ssMaritime
MV Australasia
MS Baudouinville seen here in 1961 as the Booth Line - Anselm
© A painting by Wallace Trickett
NZ - Enter his
website HERE – Email: wallace.t@paradise.net.nz
Built by John Cockerill
S.A. at
MS Baudouinville (1) was destroyed by the Germans
Author’s private collection
MS Baudouinville was named after her
predecessor Baudouinville (1) which was built in 1939 and was captured by the
Germans in 1940 and destroyed by mines in 1944 in
MS Baudouinville 1950 - 1957
A fine view of the MS Baudouinville (2) in her
early days
From the Jonathan Thurston collection -
Baudouinville (2) was launched on
Twin Bedded Cabin on B Deck
Deluxe Cabin on C Deck
Dinning Room on D Deck
Specifications
Yard: #720.
Width: 19.6m / 64.3ft
Draft: 27.6ft
Engine: 2 x 8-cyl Burmeister
& Wain oil engines by the builder
Crew: 140
MS Baudouinville (3) seen in 1957
Later she became the P&O popular MV Cathay
sailing between Australia & Asia
Author’s private collection
MS Thysville … 1957 - 1961
Seen as the Thysville after having her engines
turbo charged in August 1957
Photographer unknown – Please note the photo notes at
bottom of page
When a new and larger MV Baudouinville (3) had
been built and commenced sailing, Baudouinville (2) was renamed Thysville on
RMS Anselm … 1961 -1963
Booth Line made her a Royal Mail Ship, thus she
became RMS Anselm
From the Jonathan Thurston collection -
In February 1961 she was sold to the Vestey Group who took delivery of her on March 13 and assigned her to the Booth Line of Liverpool who renamed her Anselm. She was about to be given an extensive refit at the Mercantile Marine Engineering & Graving Dock Co, in Antwerp as she was about to become a two class ship, thus a new lounge, as well as cabins and a dinning room would be added on D Deck starboard side aft. A new galley had to be built as well as a new hospital. She would now accommodate 135 First Class and 101 Tourist Class passengers. In addition Anselm was also fitted with refrigerated cargo facilities.
After her refit she was listed at 10,868
Anselm seen just after having entered service
From the Jonathan Thurston collection –
Anselm seen not long before her transfer to Blue
Star Line
Photograph by L. A. Baker – R. Goossens Collection
MS Iberia Star … 1963 - 1965
Postcard of the Iberia Star – Note the
pool area aft of the funnel and the lack of portholes aft
Author’s private collection
The Vestey Group decided in April 1963 to transfer her to the Blue Star Line of London and she was suitably renamed Iberia Star. This time she was suitably refitted at the Bremer Vulkan shipyard and her accommodations were greatly reduced to just 76 all First Class, and air-conditioning was finally extended throughout the ship. Another new feature was the swimming pool which was located on the top deck, just aft of her funnel, whilst the norm was to place the pool in the aft hold closest to the superstructure.
As she now operated with just 76 passengers it
was decided to remove two of her aft lifeboats, leaving her four forward
lifeboats in place. With the refit complete the smart looking MS Iberia Star
commenced on the
The aft Smoking Room & Bar –
originally the Tourist Class lounge
The Pool located topside
MV Australasia … 1965 – 1972
Austasia Lines MV Australasia
Author’s private collection
Renamed MV Australasia she headed for
She arrived in
Images from an MV Australasia Brochure
The brochure below (and images taken from it)
was kindly provided by Mr. Graham Emery. This and other items are part of his
parent’s Mr & Mrs. Lawrence Vernon Emery collection. They sailed on
MV Australasia from Fremantle, departing on
This brochure was produced before she was re
registered
in
Smoking Room and Bar
Main Lounge
Games Room – There was also a Library and
Reading Room
The Dinning Room
The pool located topside, just aft of the funnel
A typical promo shot for the MV Australasia
brochure
As a One Class British liner she was manned by British officers and engineers and Asian Stewards and Stewardesses. Besides the comfortable traditional beautifully timber panelled lounges and bars, she had a variety of accommodations available, with two, three and four berth cabins. In addition there were single rooms as well as special double deluxe staterooms. The majority of cabins had private facilities and she was fully air-conditioned.
Australasia was a popular ship, both as a
cruise ship for round voyages to and from
She was reregistered from English to
Singaporean registry on
MV Australasia in port
Photographer unknown – Please note the photo notes at
bottom of page
In 1972 it became evident to Austasia Line
(Vestey) that the ship engines were deteriorating and maintenance had become
prohibitive, thus the company decided that they would place her on the market.
Whilst she was in port in Fremantle she was purchased by Euroasia
Carriers of Singapore on
I trust you have enjoyed reading about this loved
passenger liner. If you have sailed on her I would like to hear from you, and
if you have any photographs I would greatly appreciate some, especially those
of the interiors and out on deck. Email Me!
or go to our
Who is the
Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
Contact me via
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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