What Ship is This? Identification puzzles.

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What Ship Is This?

(Updated 12th June 2008)


The cards on this page have all posed me problems in identification. If anyone can help with any of them, please email Ian Boyle at email address: simplon@simplon.co.uk

Link to Solved Queries




Unknown Vessel at Brindisi

Can anyone identify the ship on the right at Brindisi?

Burkhard Schütt writes:- The location is Brindisi and the first ship seems to be Adriatica's Barletta. First I have thought the second vessel with a clipper bow is the Greek Hellas, Birkenhead-built as a yacht for Mr Vanderbilt as the Valiant. There are some simularities. But if so, she must have been rebuilt.
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Unknown Vessel at Genoa

Can anyone identify this ship?

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Unknown Vessel at Yalta

Can anyone identify this ship?

John Thomson writes:- I'm fairly sure the vessel shown is Russian ship that operated in the Black Sea, pre-WW I going by the old Russian flag. On the back is printed:- Ialta. Depart du paquebot. Crimee. and undoubtedly this same message is printed in Russian above it. I'm guessing Ialta is what we know as Yalta.


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HMS Magician II

The photographic postcard below shows the HMS Magician II at Dunoon in 1947. She was built by the Ailsa SB Co as Magician in 1939 to replace the naval ferries Harlequin (ex-Clyde paddle steamer Strathmore) and Nimble (ex-Roslin Castle) which ran betwen Chatham and Sheerness. However Magician was passed to the Army for use as a hospital ship. She was returned to the RN in 1945, and renamed Magician II. She was scrapped in 1952.

Does anyone know anything more about the design and construction of this vessel? It seems very extravagent under the prevailing conditions to consider a purpose-built ferry when so many other vessels would have been available. Had she originally been ordered by somebody else?


Magician II at Dunoon on 17/07/1947.
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Southend-Sheerness Ferry

The postcard below shows an unidentified vessel on the Southend-Sheerness ferry, presumably prior to 1959 when the first Anzio ferry started. Can anyone provide more information? Email: simplon@simplon.co.uk

Luke Farley writes:- I believe thet image is of the My Queen (ex-Gondolier Queen). She was built in Essex and used on a ferry in the area, and her hull is very, very similar to the one in the photo. She is also described a the 'Dunkirk Little Ships' website as being almost completely open, with a wheelhouse amidships - and your image seems to fit this description. My Queen is now based at Starcross, although she has also been based on the Thames, at Plymouth and at Dartmouth in the past.

Andy Richards writes:- I would like to say it is good to see all this information about the boats. The boat leaving Sheernes is the My Queen.

Roger Bolton writes:- Further to our conversation on "Waverley" I regret I too am unable to identify the vessel on the Southend-Sheerness ferry route. I don't think it's "My Queen" because (1) I believe she had no wheelhouse whilst at Southend and (2) I think your vessel's freeboard is greater than "My Queen".

John Armstrong writes:- This vessel is the Trevarno formerly owned by Torbay Crusing. Mrs E Wallis & Mr Head owened and ran her from Torquay around 1950 / 1953. She had new AEC engines installed by my father.


Postcard of an unidentified vessel on the Southend-Sheerness ferry.
Published: Shoesmith & Etheridge 'Norman Series' - Hastings.
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Lancs & Yorks' Crew Pictures

Two crew photographs of Lancashire & Yorkshire Fleetwood-Belsfast steamers Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Albany. Can anyone date these images or identify anyone, particularly the captain? I presume between 1907 and 1914 since 1907 is when Duke of Albany was built, and she was lost in the war.


Photograph of the crew of Duke of Cornwall.
Can anyone date this image or identify anyone?
Scan: Jennie Ashby
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Photograph of the crew of Duke of Albany.
Can anyone date this image or identify anyone?
Scan: Jennie Ashby
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The captain of Duke of Albany has been identified as Robert Lyttle, shown below with wife and children.
He also appears to be next to the captain on the Duke of Cornwall photo.
Scan: John Lyttle (3)



This is an earlier image with Robert Lyttle and the crew of the LYR paddle steamer Princess of Wales.
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Captain Robert Lyttle's son John Lyttle (1), also served on the Duke of Albany.
He was aboard Duke of Albany when she was torpedoed.
Seen here with his son John Lyttle (2)
Scan: John Lyttle (3)



Porcelain from HMS Duke of Albany.
Scan: John Lyttle (3)
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Lancs & Yorks' Duke of Cornwall at Zeebrugge?

