ssMaritime.net

A Vintage Liner Sails into the 21^st Century

Reuben Goossens

MV Doulos

(MV Doulos - GBA/OM Ships - 1977-2010)

Ex MV Franca C (1952-1977), SS Roma (1948-1952), SS Medina (1914-1948)

Chapter Two

--SS Roma--

SS Roma seen in New York full of pilgrims the 1950 during “Holy year”

(Alex Duncan - Gravesend)

Please Note: This work is owned, protected under International © copyright laws and is the property of Reuben Goossens of ssmaritime.net. No part of this work including any of the images shown therein may be copied, or neither reproduced by any means nor reproduced in any format, be it for private or commercial usage without prior written permission from the author. Email info@ssmaritime.com.

“From Onions to Passengers”

Having served for 34 years as a cargo ship, during which time she saw duty during two world wars, the Medina was finally laid up to be sold, and it was expected that due to her already great age that she would be sold to a ship breaker. However, she was acquired in 1948 by an Italian company named “Genaviter” but the company was registered in Panama as “Cia Naviera San Miguel SA” in 1948. She headed for La Spezia Italy where in 1949 she was extensively rebuilt and converted to become an austere emigrant/passenger ship. She, like many ships of the day, would fly the Panamanian (or Liberian) flag, being the country of registration based on cost, and of course, pure convenience.

SS Medina seen as built

From the author’s private collection

Her superstructure was about to undertake a radical transformation as new decks were added as well as lengthened, with her bridge removed and placed atop. Her lower decks were extended far forward and aft over the stern. Her tall slim black funnel was removed and she was fitted with a new squat funnel. She also received a new raked bow and her hull was painted green. Within her hull new decks had been added with the removal of some of her holds, making space for all her new cabins and many dormitories. When completed she was able to accommodate up to 981 passengers and she was registered as being 6,549 GRT (Gross Registered Tons). With her new bow, her new length was now 130m.

She was given the name SS Roma for the reason that she was to be employed especially to transport Americans and others to and from Rome to the 1950 Roman Catholic “Holy Year.” With the ex freighter SS Medina, now the SS Roma complete, she certainly looked very much the passenger liner.

Accommodations:

Her vast 694 Tourist Class capacity were all berthed in very basic dormitory style accommodation and their public spaces were, to say the least, very basic!

However she also accommodated 287 passengers in style offering some excellent first class cabins, with several fine lounges and dining facilities.

SS Roma seen at anchor in Venice

From the author’s private collection

PLEASE NOTE: This SS Roma, built as the Medina, is not to be confused with another Italian emigrant ship that had the same name. This was the TS Roma which was built in the USA as a C3 Class ship in 1942 and went into service as the H.M.S Atheling. She was sold and rebuilt into a passenger ship and commenced sailing from Italy as a classier looking passenger ship in 1951, and continued sailing to and from Australia until 1966. She was owned by Flotta Lauro Line. See the photograph of that ship below. She had an identical sister ship the SS Sydney. Visit: www.ssmaritime.com/roma-sydney.htm for details of the Flotta Lauro SS Roma & Sydney.

Flotta Lauro's TS Roma

From the author’s private collection

During the 1950 'Roman Catholic Holy Year', SS Roma was chartered to the "International Roman Catholic Travel Committee" and undertook a series of Pilgrimage voyages from America to Italy. Her first departure from New York for Cherbourg was on June 19, 1950, after which she undertook three further voyages.

Passengers heading for Holy Year in Rome

From the author’s private collection

SS Roma - her famed 1950 Voyage to Australia

SS Roma in Australia – 18 December, 1950

From the author’s private collection

Then her owners decided to try her out on the Australian service, which had proven to be a popular service with many other shipping companies. Thus, in October 1950, SS Roma sailed to Germany, where she would commence what turned out to be her final voyage for “Cia Naviera San Miguel SA.”

