ssMaritime.net

A Vintage Liner Sails into the 21^st Century

Reuben Goossens

MV Doulos

Ex SS Medina, SS Roma, MV Franca C

Chapter One

--SS Medina--

SS Medina

From the author’s private collection

Mallory Steamship Company ordered Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry-dock Company to build a freighter, first known as “Hull number 176” which would be the first cargo ship to be built by Newport News Shipbuilding, as previously they had only built two naval ships, an oil tanker and a tug. This 5,426 GRT (Gross Registered Ton) new cargo ship would be a new venture for them and she was to be a ship, as dubbed in the papers, “A ship ahead of her time.” However, from small beginnings, Newport News Shipbuilding has since become a giant in shipbuilding and today is one of America’s major builders of warships, especially massive aircraft carriers.

SS Medina is seen here close to completion, in the Newport News Dry-dock

Photograph from the Dovid J. Mendelssohn collection

A stern view of the SS Medina

Photograph from the Dovid J. Mendelssohn collection

The official launching & naming party on 22 August 1914

Photograph from the Dovid J. Mendelssohn collection

As she was being launched on August 22, 1914, she was officially christened and named SS Medina, after the Texan River Medina. She retained that name for 34 years. She had an identical sister ship, built in the same year, the SS Neches, which was the name of another American River. However, SS Neches collided with another vessel and sank off the coast of England in 1918.

SS Medina passes the Statue of Liberty as she heads off for her maiden voyage

From the author’s Private collection

Medina’s appearance was certainly rather insignificant, and she did not show any signs of the incredible future that lay ahead of her. Her first task was to transport onions from New York to Galveston Texas. From her first day at sea she was worked hard, proving she was a ship of incredible strength and durability. SS Medina had a speed of 14 knots and was described in the September 1914 “International Marine Engineering” magazine as “One of the most modern and largest freight steamships operating on the Atlantic coast.”

In 1916 the Medina was transferred to the Matsonia Steam Navigation Corporation. Then, when World War I broke out, she was requisitioned and she became a US supply ship for the Army under the control of the US Navy. However, she also took on a command role at times.

SS Medina - World War I

In one noted wartime incident, the SS Medina was the “Commodore ship” in a convoy of about twenty ships that included the USS West Bridge. On August 15, 1918, at 1740 hours the USS West Bridge’s Chief Engineer informed the Bridge that the main engine turbine rotor had been stripped and that the ship had to come to full stop for repairs. The Medina was immediately notified regarding the engine trouble. Located four miles ahead of the USS West Bridge was the USS Montana, which was torpedoed by a German Sub at 1800 hours. The Captain of the West Bridge was advised to keep the ship in darkness just in case, yet at 2358 hours a torpedo struck the West Bridge on her starboard side amidships and hit the engine room. The next torpedo hit twenty feet forward of the first. USS West Bridge quickly listed to starboard and the Captain gave the order to "Abandon Ship". Although it seemed that she was going to sink, she did not, but, she was abandoned and was declared a total loss, with four souls having lost their lives. Thankfully the Medina managed to escape from this dangerous situation without harm.

Another incident during the war was when the Medina rammed a Canadian Navy Corvette class vessel, almost cutting it in half. Medina was undamaged and she continued her wartime duties until the end of the war.

First Mate / Captain Roy W. Forbes SS Medina - 1918-1919

Photograph of First Mate of the SS Medina – Roy W. Forbes

I received an interesting email from Joanne Ninesling, Alexander City AL USA, as she wished to make sure that the SS Medina her Grandfather had served on was the same ship as the MV Doulos. Having seen the documentation she has provided, it certainly proves that it was!

Roy was born on July 18, 1893 and he was destined to become a sailor and from the documentation we have, we know that he served on SS Medina as First Mate, during 1918 and 1919. The document also proves that he sailed at least once across the Atlantic to Bordeaux France. The stamp at the rear of the “Certificate of Identification” is clearly marked “Bordeaux” as well as “Medina” written inside the stamp. Joanne told me, “During this visit to France, my grandfather brought my grandmother a Ruchot bronze lamp and a silk wrap, both of which we still have”.

ID Certificate for the voyage to Bordeaux France

The back of ID Certificate – top left, the Bordeaux immigration stamp dated 1918

After his time of duty on the SS Medina was over, he became Captain Roy W. Forbes and he held a ticket to serve on “all vessels.” However, tragically Captain Roy W. Forbes died in 1922, when Joanne’s Mother was just 2 years old.

Casualties of war that I have been able to discover, related to the Medina’s, was a Mr. Louis V Cease who served on her. He died on September 20, 1917, although details of his death are unknown. He was from the State of Kansas, and a Mr. Sydney A, Collard a British “Ordinary Signalman,” who died on November 1, 1918, apparently due to “illness.”

SS Medina’s Modernisation

One record shows that she transported four “passengers” to Ellis Island New York, one on January 23, and one just two days later on January 25, 1919, and two in October 1920. Based on information found on ellisisland.org.

Upon her return to the company the Medina was modernised and converted to being fired by coal to fuel oil in 1922. Ten years later, the Mallory Group merged with the Clyde Steamship Co and in 1934 merged with the New York and Porto Rico Steamship Co.

Back to War

SS Medina seen as part of the US Coast Guard

From the author’s Private collection

She continued to ply the American West Coast until World War Two, when she served once again as a Supply Ship under the Command of the US Navy and the Coast Guard. Apparently, during her wartime service, SS Medina rammed a Canadian corvette class naval vessel almost cutting it in half, although little information is available.

SS Medina

From the author’s private collection

After World War II, SS Medina had served in two World Wars and returned to an uncertain future for all too soon this thirty four year old ship was laid up and placed on the market. It was expected that she would be purchased by a ship breaker and that she would be broken up. However, her future was to be otherwise!

SS Medina seen at her prime – Her name is still visible in 2010 – see below …

Thank you to the Jonathan V. Niesling collection - USA

The name “Medina” can still be seen 95 years after her launching. Although this photo was taken on 18 August 2008

In addition her Costa Lines name “Franca C” can be seen behind the name Doulos

Note the “F” to the left of the “D” of Doulos

Click HERE for an enlargement image

Go to Chapter Two … From Onions to Passengers – SS Roma 1949 – 1953

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PLEASE NOTE:

MV Doulos has been decommissioned in December 2009

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Reuben Goossens commenced in Passenger Shipping industry in May 1960

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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.

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