Historian,
Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author
Hamburg Süd
Reederei
(Hamburg South America
Line)
Page One
MS Santa Ines & Santa Teresa
Two elegant
predecessors to the famed “Cap San” Series
Including some of Hamburg Sud’s earlier ships such as
the …
SS Cap Arcona (1923),
and the foursome … MS Santa Ursula, Santa Catarina, Santa Elena & Santa Isabel (all 1951)
Here we see the long and elegant lines of
the MS Santa Ines at sea
Please Note: ALL Photographs and
Postcards on this page are from the Author’s private collection
Although this page is all about these two
delightful 8,900 GRT (Gross Registered Ton) passenger cargo liners that were
built in 1952 and 1953 some nine years prior the famed sextet known as the
“Cap San” series of ships, which I have written on and you can
locate on Pages Two and Three, see the INDEX located at the bottom of this
page. But this page is all about beginnings and earlier days. Thus, I will
commence with a very short introduction that includes the luxurious passenger
liner SS Cap Arcona, which will be followed by four of the earlier sisters of
the “Cap San” series and of a similar size, but they were visually
quite different to say the least!
1 –
Introduction to Hamburg
Sud and the Cap Arcona:
Hamburg
Sud Reederei goes were established back in 1871 and although they started
small, they eventually built up into a mighty passenger and cargo empire. After
the turn of the century and by the twenties they were operating a comprehensive
fleet of 18,000 to 20,000 GRT passenger liners, such including the extremely
popular and much loved SS Cap Arcona, which was built in 1923. She was
considered as one of the most beautiful ships of her time and without doubt her
interiors were sublime! However, World War II took its toll on so many ships
and one day before the unconditional surrender had been declared by the
Germans, on May 3, 1945 the British bombed the Cap Arcona and she caught fire
and capsized. Some 5,000 souls died, but a few managed to jump overboard. In due
course the capsized hulk of the ship
somehow drifted ashore, and she was beached, where the wreck was eventually
broken up in 1949. It is said that this was the second worst seafaring incident
in history.
The
Grand Dame of her time, the 1928 built SS Cap Arcona
**************************************************
2
- The Santa Foursome of 1951:
These
four ships would be the company’s part of their rebuilding plan and their
very first post war smaller passenger cargo ships. All were built in 1951.
Named were as follows: MS Santa Ursula 6,962 GRT, Cap Salinas 7,154 GRT (she
was renamed in 1959, from her original name MS Santa Catarina), Santa Elena
6,971 GRT and Santa Isabel 6,982 GRT, all approx: 9,700 d.w. Length: 479ft,
Breadth: 61ft’ Draught: 24.8ft. Engines: MAN Diesels, Single screw, 13
knots.
A standard company postcard of one of
these of the quartet, but it is the MS Santa Elena
The Santa
Ursula was the first completed and she departed on her maiden voyage
for South America on April 5, 1951. They
accommodated 28 First Class passengers in twin bedded cabins having a private
bathroom and fitted with air-conditioning. However, the single bedded cabins
had shared facilities, which were located between two cabins, and they had
“mechanical forced ventilation.” The Santa
Catarina (Cap Salinas) also had a deluxe twin bedded suite. Pubic
venues included: a lounge, dining room and a bar.
However not long
after these ships were competed the company had already new and exciting
designs in hand for two brand new ships the would revolutionise their future
luxury passenger service, as well as trading the Atlantic with ships that were
without a doubt the ultimate in style and the envy of the maritime world!
With the arrival
with the far superior, Santa Ines and Teresa, and then the six super luxury “Cap
San” Class ships, all these ships became less popular and they were
eventually sold between 1961 and 1968 to various countries around the world.
Some of the ships continued in service, whilst others were soon broken up.
**************************************************
3
– The Santa Twins of 1952 & 1953:
Hamburg South America Line was
growing from strength to strength, and obviously offering the high quality
passenger accommodations were attraction an excellent clientele, thus they had
decided to again improve on this and with their two new ships, not only make
their interiors far mote luxurious, but also give these ships a longer and a
more flowing lines, and that included round off section atop of her Bridge, and
extending her superstructure, which was topped by a stylish but a short funnel.
It was obvious that the finest maritime artists had done their utmost to create
something very special with these two supreme ships!
MS Santa Teresa is seen
here out to sea bound for South America!
4-
Cargo Facilities:
MS Santa Ines and Santa Teresa have five cargo holds,
3 forward and two aft. Several of these were refrigerated and cooled for the
transport of meat, fruit and vegetables, etc, as well as having warmed tanks
for the transport of sweet oils. These holds were serviced by two forward king
posts, two forward masts and two king post located on the aft superstructure as
well as a mainmast located aft. In total there were 10 derricks to work the
cargo.