The “International Refugee Organisation” in association with the “Australian Immigration Department” had gathered some 949 “refugees” to board SS Roma. These were made up of 367 adult males and 302 Females. 133 - 3 to 12 year olds. 125 - 1 to 3 year olds and 21 - 1 to just born babies. The vast majority of these passengers originated from Eastern Europe, such as Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, Latvia, Russia, as well as small number of Germans and “stateless” persons. All passengers were from various Christian denominations, except for four Muslims.

Part of a Telegram to advise that was now to go to Newcastle instead of Melbourne

… and that there is one passenger for NZ

www.naa.gov.au

At 5 PM on October 30 with Captain A. Landini in command, SS Roma departed Bremerhaven and as the telegram above proves she was originally bound for Melbourne, however, this was changed to Newcastle (north of Sydney) on November 31 according the paperwork I have in my possession. She was due to arrive in Newcastle on December 6. However, as we know from history that was not going to happen!

This document (the cover is shown in part) contains the complete passenger list and other documents

www.naa.gov.au

With the vast majority of the passengers having gone through the horrors of World War II they were looking forward to a new and peaceful life that awaited them in Australia, the only exception was one passenger, a Mr. Stefan Veress who was heading further afield, as he was to be transferred to head off for New Zealand. These arrangements had been made for him by the “International Refugee Organisation.”

The Voyage:

The Gulf of Biscay was rough and many of her passengers were seasick and Port Said and the Suez Canal came to them as a blessing, fir it provide Roma’s passengers with some calm waters! Prior to arrival in Aden a child caught pneumonia and was taken to hospital there, all the family was put ashore with arrangements having been made for them to join the next migrant ship for Australia. However as the Roma departed Aden far greater problems awaited her.

As they headed into the Indian Ocean things started to go horribly wrong, for now the ship was suffering from ongoing engine and other mechanical problems. In addition, many toilets became blocked and a severe sanitary problem developed onboard which had to be taken care of. She headed for Colombo Ceylon to make repairs and to obtain much needed provisions. When the repairs had been completed she continued on her voyage. Then after a long, very slow and again a troubled voyage, she finally arrived at Fremantle on December 9, and was able to take on much needed stores and provisions.

As Roma departed Fremantle, she sailed non-stop for her final destination, Newcastle, in New South Wales, which is located just north of Sydney. However, as past passengers have told be in August 2008, this was yet another extremely rough and again a troubled voyage and Telegrams were sent stating that the Roma would arrive in Newcastle different dates and times. Captain A. Landini had sent a cable stating that the Roma would arrive in Newcastle at 6.30 am, however, for some reason, this was misread by the authorities and it was understood that the Roma would arrive in Newcastle 12 hours later at 6.30 pm, and thus the trains to transport the passengers was arranged for the next morning, the 19th. Thus, when the Roma arrived on December 18, 1950 at 6.30 am as the last Telegram sent clearly had stated, all passengers had to stay onboard for another 24 hours before being allowed to disembark in their new homeland.

Obviously, having a migrant ship arrive in Newcastle, this made the news and below are just a few of the headlines of the Newcastle Herald and Maitland Mercury. I wish to thank Mr. Paul Christmann, ex 1950 Roma passenger for going to Newcastle and obtaining these for us!

Teleprinter Message announcing the ships arrival and confirming details

www.naa.gov.au

Upon arrival in Newcastle, one of the passengers, a Berta Smits, had to be transferred to the Newcastle hospital as she had taken ill with bronchitis whilst onboard during the voyage between Fremantle and Newcastle and was kept in hospital for observation. She was soon on the mend and back with her husband Janis.