Did Duke of Cornwall ever operate to Zeebrugge? Duke of Cornwall was built by Vickers for the joint LYR/LNWR Fleetwood-Ireland services in 1898. I have an official Hull-Zeebrugge postcard of Duke of Cornwall, although none of my books refer to her ever operating on the East Coast. The card was issued by local agents in Belgium, not the LYR.


Official postcard of Duke of Cornwall on the Hull-Zeebrugge service, plus card back.
Posted from Zeebrugge in 1914.






Large Windermere Steam Yacht

Postcard of a large steam yacht at the Low Wood Hotel, Lake Windermere.
Can anyone identify this vessel? Email: simplon@simplon.co.uk
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Paddlesteamer in Dun Laoghaire

A fine paddlesteamer which appears in a number of photos of Dun Laoghaire, Ireland (Kingstown). I have been seeking to identify this steamer for some years. Might it be the Commissioners for Irish Lights vessel Princess Alexandra (1863-1904)? She is very similar in design to the Trinity House tenders Galatea (1868) and Vestal (2) (1855), but with smaller paddleboxes? Can anyone help? mailto:simplon@simplon.co.uk

SHS Writes:- I have a copy of this card and after some research I believe that she is the 'Kingfisher', which served in an official capacity at Kingstown (I cannot presently remember what as!). There is an engraving of her launching in the 'Illustrated London News'






Dates of Aquitania Interior Sets

I have examples of a set of colour, and a set of sepia interior portcards of Aquitania. Would either or both of these sets have been pre-WW1? None of the cards are postmarked. Examples are shown below, and additional cards from both sets are shown on the Aquitania web page. If you can help, please email: simplon@simplon.co.uk


2nd Cabin Drawing Room.
From a set of colour interior portcards of Aquitania.



Packet for a set of sepia interior portcards.


Swimming Bath & Gymnasium on Aquitania.
From a set of sepia interior portcards.






Irish Coast in Epirotiki Service

This postcard shows the ex-Irish Coast in Epirotiki Lines service in Rethymnon. Irish Coast was sold to Epirotiki Lines in 1968. She received the names Orpheus, Semiramis II and Achilleus in quick succession, before settling with Apollon XI. This was rendered as Apollon 11 in 1980. She was sold in 1981, and was lost in a typhoon in 1989. Can anyone identify which name she would be carrying at this stage? She subsequently considerable modification before becoming Apollon XI/Apollon 11, although she is has already received a new bow in this Rethymnon card.


Scan: Micahel Kenyon.


A later Epirotiki card as Apollon XI showing modifications.






Liner in Piraeus

A liner in Piraeus. I wondered if it was the HAPAG liner Moltke which did sail from the Mediterranean (Genoa), though I am not sure if she went to Piraeus. The card was published in the series "Orient" (serial 68552) by M.Gl.& M. of Hamburg, which might tie it in to HAPAG.

Peter Koenig writes:- Certainly looks like the Barbarossa Class, but there were so many. Check Hansen, Passenger Liners from Germany 1816-1990, p. 48 -- foremast looks more like Grosser Kurfurst. The Moltke, at p. 67, had fairly prominent cargo booms. Hansen refers to Moltke's sister Blucher as making occasional cruises, but places Moltke on the Genoa-New York run. I assume that is Piraeus, but don't know.








Canadian Pacific Duchess

A postcard of one of the four Canadian Pacific Duchesses in the Mersey. Can anyone identify which one?
The four sisters were:- Duchess of Atholl, Duchess of Bedford, Duchess of Richmond and Duchess of York.







Thames Steam Launches


This appears to be a Salter Brothers steamer at Abingdon, on Photochrom postcard 83478, posted in February 1946. Can anyone identify it?

Iain MacLeod writes:- The mystery steamer is - I think - Goring, Wargrave or Oxford. I'll be interested to know if anyone is able to be more specific.







Viper on War Service

Barry Friedman writes:- I found your website in the course of trying to research a card (attached). I think that the Base Army Post Office was in Alexandria where the ship was headed for...do you know if the handstamped Pirie ar the lower center is that of General Pirie and can you tell me any more about this card?

Does anyone have any information on Viper's war service? Did she travel as far as Alexandria?


The front and back of the card is shown below.
Link to an enlarged image of the back.






Mystery Vessel from Iran

A tall order this one, but I thought it of sufficient interest to include. The location is Bander Pahlavi, now Bander-e Anzali on the Caspian Sea coast of Iran. The card was posted 28th July 1934, and the message relates to the sale of chemicals, but includes various strange statements such as "Beware small women in the land of volcanoes!" Is this actually a passenger steamer? There is no cargo on the quay, and she has no obvious cargo handling equipment, but her lines look more like a freighter. Any thoughts would be welcome.









