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ORSOVA (1954) - Ocean Liner / Passenger Cruise Ship 28790/1954/UK/5265772 29091 grt in 1969 Docked at Southampton - 30.5.1972 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Operators 1954/1960 Orient Line 1960/1966 P & O Orient Lines 1966/1974 P & O Line Built by Vickers Armstrong - Barrow in Furness Launched 1953 Maiden Voyage 17.3.1954 Out of Service 1973 Scrapped 1974 -
FEDERICO `C` - Passenger Liner / Cruise Ship 20416/1958/Italy/5113230 At Tilbury Landing Stage,River Thames - 19.8.1971 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Name History 1958/1983 Federico "C" 1983/1983 Royale 1983/1988 Starship Royale 1988/2000 SeaBreeze Built at Ansaldo Sestri Ponente Shipyard,Italy Launched 31.3.1957 Maiden Voyage 1958 Out of Service September 2000 Sank off Cape Henry - North Carolina,Virginia on 17.12.2000 -
ROYAL VIKING SKY - Passenger Cruise Ship 21847/1973/Norway/7218395 In Southampton Water - 27.5.1977 Don Smith Collection History of the Royal Viking Sky- 1973: Launched and delivered by the Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard to the Royal Viking Line as the Royal Viking Sky, the second of three sister ships.
- 1981–1983: The ship was "stretched" by being lengthened by over 20 meters to increase its passenger capacity.
- 1991: Sold to Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) and renamed Sunward.
- 1992–1993: Sold to Birka Line and briefly renamed Birka Queen before being chartered back to NCL as Sunward later that year.
- 1993–1996: Chartered by Princess Cruises and operated as the Golden Princess.
- 1996–2004: Sold to Star Cruises and renamed Superstar Capricorn. During this time, it was chartered from 1998 to 2001 to Hyundai Merchant Marine and sailed as Hyundai Keumgang.
- 2004–2005: Sailed briefly for Iberocruceros as the Grand Latino.
- 2005–2020: Acquired by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and operated as the Boudicca.
- 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the vessel being laid up. Later that year, Fred. Olsen announced the ship had been sold.
- 2021: The vessel was sold for breaking up, renamed Edi, and dismantled in Aliaga, Turkey.
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EDINBURGH CASTLE - Pass Cruise 28705 grt /1948 blt / UK / 5097022 Arriving at Southampton -11th August 1975 Don Smith Collection -
SS BRITANIS / BRITANIS - ex Matsonia/Monterey - Passenger Cruise Ship - Chandris Line 24346/1932/Greece/5229223 Leaving Tilbury - 18.6.1976 Don Smith Collection Notes:- The S.S. Britanis was a passenger cruise ship with a long history under several names, beginning as the Matson Lines' S.S. Monterey in 1931. The ship was later purchased by the Chandris Line, who renamed it Britanis and operated it as a cruise ship for decades Ship history and timeline Early career as S.S. Monterey (1931–1970) 1931: Launched as a luxury ocean liner by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation. 1932: Entered service for Matson Lines, offering voyages from the U.S. to Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia.World War II: Requisitioned by the U.S. government for use as a troop transport, carrying thousands of soldiers. 1946–1956: After the war, she was laid up until Matson Lines repurchased her. She was then renamed S.S. Matsonia in 1957, operating on the San Francisco–Honolulu route. 1963: Matson changed her name to S.S. Lurline. Service with Chandris Lines as S.S. Britanis (1970–1998) 1970: Purchased by Chandris Lines and renamed S.S. Britanis. 1971–1974: Operated as a liner on the Southampton-to-Australia route.1974 onwards and Converted to a full-time cruise ship, sailing itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. 1980's–1990's: Sailed under the Chandris Fantasy Cruises brand. She continued service well into the 1990s and became known as one of the oldest liners still in operation. 1994: Ended her cruise career. She was chartered by the U.S. government as a floating barracks for military personnel at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Final years and sinking (1998–2000) 1998: After being laid up, she was sold to AG Belofin Investments and renamed Belofin-1. October 2000: While being towed to a scrapyard in India, the ship began taking on water. The crew of the tugboat cut the ship loose, and it eventually capsized and sank off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. -
FALAISE - Passenger Ferry Sealink on the side of hull and Black and Red Funnel 3710 grt / 18947 blt / BR / 5111969 Arriving at Weymouth - 6.6.1974 Don Smith Collection Notes:- The TSS (Twin-Screw Steamer) Falaise was a cross-channel passenger ferry built in 1947 by William Denny & Brothers in Dumbarton, Scotland. Ordered by Southern Railway, it was one of the first post-war ships delivered to the company in Southampton. Service history- 1947: Made its maiden voyage in July, operating between Southampton and St. Malo. It was initially used on routes to the Channel Islands.
