ssMaritime
Maritime Historian
Above: A Cunard Postcard of the RMS Media
Special
thank you: I
have received a number of images from supporters of ssmaritime that are
featured on this page and I am most grateful for these, especially Rick
Danley from the
Part
One
RMS Media - including her sister RMS
Parthia
The RMS Media and her twin sister RMS Parthia
were originally designed and on order in 1945/46 as two big freighters for the
Cunard affiliate the Brocklebank Line. However with
World War II at an end, Cunard was ready to return to full passenger services across
the
The Media was launched
This advertisement appeared in a New York
Newspaper regarding RMS Parthia’s maiden arrival
Provided by Jason Dell of New
York
RMS Media arrives in
Copy taken from a Cunard brochure: “TWO
NEW POST-WAR LINERS - Described as ‘the ships of tomorrow,’
the Media and
RMS Parthia followed the Media eight months
later
Above & Below: Two postcards of the Drawing Room (above) and the
Long Gallery (below) on the RMS Parthia
These images are both from
prior the ships being refitted and upgraded in the early fifties.
From the author’s private
collection
Both ships were relatively successful, however
late in 1952 the Media was
refitted, changes included having her promenade deck fully glass enclosed, but
the major change was that she became the very first transatlantic liner to be
fitted with “Deny-Brown fin stabilisers.” She was completed early
in 1953 and soon enough these stabiliser fins proved that they greatly reduced
the ships movement at sea, providing a far more
The Media is seen here
prior to her 1953 refit
From the author’s private
collection
Brochure copy: “These two new liners are each of 13,350 tons with a length of 535 feet, with a breadth of 70 feet.”
Both ships were relatively successful, but in
1953, the Media was
overhauled and she became the first transatlantic liner to be fitted with
Deny-Brown fin stabilisers. These fins greatly reduced the rolling at sea and
provided a more
RMS Media is seen here
after her refit with her promenade deck fully glass enclosed and fillet with
stabilisers
From the author’s private collection
Photographs from a Cunard Brochure
The Main Lounge
The Cocktail Bar
Brochure
copy: “The
Cocktail Bar - an intimate rendezvous, gay in red and cream on the
Promenade Deck.”
Long Gallery was the
perfect place for morning and afternoon tea
The Drawing Room &
Library was so typically English!
The Dinning Room was
somewhat understated for a First Class Liner
Cabins were spacious
and well furnished
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Both these ships became much sought after by
many celebrities as they were smaller ships having an intimate and luxurious
atmosphere and of course having only 250 passengers at the most. One much loved
film star who used these ships frequently was Katharine Hepburn.
Katharine Hepburn seen
on board the RMS Parthia on boarding day in
Postcard of Cunard
Line RMS
Postcard from the author’s
private collection
Media is seen here departing
Photographer unknown - *See photo
notes at bottom of page
These ships became popular due to their
intimate atmosphere and the relaxed eight to ten day Atlantic crossings
providing their passengers with a delightful time of shipboard life. Their
lounges were comfortable and had all the comforts of the larger liners.
Occasionally there would be calls to
Left: The Media in
Then the French Liner
Liberty, America, Saturnia, and finally the
From the author’s private
collection
A superb colour
photograph of the RMS Medina
Photographer unknown - *See photo
notes at bottom of page
The RMS Parthia was purchased
in 1962 by the New Zealand Shipping Company of
NZSC Postcard of the
SS Remuera – later she received a slight dome to her funnel
From the author’s private
collection
However, Remuera was sold two years later to
the Eastern Australian Steam Ship Co of London and was renamed SS Aramac. She
was placed on the
A model of the RMS
Media at the
Photograph taken by the author
when visiting the
Specifications – 1: Media
Builders: John
Brown & Co,
Tonnage: 13,345
Engines: J
Brown - Steam, D.R. geared turbines 15,000 SHP
Builders: Harland
& Wolff,
Launched:
Tonnage: 13,362
Both Ships:
Length: 531ft
– 162m
Width: 69.9ft
– 21.3m
Crew: 184
The RMS Media was sold for £740,000 pounds to
“Compagnia Genovese d’Armamento
S.p.A,”
or Cogedar Line in July 1961, but she continued to
sail for Cunard until September 30 that year and having been destored she was officially handed over in
The sleek Cogedar liner
TS Flavia, one of the finest maritime reconstructions to date!
The
SS Medina / Flavia INDEX
Part One: RMS Media &
Parthia
Part Three: Flavia Photo Album
Part Four: Passenger Photographs
& Menus
Other Cogedar Ships featured on ssMaritime
1: MS Flaminia
2: MS Aurelia
Special thank you: I have received a number of images from supporters of ssmaritime
that are featured on this page and I am most grateful for these, especially Rick
Danley from the
or go to our
***********************************
Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
Also
visit my …
“Save The Classic Liners
Campaign” & “Classic Ocean Voyages”