Solved Queries

Further details welcome if you can add to the information supplied.
Send to email address: simplon@simplon.co.uk





Panormitis at Rhodes

Can anyone identify this ship?

Harald Lorentzen writes:- This is Panormitis, built 1935 at Nyland Verksted, Oslo (322) as SS Fjellstrand for AS Nesoddens Dampskipsselskap, Oslo, Norway. She was a passenger ferry between Oslo city and the peninsula of Nesodden. Mostly use in summer trafic. Length: 110,1 m - Width: 21,9 m - Draft: 7,3 m - 218 gross tons 1941: The company changed name to AS Nesodden-Bundefjord Dampskipsselskap 1958: Sold, together with same company's Ursvik, to Greece. New name Stella 1960: Sold to Rhodos and rename Panormitis 1968: On fire and the ship was wreek.
Best regards, Harald Lorentzen former captain on the AS Nesodden-Bundefjord DS ferry Prinsessen
Panormitis, ex-Fjellstrand of AS Nesoddens Dampskipsselskap, Oslo



Fjellstrand seen in the Oslofjord after the Second World War
Scan: Harald Lorentzen
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P&O Liner at Dubrovnik

The photos below from around 1935 appear to show one of the P&O 'R-Class' liners of the 1920s - can anyone be more specific?

Neven Jerkovic writes:- Finally I found in Dubrovnik Archive that P&O liner Ranchi visited Dubrovnik three times: first visit on May 12th 1926 (492 pax + 352 crew), again May 16th 1927 (410 pax + 363 crew) and on September 25th 1929 (282 pax + 335 crew). The Mystery Ship (P&O Liner in Dubrovnik) is definitely Ranchi. Her other sisterships never visited Dubrovnik.

Scan: Ivo Batricevic
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Scan: Ivo Batricevic
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Passenger Ship at Weihaiwei

Ray Grainger writes:- I have recently searched thru a pile of old photos belonging to my deceased father and came across the attached. Sadly I am unable to read the ship name on the back but I have identified that it was taken in China at Weihaiwei in 1927. I believe it was being used as a troop ship to carry my father to this British outpost. Weihaiwei was leased by the British from the Chinese between 1898 and 1930. Can you identify it and do you have any further pictures of this ship?

George Robinson writes:- That the ship name on the back is the Herminius, which was built as Shaw Savill's Waimana but served as Herminius for Aberdeen Line between 1926-1932.

However, the ship in the picture is one of the four Sarpedon Class vessels of Blue Funnel Line, viewed from astern. Sarpedon (1923) herself was involved in the "China Affair" of 1927, although all four sisters travelled to the Far East in normal service anyway. The lifeboat arrangements of the later two sisters, Hector (1924) and Antenor (1925), were different, but it is still not clear to me which sister this is. It does appear to have the extra lifeboat mounted a deck higher, which would make it Sarpedon of Patroclus (1923).




Photographic postcard of Sarpedon (1923).


Blue Funnel art postcard of Sarpedon (1923).


Blue Funnel art postcard of Sarpedon (1923).


Blue Funnel art postcard issued as Antenor (1925).
Lifeboat arrangement indicates that the original painting was of Sarpedon (1923) or Patroclus (1923).






Passenger Ships In Naples

Keith Murphy writes:- Attached is a sepia postcard of Naples port, age unknown but possibly circa 1910. I have searched many websites but the identity of the two identical steamships on the right continues to intrigue me. Can you help me?

Rui T.Henriques writes:- The ships in these picture are most probably Galileo Galilei and Marco Polo built in 1896 by N.Odero at Sestri Ponente for Navigazione Generale Italiana. There were two other sisters Ignazio Glorio built 1896, but soon chartered by Roumanian State Railways, and a fourth, Cristofo Colombo built one year earlier, but this one has not the break in the superstructure after the aft mast.
Galileo Galilei was sold to Spain in 1910 and became J.J.Sister of Compañia Mediterranea in 1914. Broken up 1966. Marco Polo followed the same with the name V. Puchol, and was lost during Civil War during 1938 or 1939.









Passenger Ships in Suez

Keith Murphy writes:- I have a postcard from the 1960s of Suez (Kruger 743/8) in which can be seen two steamships which have very similar funnel markings to the Al Gazayer. I believe the larger of the two to be the Mecca, formerly the Lady Rodney of 1929 which was scuttled in 1967. But can anyone identify the smaller ship ?

Michael Kenyon wtites:- My guess is the mystery ship could be the Taif or Talodi. They were built in 1928 by Alexander Stephen & Sons, were 1,578 tons, 247ft x 39ft and carried 26 first, 20 second and 490 deck class passengers.