Page 1 of the IRO passenger log

www.naa.gov.au

With her passengers disembarked and ready to commence a new life in Australia, it soon became obvious that the ship’s owners were in severe financial difficulty and they were declared bankrupt. Sadly, this left the crew “high and dry” as they received no financial assistance for almost three months. However, the Italian Consulate came to their rescue and arranged a special charter for the SS Roma with the Italian shipping company, Lloyd Triestino who would return the ship to Europe, sailing via Indonesia, where Dutch citizens would board the Roma as they were escaping the ex-colony due to the declaration of independence, and the extreme violence that had commenced there. The now temporary Lloyd Triestino liner, SS Roma steamed for Rotterdam, Holland, where her passengers disembarked and she was duly returned to Genoa where she was immediately arrested due to “Cia Naviera San Miguel’s” debts to O.T.O Shipyards who had not been fully paid for her original conversion from a freighter into a passenger ship.

Looking towards a new chapter!

Now aged 36 and her oil fired steam engines being somewhat well worn and externally the SS Roma looked very much like a tired old ship. She was laid up and her future looked very bleak indeed. Yet, unknown at the time her future was going to be bright, much brighter than anyone could ever imagine and it was going to last for a very long time indeed! Well at least another 59 years and that is to date - 2009!

A court order was issued that SS Roma was to be sold at auction in April 1952. Interestingly there was only one bidder.

Continued in Chapter Three.

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2008 update - SS Roma Passengers return to the ship

During the MV Doulos’ final visit to Australia arriving in Brisbane (Queensland) on July 31 and departing Fremantle (Western Australia) on November 29, 2008, having visited Sydney (New South Wales), Geelong (Victoria) and Albany (Western Australia), I had been looking and searching for ex SS Roma passengers who sailed on her back in 1950.

Brisbane proved to be especially successful and Sven Benseler on the Doulos and myself were fortunate to be able to host a good number of 1950 passengers on the Doulos whilst she was in Brisbane. OM had a program organised on board for Roma passengers and a good number turned up, except they did their promotions at the Italian clubs, thus all that came on board were indeed Roma passengers but not the 1950 SS Roma but the Italian Flotta Lauro liner a ship that started its career much later and never sailed to Newcastle. However, on a separate occasion we did find one gentleman in Sydney who really did sail on her.

I have placed a special page online with photographs and details of these remarkable people. You will find it on the INDEX at the bottom of the page - “ex 1950 SS Roma Passengers visit the Doulos in Australia.”

A Request:

If you or a relative have sailed on the SS Roma at any time and can share some information about the voyage and the ship, even a photographs or any memorabilia you may still have be it a menu, etc, I would be very happy to hear from you!

Email me at: info@ssmaritime.com.

SS Roma Postcard:

I received a number of postcards from a several of the Brisbane SS Roma passengers; I will show the two sides from two sources.

Above and below: Original postcard of the SS Roma provided by ex passenger Liane Horne. It was given to her

Mother Mrs. Annemarie Gurgacz who with the family came to Newcastle from Bremerhaven in 1950.

This postcard is owned by Annemarie Horne & family – used with permission

The back of the card with the name of the ship s/s Roma clearly visible as well as the company details

This card was sent Chris Ralph on behalf his mother Gana Raplh (Petronela Zygis) - used with permission

Go to Chapter 3 - A New Beginning – MS Franca C the liner – 1953 - 1959

Or, return to the MV Doulos Main Index

Also online two special SS Roma features …

1 - Voyage to Australia in 1950 – by Paul Christmann

2 - ex 1950 SS Roma Passengers visit the Doulos in Australia – Aug 08

PLEASE NOTE:

MV Doulos has been decommissioned in December 2009

Read the …

“MV Doulos Campaign”

Enter the “Save the MV Doulos Campaign” page

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Who is the Author of ssMaritime?

Reuben Goossens commenced in Passenger Shipping industry in May 1960

Email the author – at:

info@ssmaritime.com

PLEASE NOTE: I receive hundreds of requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and Sailing Schedules. I hereby wish to advise that I am unable to assist due to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request for these will no longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!

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Please Note:

Photographs on ssMaritime and ssmaritime.net are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seem a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

This notice covers all pages, although, we have done our 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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