5 - Public Venues:
The interior decoration of these
sisters was the work of one of Hamburg’s
most famous architect’s, and I assume this to be Mr Casar Pinnau, but I
could be wrong. Passengers had and elegant Bar up on Promenade Deck, with most
of its walls somewhat curves, and beautifully timbered, with a long bar that
just seemed to flow along the aft wall. All seating, arm chairs and sofas where
covered in rich beige leather band this line continued along the lower parts of
the Bar. This was the ultimate venue! It was located far forward on the port
side. In the centre was the Lounge, come Smoking Room, which was lighter in
colour, but with a mixture of leather and fabric upholstery. Large windows
faced forward overlooking the bow and ocean. On the aft wall were two large
double glass doors leading to the lobby and stairwell, between these doors was
a large built in book cabinet that served as the ships library. On the starboard
side was the rather relaxed and informal style Dining Room. Overall the colour
scheme was light and the chairs were similar to what you would find in the old
time “Palm Court’s.”
There was jus one very large dome light in the ceiling and twelve attractive
wall lights with delicate glass shades.
Interior
Photo Album
The
ships Bar with lounge area was located on the portside
The
Lounge was centred forward of the ship
Looking
to port and aft and we the book cupboard
The
Dining Room located on the starboard side
The
main lobby and the superb spiral stairwell
6 –
Accommodations:
These sisters accommodated 28
passengers in the ultimate of style and luxury and besides having such
luxurious pubic venues these ships even had an outdoor swimming pool located
aft. However, there were 12 single cabins and 8 twin bedded cabins all outside
with private bathrooms and air-conditioning. Those cabins located on Promenade
Deck, the deluxe cabins had a separate lounge, as seen below.
Looking
from the lounge into the bedroom
The
lounge area of a deluxe twin bedded cabin on Promenade Deck
Single
Bed Cabin that has a delightful sitting area
Note
that the soft furnishings is the same as that is used in the Lounge/Smoking
Room, when not leather
7 - Ports of call:
These two sisters sailed along with the four
earlier ships until they were taken out of service. But schedules were as
follows.
Hamburg, Bremen, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Las
Palmas, Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Rio Grande, Montevideo,
Buenos Aires, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Ilheos, Salvador, Las Palmas, Hamburg.
This brochure covers these
two Santa’s as well as the four Santa’s mentioned earlier and two
other ships.
As it is not dated, it must have been released prior
to 1959 as the Santa Catarina had not been renamed
as yet!
MS Santa Ines at sea
8 – The
Santa’s final days:
1 - The MS Santa Ines: Although there is not a great deal of information
available on their final days, however the Santa Ines was sold in 1961 to a
Pakistani company and she was renamed MS Ocean Energy. Her call sign was AQVB
as she continued in service considering her luxurious accommodations and being
such an excellent well built and maintained German ship. However, there are no
details at hand regarding her end.
The Pakistani liner - MS Ocean Energy
Photographer unknown, sent
in by a supporter - *Please
see the photo notes below
2 - The Santa Teresa was also sold in
1961 but she was sold to a Bangladeshi company who renamed her MS Rustom.
Apparently she continued services for around 20 years, as in 1983 she must have
been disposed off, as in that year the Bangladeshis had obtained another much
smaller ship which they renamed the MS Rustom. They had purchased this new
Rustom from the Belgium’s
and she is still afloat today, but apparently aging, yet she was involved in
2011 in a rescue attempt when a vessel sank.
In conclusion: Sadly apart from above I know little more than what I have said,
but, if anyone has any further relevant information on the final days of these
two fine ships, I would certainly be very grateful to hear about it, especially
if you have some photographs to support it!.
Thankfully, due to these page, these ships will be long remembered for their
beautiful long and sleek design, as well as their luxurious passenger accommodations
and being typical fine German built and maintained ships, where nothing but the
very best will do! I am amazed that there no pages online that cover these
superb ships at all and yet, I believe that they, and their four earlier
Santa’s, and the “Cap San” class that followed them were some
of the finest passenger cargo ships EVER built!
These were indeed ships with such grace
and sheer beauty!
Hamburg Sud’s INDEX:
Page
One … “MS Santa
Ines & Santa Teresa” -
Including a little “Hamburg Sud” history and a few other ships.
Page Two … “MS
Cap San Diego” - The Last of Six “Cap San” Class Liners.
Page
Three … “MS Cap San Diego” - “The Museum & Hotel Ship.”
Page
Four … The other Five “Cap
San” White Swans.
**************************************************
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Who
is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
Where
the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos Story
Also
visit my …
“Save The Classic Liners Campaign”
& “Classic Ocean Voyages” pages
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 that have been provided to me without details
regarding the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite owners of these
images, if they would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email
address may be found on www.ssmaritime.com ), in order that due
credit may be given in full. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of
my own photographs on other sites, yet these individuals either refuse to
provide credit or remove them when requested, knowing full well that there is
no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show these
charlatans up and always do the right thing at all times and give proper credit
where credit is due!
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 pages are updated!
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is owned and © Copyright by Reuben
Goossens - All Rights Reserved