Cape Verde Inter-island Cargo-Passenger Ferries

I have added a webpage on the inter-island ferries of Cape Verde, which I photographed on 26th December 2001, whilst on an Aurora cruise. I saw a number of fascinating vessels, but have very little information about them. Can anybody assist by pointing me in the direction of information sources, either web-based or otherwise? They varied between the impressive Praia D'Aguada to the small and rather dodgy-looking Mar Novo, both of which are shown below. See the webpage on this link for more photos.

Additional details have been supplied by Raúl Soulé, the Director of services of Mercante Marine and Ports, Cape Verde Maritime Administration:- Ferries of Cape Verde








Passenger Ship - Dubrovnik

Can anyone identify the ship at Dubrovnik in the newspaper photo below.



Ivo Batricevic writes:- Ship in Dubrovnik is Princeza Olga, company Jugoslavenski Lloyd, built in 1914 as Ebro for Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Last name was Serpa Pinto - Portugese Companhia Colonial de Navegacao.

Photograph of Princeza Olga.
Scan: Ivo Batricevic






Cruise Ship at Dubrovnik

Can anyone identify this newspaper shot of a cruise ship at Dubrovnik?

Michael Kenyon writes:- The mystery ship is the Pace of Messina Line (4,013 grt). She was built in 1921 as Cuba for Peninsular & Occidental's service from Key West to Tampa. She operated in the Mediterranean for Pace Line from 1948 until scrapped at La Spezia in 1962.







Cruise Ship in Piraeus

I am sure that I should know what the ship in the left foreground is, but I have a mental block at the moment. Positive identification of the two converted tankers would also be useful. Can anyone help? mailto:simplon@simplon.co.uk

Michael Kenyon writes:- The ship in Piraeus is either the Syria or Al Gazayer. The two were built in 1962 for United Arab Maritime and operated from Egypt to Greece and Italy as well as pilgrim serices. Al Gazayer was scrapped in 1994.

Roland White writes on the two ex-tankers in the background:- The vessel on the right is the PHAISTOS 8864/51 (ex- MARIA GORTHON), whilst the one to the left is the MINOS 10731/52 (ex- SOYA MARGARETA). Both are in the colours of Efthymiadis Lines which would restrict the date to a window between the 1965 summer season and 1974 when MINOS adopted the colours of the fledgling Minoan Lines.







Postcard of Al Gazayer
Scan: Michael Kenyon.






Wheeled Shed at Newhaven

This is just a light-hearted addition to my page, but confusing all the same. Can anyone supply details about this unusual wheeled shed at Newhaven, which houses a small red navigation light in the projecting balcony seen in the second picture? Why is the whole contraction on wheels running on rails to move it away from the harbour edge? Why then add concrete steps to prevent it from beeing moved? The track gauge is about 6ft, ie: not standard gauge. Is this the world's smallest railway carriage? I photographed it whilst awaiting the departure of Transmanche Ferries Sardinia Vera, visible in the background.

Richard Beckett writes:- I am a "Newhavener" and the "shed" in your photo carries one of the red harbour lights marking the channel for entry by ships. The shed has obviously been there a long time as the ship seen leaving in the attached photo is the Paddle Steamer Paris (3) which operated from Newhaven between 1878 and 1893. The photo shows that the "shed" was on wheels even in the 1890's. As can be seen, there was a standard guage railway line alongside which ran down to the seafront for harbour wall maintenance purposes, but why the shed is mounted on a 6 foot guage trolley has never been satisfactorily explained.


Photograph of Paris (3), plus wheeled light.



The wheeled light in July 2001.
Photo: Ian Boyle.


The wheeled light seen behind Newhaven lifeboat in 2003.
Photo: Ian Boyle.






Mystery Turkish Paddlesteamer

Another Turkish paddlesteamer, which looks very British.

Alistair Deayton writes:- Can you see a number on the funnel in the original? The Bosphorus No xx steamers of Sirketi Hayriye had similar paddlers, but with different paddle box vents in the pictures in the book I have.

Andrey Goncharov writes:- That's steamer IHSAN built 1903 (375gt) and owned by Idare-i Mahsusa, Istanbul (the Ottoman State Shipping Company) and it was mostly employed on the passenger line from Istanbul to Princes Islands, Maramara Sea so not on the Bosporus itself.

Mustafa Noyan writes:- The Bosphorus steamer looks like Ihsan number 37 built in London, England by R.&H.Green in 1890 and served in Istanbul till 1916 that was destroyed by a russian navyship during the war.







Liners in Bremerhaven

This is Cramers 'Cekade' serial no.70, 68/5 of Bremen. What ship has its bow just visible aft of Bremen?

