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This page is one of a series devoted to postcards and
photographs of the ocean liners and cruise ships of Messageries Maritimes
(MM). This
page shows images of the 1953 liner General Mangin, built by Ch.de
Penhoet, St Nazaire for Cie.de Nav.Fraissinet et Cyprien. Entering service
in March 1953, she ran between Marseille and French West Africa. She could
carry 132 first class, 125 second and 101 third class passengers, plus 500
troops. She was joined in 1957 by sister
Jean Mermoz, later the
cruise ship Mermoz and
Serenade In 1965 both ships were transferred to the Nouvelle Cie.
de Paquebots, but remained on their original trade.
French Government subsidies ceased in 1968 and General Mangin was
bought by Chandris for conversion into a cruise ship, but they soon deemed
her unsuitable and she was sold in 1969 to the Philippine President Line.
Renamed President, was began a service between Manila to Hong Kong
and Japan. After two years on this service she was again offered for sale.
Bought in 1972 by Cia. de Nav. Abeto, she was renamed Eastern Queen
and made a single trip from Singapore to Fremantle before being sent for
renovation. The service was marketed as the Singapore Australia Shipping
Company, working with the Far East Travel Centre Ltd who offered combined
fly cruises for Europeans to fly to Singapore and then cruise on to
Australia. Eastern Queen resumed service on 4th June 1972 (or
24:00hrs 3rd June on the brochure) carrying 560 passengers in cabins and 156
in large dormitories. These were not air-conditioned and were for segregated
use by people between the ages of 12 and 28 only. Prices ranged from £140 to
£25 (AUS$ 299 to AUS$ 54).Eastern Queen received another overhaul
in 1973. Her first voyage after returning was delayed due to engine
problems. Her charter was terminated in May 1974, her last trip being from
Fremantle on 12th July. From 1974 to 1977 the company placed her on the
Singapore to Madras service as well as operating the seasonal Muslim pilgrim
trade and chartered her out for various services. In 1976 she served for a
year tas a hotel ship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to accommodate 500 port
workers. In September 1977 she was sold to the Bangladesh Shipping
Corporation, carrying 930 passengers between Dacca and Singapore as the
Hizbul Bahr. This continued until 1980 when
Hizbul Bahr was sold to the Bangladesh
Navy, for use as an accommodation ship. She was renamed Shaheed
Salahuddin and was scrapped at Chittagong in 1985
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