- 1950s: Later switched to the Southampton to Le Havre route.
- 1963: Moved to the Newhaven-Dieppe route.
- 1964: Converted to a stern-loading car ferry.
- 1973: Returned to the Channel Islands, sailing out of Weymouth.
- 1974: Faced frequent mechanical problems and was ultimately deemed too expensive to repair. The vessel was sold for scrapping.
- 1975: Broken up at Bilbao, Spain.
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REGINA MAGNA - Pass Cruise - Chandris Line 32360/1938/Greece/5051145 Docked at Southampton - 9.6.1972 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Launched 15.2.1938 Completed August 1939 Commissioned 1940 Decommissioned 1980 1939: Completed as Pasteur for Cie.Sudatlantique, Bordeaux. Did not enter service due to the start of WW2. 1940: Carried the French gold reserves to Halifax, and entered service as a troop transport under the British flag, managed by Cunard-White Star. Returned to French Flag in 1945, and continued as a troop transport under management of Sudatlantique, operating to the Far East. 1957: Sold to Norddeutsche Lloyd, Bremen . Entered service in 1959 as Bremen, after rebuilding by Bremer Vulkan, on the Bremerhaven-New York service. 1970: The Bremen passed to the combined HAPAG-Lloyd fleet on 1st September 1970. She lasted only one year, being sold to Chandris Lines and was named Regina Magna 1977: Sold to Philippine owners and renamed Saudi Phili I 1980 : Name changed to Saudi Filipinas I 1971: Sold to Chandris Lines and renamed Regina Magna , running cruises worldwide only until 1974, when laid up. Later used as an accommodation ship in Saudi Arabia, and sank on 9/6/1980 on the way to breakers in Taiwan. Tonnages :- 29,253 GRT (Pasteur) 32,336 GRT (Bremen, 1957) 32,360 GRT (Bremen, 1966) 23,801 GRT (Regina Magna) Owners:- Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique (1938–40) UK Government (1940–46) Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique (1946–57) Norddeutscher Lloyd (1957–72) Chandris Cruises (1972–77) Philippine Singapore Ports Corporation (1977–80) Philsimport International (1980) Operators:- Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique (1938–40) Cunard White Star Line (1940–46) Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique (1946–56) Norddeutscher Lloyd (1957–72) Chandris Cruises (1972–77) Philippine Singapore Ports Corporation (1977–80) Philsimport International (1980) -
ORONSAY - Passenger Liner / Cruise Ship - P and O 27632/1951/UK/5265617 Docked at Southampton - 30.7.1971 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Built by Vickers Armstrong - Barrow in Furness Laid down 1949 Launched 30.6.1950 Completed May 1951 Maiden Voyage 16.5.1951 Out of Service 28.9.1975 09.10.1975 Sold to Nan Feng Steel Enterprise Co Ltd, Taiwan, for demolition at Kaohsiung - 09.10.1975 Demolition commenced -10.04.1976 -
ARGONAUT - Passenger Cruise Ship - Epirotiki Line 3999/1929/Greece/5265069 Docked at Dover - 28.6.1972 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Built by Krupp Germania Werft, Kiel, Germany, 1929. Names: MY Orion 1929 - 1940. USS Vixen PG-53 1940 - 1950. MY & MS Orion 1950 - 1964. MS Argonaut 1964 - 1996. MS Regina Maris 1996 - 2004. Beached at Aliaga on 2.12.2004 for breaking -