Tom Haughton writes:- In all likely it is one of the US Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) now Military Sea Command (MSC) Transports. And more than likely the Admiral Class (i.e. General William O. Darby ex Admiral Sims). These vessels often discharged/loaded US Troops on a regular bases during the 60' and often used the Columbus Quay for the rail facility. The forward boom is apparently up or in use as there are none resting on the small forward locker.

Stephan Reinhardt writes:- One hint to question to postcard, showing Bremen at Columbuskaje Bremerhaven: As I grew up in Bremerhaven; I know this ship (only bow is shown) is a supplyer of US Navy - which should regularly served Bremerhaven-NY weekly - I know this bow of other postcards, too. It could be helpful to turn to US Navy!






Liners in Piraeus

This card shows the stern of the Chandris ship Romantica in an interesting harbour scene from Piraeus. In the centre is the Efthymiadis Lines Patras, formerly Messageries Maritimes Pierre Loti. Can anyone help with ship between Patras and Romantica? mailto:simplon@simplon.co.uk

Alistair Deayton writes: I think the mystery ship at Piraeus seem to be an Adriatica ship, possibly ESPERIA.

Michael Kenyon writes: That one has puzzled me for a while. I don't think it is "Esperia" though. To me it looks like Hellenic Mediterranean's "Cynthia" or "Isthmia". The yellow funnel with dark bands fits Hellenic's colours as does the grey hull.

Stephen Moore write:- After having another look at the mystery ship at Piraeus card, I think it is actually the "Arcadi", which I think was also part of the Hellenic Mediterranean's fleet along with "Cynthia" and "Isthmia". Why do I think this? Because her bridge front and lifeboat configuration look more like "Arcadi" than "Cynthia" and "Isthmia" and the ship doesn't appear to have a main mast as they did.

I have now added an enlarged view which shows a mainmast more clearly.





The scan below shows an official HML postcard of Isthmia.
It looks quite possible to me that this is the ship in the card above.


I have added two scans of my only postcard of Isthmia below - the lower one enlarged.








Air France Fast Ferry - Nice-Cannes-St Tropez

I photographed this Air France/Emeraude fast ferry in August 2001, but do not have a note of its name. Can anyone help? I cannot find it in any of my reference books. More pictures are available on this link. Any name on the catamaran must be on the stern - the small letters aft on the side show the Air France website www.airfrance.com. the postcard below shows the Tallink ferry Georg Ots in Tallinn, plus a small fast ferry of the same design as the Air France vessel. Is this the same ferry? What service was she on in Tallinn?

The following details on Sea Shuttle I have been supplied by Eje Flodstrom:-
Sea Shuttle I is owned by Hydrocruiser Inc and has been employed on various charters over the years. It was built in 1994 by MK Sea Tranportation International, South Africa. It is actually a hydrofoil supported GRP catamaran designed by Teknicraft, then in South Africa but now located in New Zeeland.

1994 Delivered to Competitive Concepts, UK, as SeaShuttle I, flag: Belize (temporarlily named Sea Shuttle Seattle).
1994 Demonstrated on Nynäshamn-Visby, Sweden. Too small.
1994 Leased (3 months) to Trans Baltic Line, Estonia, marketing name Sukkula, operated Tallinn-Helsinki.
1994 Leased (1 month) to Schiffahrtskontor Altes Land, Germany, marketing name EC Jet (Elbe City Jet).
1995 Leased (1 year) to Vapores de Pasaje, Spain, in traffic Vigo-Cangas, marketed as Vigo Jet.
1996 Leased to Transportes Maritimos Azorianos (Transmacor), Azores, marketed as Tri Jet.
1998 leased to Cape Balear, traffic Menorca-Ibiza, marketed as Menorca Jet (unconfirmed). Lease terminated when owner, MK International, "hijacked" the vessel from Cape Balear.
2000 Leased (4 months) to Emeraude Lines/Air France for traffic Nice Airport - Cannes & St Tropez.
2001 back in same traffic, owner Hydrocruiser Inc.









Mystery Paddlesteamers at Bordeaux

This card of an ancient paddlesteamer was posted to an address in Clichy on 1st March 1915. The ship is called the Laprade, operated by Cie.Bordeaux-Ocean. It looks to be a particularly elderly vessel, even for 1915, and a slightly younger-looking paddler is shown in the background.

