ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
Turkish
Maritime Lines
(Denizcilik Bankasi
Turk Anonim Orakligi)
SS Iskenderun & SS Samsun
SS Samsun
From the author’s private collection
In the late 1940’s the Turkish
Maritime Lines decided to order two new ships, however in contrast to their
more recent additions to the their fleet, considering their last three ships
had all been obtained from the United States, this time these two ships would
to be new ships and were built by Italian Ship builder; S.A. Ansalso in Genoa.
In addition, thes4e fine ships were also especially designed to the companies
own design and layout, a trend that their future ships would follow, although
being constantly updated and enlarged upon.
A generic postcard of the SS Samsun and Iskenderun
From the author’s private collection
The first to be built was SS Iskenderun at 6,570-tons. She was the first of the pair of sisters and was completed late in 1950. She was followed in 1951 by SS Samsun which was registered at a slightly lesser tonnage of 6,543-tons.
Classes: Both ships had accommodations for 25 passengers in deluxe suites and 71 in First Class cabins, being a total of 96 passengers in First Class, in addition there were 320 (330 on SS Samsun) in Tourist Class, although when built, they were three class ships, but this was soon altered to two classes.
Public Facilities: All First Class public rooms were located on A (Weather, or Promenade Deck), with the Dining Room between the Main Lounge located far forward and the Smoke Rook with a fine Bar aft. The Tourist public rooms, including the Dining Room and Smoke Room were located aft on B deck. The ships only Swimming Pool was located up on Boat deck. Although allocated to First Class, Tourist Class passengers were allocated special times to use it.
Accommodations: There were ten twin bedded deluxe suites some being able to accommodate either one or two additional passengers. Each has a private sitting room as well as a spacious bath room. These were located on A and B Decks. All other First Class cabins were either singles or two berth cabins, but none had private facilities. These were on B and C decks. Tourist Class (originally as built second they had third classes) had three grades of accommodations, 44 in A grade, being 4 berth cabins. 72 in B grade, being mostly 6 berth cabins and 204 (214) in C grade, which were larger dormitories located in the aft section of the ship and lower decks. In additions the ships were able to carry up to 20 cars in the garage as well as 10 cars on deck.
Length: 433ft / 132m, Width: 57ft / 17.3m,
Draught: 18.9ft / 10.3m. Two S.A. Ansalso built Steam Turbines (boilers and
auxiliary engines were overhauled in the Netherlands in (1964) 4,400
From the author’s private collection
Voyages: According to their schedules these varied greatly depending on the years as they passed, however in 1951 from April to October they were as follows; Beirut, Alexandria, Malta, Naples, Marseilles On their return voyages they also called also at Genoa. Then from September 1951 to May 1952 the following service: Istanbul, Izmir, Piraeus, Beirut, Alexandria, Naples, Marseilles. On the return voyages again called at Genoa, but omitted Izmir. From May to September 1962 they operated as follows: Istanbul, Piraeus, Naples, Marseilles, Genoa, Naples, Alexandria, Beirut. Return voyages: again a visit was made to Genoa.
Kevin and some friends sailed on the Samsun from Genoa to Haifa
and return in 1966
They are seen here during boat drill
Provided by Kevin
The 1967 fares and sailing schedule
From the author’s private collection
From June to September 1967: Istanbul, Piraeus, Naples, Marseille, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Haifa. However on he return voyages the ships would depart Haifa, and sail as follows, to Naples, Marseilles, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Piraeus, Istanbul. Thus having also visited Genoa, but visited Naples twice!
From the author’s private collection
The last service I will mention are the 1971 schedules; Covering both ships; SS Iskenderun in January and December only, and SS Samsun January to March; Izmir, Limassol, Haifa and return. Then SS Samsun from April to November 1971 operated as follows; Istanbul, Izmir, Marmaris, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, and return.
SS Samsun is seen here at anchor in Istanbul
From the author’s private collection
Voyages were reported in 1973 and 1974 mostly of the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, but I have been unable to obtain details of their final days.
The SS Ankara and SS Iskenderun are seen laid up in 1975 at
the Istinye dry-dock (Istanbul)
Photograph by & © Hurol-Hekimbasi
Although the ships continued cruising on various services, but slowly these services diminished as air travel competed with more attractive air fares and thus eventfully both ships were withdrawn and sols in 1982 to the breakers. Below we see the SS Iskenderun, which was broken up alongside the 1927 built 6,178-ton (55 year old) running mate SS Ankara.
Here we see the SS Ankara and the SS Iskenderun on the
beach at the breakers yard in July 1982
From the author’s private collection
Please Note. This feature is unfinished and more details regarding these ships will come in the near future.
Reuben Goossens.
The SS Samsun is seen at Istanbul with the MS Izmir in the
middle heading the opposite way
From the author’s private collection
INDEX
Page One … The history of MS
Akdeniz and the early days of MS Karadeniz
Page Two … Interior
photographs taken in June 2006 and other images
Page Three … Photographs by
Peter Knego taken of Akdeniz in 1998
Page Four … Photographs
and details of MS Karadeniz
Page Five ... NEW – A superb page packed full of photographs of the
ships interiors taken by Dr. Ata Bilgili
whilst she has been at anchor as an accommodation vessel
New Page … Two fine Turkish ships SS
Iskenderun and Samsun built in
1950/51
New Page … MS Pasabahce is a remarkable 1955 built Turkish all steel ferry and it is now in need of saving!
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Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
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