Cynthia ex Britannia - Passenger Cruise Ship Britannia was built as Refrigerated Cargo Ship (see notes) 4696 grt as built /1929/—-/5052319 Docked at Piraeus - 19.5.1973 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Built as Britannia - Refrigerated Cargo Ship then became Cynthia-Passenger Cruise Ship in 1966 Launched 27.2.1929 Completed June 1929 Built By Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Yard Neptune ,Low Walker History:- 6/1929 Rederi A/B Svenska Lloyd,Gothenburg,Sweden 1966 Hellenic Mediterranean Lines,Piraeus and renamed CYNTHIA 1966 Cia Amodores De Sudamerica SA ,Panama 1969 Cynthiana Nav Co Ltd,Fanmagusta,Cyprus November 1973 Broken up by Vado Scali e Bacini,Savona,Italy -
ASIA - Passenger Cruise Ship 11693/1953/ Italy / 5026827 Underway at Capetown - 1973 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Built: 1953 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Trieste, Italy Sold 1975; converted to livestock carrier 1977 as Persia; scrapped at Gadani Beach 1985 -
WINSTON CHURCHILL - Passenger Ro Ro Ferry 8657/1967/Denmark/6718234 Passing Harwich - April 1974 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Launched 25.4.1967 Operated by Scandinavian Seaways / DFDS Seaways 1967 - 1996 Empress Cruise Lines 1996 - 2004 Built by Cantieri Navali Del Tirreno e Riuniti ,Riva Trigoso -
LIBERTE - Ex Europa - Ocean Liner / Passenger Cruise Ship Europa 49746/ 1929/ German Liberte 51839/ 1946 rebuilt / France / 5607332 Anchored at Cork,Southern Ireland - Pre 1962 Don Smith Collection Notes:- SS Europa / North German Lloyd line Built by Blohm and Voss Shipyard, Hamburg ,Germany Launched August 1928 Maiden voyage: Bremen-Southampton-New York, March 19, 1930. 49,746 GRT Tonnage SS Liberté Ship Facts Named Liberte in 1946 / French Line 51839 grt when rebuilt / 1946 / France / 5607332 Operated by Compagnie Générale Transatlantique Route : Le Havre to rew York French flag On August 2, 1950 the Liberte made the inaugural voyage as a French vessel. Final voyage was November 1961 Laid up in 1962 and Scrapped 1963 at La Spezia,Italy -
SYLVANIA - Passenger Liner / Cruise Ship Cunard Line 21989/1957/GBR/ 5347245 when rebuilt in 1971 24724 grt Docked at Liverpool - N.D.A. Don Smith Collection Notes:- Saxonia Class Ocean Liner Maiden Voyage 5.6.1957 Built by John Brown & Co,Glasgow,Scotland After refit in 1971 24724 grt Names of vessel 1957–1968: Sylvania 1968–1988: Fairwind 1988: Sitmar Fairwind 1988–1993: Dawn Princess 1993–2003: Albatros 2003–2004: Genoa Operators:- 1957–1968:Cunard 1968–1988: Sitmar Line 1988–1993:P&O 1993–2003: V-Ships Registry 1957-1968 : United Kingdom UK/BR/GBR 1968-1993 : Monrovia,Liberia 1993-2003 : Nassau,Bahamas -
QUEEN MARY II - Passenger Cruise Arriving at Gourock - July 1975 Don Smith Collection -
QUEEN OF NANAIMO - Passenger Cruise Horseshoe Bay,Canada - N.D.A. Don Smith Collection