From Philippe GIMBRET:- Your postcard shows the French paddle tug LAPRADE (not LAPRANDE) also used for the transport of a maximum of 900 passengers for short voyages. The shipowner (in 1907) was Compagnie Maritime Bordeaux-Océan, Quai Louis XVIII, Bordeaux. Her port of registry was Bordeaux. She was built in 1869 and registered on November 19th 1900. She operated as a paddle tug, and also as ferry for a maximum of 900 passengers (on the River Gironde between, I suppose, Bordeaux, Pauillac and Le Verdon). From 1917 to 1919, the LAPRADE was requisitioned as a patrol vessel. Note: Colonel Pinet-Laprade was nominated in 1865 as Governor of the French colony of Sénégal.

Measurements : 328.26 gross tons, 194.83 nett tons, horse power : 300. Information from : "Annuaire du Comité Central des Armateurs de France 1907"


For interest I have added another Cie.Bordeaux-Ocean paddlesteamer, the Ville de Royan, built 1889 as GSN's Laverock. Sold to Cie.Bordeaux-Ocean in 1908 and scrapped in 1922.






Liners in Grand Harbour, Valletta

This lovely postcard of Valletta, Malta, shows two liners and a number of Royal Navy warships. Some time back I decided the large single-funnelled liner was the Yugoslavian ship Kraljina Mariya, originally the Royal Mail Lines' Araguaya of 1906, sold in 1930. If you believe otherwise, please let me know, but it is mainly the smaller two-funnelled liner that I would like more information on. mailto:simplon@simplon.co.uk

Nick writes:- Refer to Malta Grand Harbour and its Dockyard by Joseph Bonnci and Michael Cassar. See chapter 29 - TIRRENIA LINE Page 446 with photo showing the ship Citta di Trieste. This a two funnel ship and is probably the same one. This is Circa 1938.

Mike Petrovich writes regarding the Araguaya (ship on the left):- Yes, indeed! That's the "Kraljica Marija" (Queen Maria), the ex-Araguaya, purchased by shipping magnate Bozidar Banac for Yugoslavenski Lloyd in 1930 from the Royal Mail Lines. He also purchased the "Arlanza" and "Ebro." This information comes from my 87-year-old father who was a radio officer during the 1930s in Yugoslavia and in the 1940s, as a stateless mariner, participated in the Battle of the Atlantic in convoy operations. Thank you for the photograph.






Passenger Ships at Nassau

Can anyone identify the passenger ships on the aerial view of Nassau shown below?
The complete card is shown first, followed by two enlarged views.

Michael Kenyon Writes:- The ships in Nassau look to me to be Bahama Star and Florida on the outer berth - Florida has the yellow funnel - and Ariadne and either the Evangeline or the Yarmouth Castle on the inner berth (Ariadne at the rear). The date would be early 1960s.

Ian Mortemore Writes:- Most definitely early to mid '60's ... Can just see the old Royal Victoria Hotel in the picture (now gone), and it's before the Post Office was built, in early '70's, and wharf extension in later 70's. Ship names are possibly quite correct. Frieghter unknown, but more than likely from UK. Very interesting postcard. I have lived here since July '60. Best Regards, Ian Mortemore










Unknown Ship at Brindisi

Can anyone identify the passenger ship on the night view of Brindisi shown below?

Michael Kenyon writes:- The ship in Brindisi is probably the Adriatic Star or Lampedusa - it depends on what the date is as the ship has had many name changes. She was built as the Princess of Tasmania in 1959 and operated the Bass Strait service until 1975 when she was sold to Marine Atlantic of Canada and operated as Marine Cruiser until 1984. Thereafter the name changes are frequent - Majorca Rose (1984), Equator (1984), Nomi (84/85), Adriatic Star (85/88), Lampedusa (88/91), Shahd Fayez (91/93), Al Mhrousa (93/01) and this year, accoding to Cruise & Ferry Info she has been renamed Tebah 2000. I may have missed some given the frequency of changes. Adriatic Star seems most likely as she is in Brindisi.

Mitchell Bruce writes on 27th March 2005:- I think it is Adriatic Star becose of her funnel markings and dark hull which Lampedusa did not have. Lampedusa had a different funnel marking and yellow hull. It seems most logical that she is Adriatic Star in Brindisi.

Mitchell Bruce writes on 17th August 2005:- Hi there I would just like to add to Unknown Ship at Brindisi that she has now been scrapped on the 30/03/2005 as Tebah 2000 in India.


The scan of Princess of Tasmania below was sent my Michael Kenyon.


Photo of Lampedusa at Civitaveccia in 1990.
Photo: © Philippe Brebant.






Private Yacht at San Remo

This card of Sanremo, Italy is titled "Arrival of the steam ship". It was posted in 1965. The ship appears to be a private yacht. Can anyone identify it?

Stephen Card writes: The yacht shown is the 1928 built ELPETAL. She was built as REVELER and was later CHALENA, COROLA and the the USS BEAUMONT. As BEAUMONT for WW2 service she was cut down, masts removed etc, After the war she became Greek owned as ELPETAL. She retained her wartime tripod mast. In 1982 she was opurchased by Robert Stigwood and completely restored to her original condition with tall spruce masts and bowsprit and named JEZEBEL. In the late 80's she was laid up wuth damaged engines and was sold to Paul Getty. Completely rebuilt with new engines and two awful fat funnels by Jon Bannenber she is now in service as TALITHA G. I sailed in JEZEBEL for two months as her Chief Officer in 1984. What a ship!








Costa Postcard Set

Can anyone identify the origin of these Costa postcards? I was sent a photocopy of of what appears to be a set of historic Costa cards from a Japanese magazine.
I have now added scans of these cards on this link.

PC Potter writes: The cards are from paintings by Captain Stephen J.Card:- http://www.unofficial.net/card - although I have still not found a way to obtain the cards.

The artist, Stephen Card writes: I can answer your questions re the set of card of Costa liners. In 1996 I did a set of ten paintings which are displayed on board the COSTA VICTORIA. Shortly after the ship entered service the ten paintings were reproduced as a set of collector cards, printed to a very high standard and packed in an embossed folder which contained historical notes. I believe Costa printed about 5,000 set which sold out very quickly. They did not reprint. A real shame.







Mystery Passenger Ship

Can anyone identify this ship? "Wisteria" is pen-written on the back, but no other details are available. mailto:simplon@simplon.co.uk

William Paulus writes:- I believe your "mystery ship" is the U.S. trooper "Wisteria" a 442' ship built on the hull of a Liberty ship. There were several similar conversions done about 1943-1944 and some were hospital ships. I remember seeing some of this type in a reference book several years ago. The funnel seems to have markings of Militate Sea Transportation Service. Hope my hypothesis is correct.

Michael Kenyon Writes:- I came across more information on the "Wisteria". She was built in 1942 at the North Carolina Shipbuilding yard in Wilmington as the "William Osler" and was one of 6 liberty ships converted to hospital ships. The conversion apparently occurred about 1944. After the war she reverted to her original name, joining the Reserve fleet in 1947 and scrapped in 1969.





Mystery Passenger Ship in Toulon

This derelict vessel, with substantial passenger accommodation, is laid up in Toulon harbour. I photographed her whilst passing on a harbour tour, and no name is visible. The youths on deck were using her as a diving board into the dock. Can anyone identify what she was used for? Maybe a conversion of an older ship into a very large private yacht, for which the money ran out? Note that the vessel was no longer at Toulon in 2001.

Stephen Moore writes:- One of your mystery cards shows a top heavy little ship at Toulon. I don't have many details but she is mentioned in the Berlitz Cruising guide in 1989 as the cruise vessel Maxim's des Mers. The information has her built in the United States in 1944 so perhaps she has military origins but no former names are given. She was last refurbished in 1987 and is 178ft long and 34.7ft wide. With a diminutive grt of 1,590tons she was said to carry 32 crew and 32 passengers. Her accommodation was considered incredibly lavish, somewhat gaudy but utterly colourful, being art deco in style using marble, rich polished woods, oriental rugs and included some painted glass ceilings. Quite a ship but one that has obviously fallen on hard times.

Mats E.Sather Writes:- I have some information about the mystery ship "Maxim's des Mers" which is mentioned on your web page. A vessel by that name is listed in Lloyd's Sea-Web as still in service, but with her class withdrawn. She has been classed - at various times - by ABS, RINA and BV. Her current owners are Portsun Maritime, Nassau, Bahamas. Former names are Majestic (-90), Maxim's des Mers (-89), Dear (-84), Amazonia (-83), Tahiti (-?), Major Samuel Ringgold (?), Ringgold (-42). She was built at Marietta Manufacturing Co. Point Pleasant, VW, USA in 1942 as yard no. 484. Her dimensions are LOA 57.51m, B 11.99 m, Dr. 3.871 m. Tonages are GT 1,280 and NT 384. Her Lloyd's Register No. is 8522494.

David Asprey Writes:- 1942: completed by Marietta for the US Army's Coast Artillery Corps as a mineplanter, one of a series of 16 completed in 1942-43, MAJOR SAMUEL RINGGOLD. 1315t displacement, 189 x 37 x 18ft, 2-screw, 2 x steam reciprocating, 1200ihp. 1951: transferred to US Navy as minelayer USS MONADNOCK ACM 14. 1960: struck from USN and in reserve fleet 1970: sold for conversion to yacht TAHITI








Messageries Maritimes Mystery

This ship, the Skaugum, is well known, but the card is an official Messageries Maritimes (MM) issue. The writer has just boarded the ship in Marseille, on 6th February 1954. I have no records of MM owning or chartering this ship, though it ran some trips from Germany to Australia, which could have called at Marseille. Maybe MM acted as local agents; but to issue their own postcard would be unusual. The name is not mentioned in any of my MM books.

Daniel Baccara writes: Skaugum was chartered for M.M. about 1948/52 as trooper for Indochine. This postcard is very rare.

René Delétroz writes: I have just discovered your site and can add a few words to the Skaugum story... for what they are worth!
I worked with Messageries Maritimes in Sydney from 1955 to 1960. Sydney was then the General Office for Australia and the South Pacific. The company was acting as agent for the Skaugum and her sister ship the Skaubryn, which as you know sank in the Indian Ocean after a fire in the engine room. Both ships made several trips during this period, bringing migrants from Europe. If you check http://perso.wanadoo.fr/dominique.pageswebs/coree/coree.htm, you will also note that the Skaugum was used to transport French troops during the Korean war.

Pierre Blasi writes:- I remember with certainty that the Skaugum repatriated French soldiers, who had been prisoners of war in Indo-China (Vietnam), to Marseilles around 1954.









Mystery Vessel in the Corinth Canal

There are many cards available showing the Corinth Canal. All cards tend to have a train running across the bridge, and show a ship in the canal which is usually easy to recognise. I had problems with the card below, but Steven and Alistair identified it as the old Bergen Line Leda, in further service. The Corinth Canal card and an enlargement of the ship are shown below, and an official Dolphin Hellas card of Albatross has been added now that the subject is known.

Steven Berry wrote:- The ship is the ALBATROSS, formerly the Bergen Line night boat LEDA, built by Swan Hunter in 1953. The key to identification was the shortened tripod mast (done by the Greeks) and the eleven wheelhouse windows. The six large and two small lifeboats clinched it. The photo depicts the ship immediately after her conversion at the Nafsi Shipyard at Perama in 1984 when she sported a red and blue funnel (the forward face was blue and the aft red). At that time she was owned and operated by Dolphin (Hellas) Shipping of Piraeus. Since then she has operated under the names ALLEGRO, ALBATROSS, BETSY ROSS and AMALFI. At present she is named STAR OF VENICE, owned by Valgas Trading SpA and operated by Star Cruise Line.

Alistair Deayton wrote:- Corinth Canal: Is this the STAR OF VENICE, ex LEDA? The funnel looks familiar from her, but I may be wrong.



This card was issued by South Africa charterers TFC and shows Leda as the Betsy Ross.
Derek Walker writes:- I do have a Betsy Ross postcard which was given out to us as well as a few photo's etc. The postcard though is huge and not very good either, I have scanned it and attached it for you. The physical size of the card is 20 x 10.5 cm. It was issued by TFC and is the only card they gave out. It was also for sale on board at the gift shop. The Betsy had a very troubled career here in South Africa, lasting only 3 voyages before scuttling back to the Med. But I remember her with fondness, she was a great seaboat and we had a great time on board her.





Northern European Paddlesteamer at Constantinople

This card shows a paddlesteamer by a station in Constantinople. The steamer looks to originate from the UK or Northern Europe. I believe most such steamers had served elsewhere before being bought by Turkey. An enlargement of the steamer is shown below the complete card.

Alistair Deayton wrote:- Haydarpasa: I think this may be FERAH, ex TANTALLON CASTLE from the Forth, or a vessel named the HALEP








Royal Yacht at Venice

Another vessel that appears to be a private yacht, in this case a very elegant and unusual four-funnelled paddlesteamer at Venice. There is an enlargement shown below.

Alistair Deayton writes:- This is an ex-Blockade runner which became a Greek Royal Yacht. There was something on her in Paddle Wheels a few years back. I think the name is AMFITRITI, although I have no photo of that vessel to confirm the ID.

Nicolas Vasilatos writes:- Ex-blockade runner 'PENGUIN'. Dimensions: length 75.5 mtrs, breadth 9 mtrs, depth 4 mtrs. Displacement: 659 tons. Propulsion 260 hp. Speed 12 knots. Built in Bowdler, Chaffer & Co yard at Seacombe, UK in 1865. She was a merchant vessel bought for a price of 14,000 pounds with the blockade runner 'BOUBOULINA' in 1867 for the needs of the Cretan revolution of 1866-68. However she was never used for the purpose she was bought for. On 1869 she was converted to serve as a royal yatch. In 1872 she had her boiler renewed. She was laid up on 1892 and used until 1907 as accommodation at the Salamis naval base.








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