ssMaritime
With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
Introduction
When the Universe Explorer was still sailing the seas early in 2004, she was one of the very *last all American built steamships in operation, making her a true Classic Liner, a ship that had a close bond with the United States of America!
*There is only one other passenger ship, the SS Emerald, which was originally the Grace Lines, SS Santa Paula continues to cruise the seas with Louis Cruises. However, this ship has been totally rebuilt from hull up and today she in no way resembles her old self, thus in reality only her hull and some of her original cabins survive. However, she continues cruising in 2010.
SS Argentina – A fine forerunner
The 20,526
Moore-McCormack were operating the much loved SS Argentina, which was originally built as one of three twin funnelled “Panama-Pacific Liners,” built as the SS Pennsylvania in 1929. She accommodated 285 in First and 366 in Tourist Class.
SS Argentina built in
1929, sold for scrap in 1964
In 1937 she was rebuilt to operate exclusively
on the South American service and she became a single funnelled ship, giving
her a more modern look and upon completion in 1938 she was renamed Argentine accommodating
500 passengers and was registered at 20164
SS Brasil’s Grand History
In September 1955 the United States Federal
Maritime Board made a decision that the Federal Government should contribute
US$20 Million toward the cost of building two new steamships for
Moore-McCormack Lines. The company had already sought bids from several
yards and the best had come from Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation in
The official party at
the launching of SS Brasil
SS Brasil was launched by the wife of Moore-McCormack’s Chairman
of the Board, Mrs. Emmet J. McCormack at 1500 hours on
She was delivered to her owners on
Above
and below SS Brasil arrives in
Note
the original lookout forward of her dummy funnel, which was later replaced by
an observation lounge
SS Brasil seen on her
maiden voyage in September 1958
Here we see the SS
Argentina during her maiden voyage in December 1958
The sisters, SS Brasil
& Argentina (top) seen together at
As ships the Brasil and her sister the Argentina were considered to be quite unique, as both had a dummy funnel with two stacks located aft of their superstructure. The dummy funnel originally housed a glass-roofed solarium. Overall these ships were attractive looking ships, and she had pleasant public rooms, with unusually large staterooms as well as two swimming pools, considering that these ships had a considerably small passenger loading.
Interior Photo Album & Brochure
They came from a Moore-McCormack
package she purchased at a market &
I am most grateful to her!
The 1962/63 rebuilding program
SS Brasil headed for the shipyards where a multi million rebuilding program was undertaken at the Bethlehem Steel Shipyards at Baltimore the SS Brasil was first in 1962, followed by the SS Argentina in 1963. Both had two new decks were added atop of the ship, named Sun and the Navigation decks. These contained new accommodations for 163 passengers. In addition there were new public facilities added and several of the other public areas were enlarged to handle the new cruise venture. Upon completion SS Brasil departed on her very first cruise complete with her new upper decks in June 1963, looking like a brand new ship and yet she was not even five years old!
With their superstructure changed so dramatically the rebuild tended to change their profile greatly, and it was said that they looked somewhat awkward and top heavy. Although it did not take long before ship lovers came to realise that these were still superb and excellent ships, regardless of the alterations that had been made and the improvements by far outweighed the outward appearance!
SS Brasil looking splendid in this ocean-going
shot
A souvenir plate
SS Brasil specifications
with additional spec’s:
Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp.,
Yard: 467
Launched:
Delivered:
Maiden Voyage: September 12
Tonnage: 14,984
Length 188m
/ 617ft
Width 26.2m
/ 86ft
Draught 27.3ft
Screws Twin
– 35,000 SHP
At
the end of her career as the Universe Explorer - 731 one class
Passenger decks 9
Crew 401
One Class (At the end of her career as Universe Explorer – 365)
SS Brasil
seen at Funchal
Brasil continued cruising until 1972, when
sadly due to the declining passenger numbers in the shipping industry,
Moore-McCormack made a decision that saw the SS Brasil laid up in
A fine aerial stern photograph of SS Brasil
from the air – But times were changing!
What happened to the
SS Argentina – This is her closing story!
After having been
operated by Holland America Line from 1977 as the SS Veendam and briefly as the
Monarch Star, then back to Veendam, she was sold in 1984 to the Island
Navigation Corp, operating as Bermuda Cruise Line who renamed her SS Bermuda
Star and she continued cruising until September 1990.
*The
photographer is unknown – Please see the photo notes at the bottom of the
page
She was sold in 1990 to
Commodore Cruise Lines who renamed her Enchanted Isle. Early in 1994 she was
laid up in
In 1995 she came under the ownership of the
New Commodore Cruise Line, and retained the name Enchanted Isle and recommenced
her cruise duties. However New Commodore Cruise Lines went into bankruptcy in
December of 2000 and the ship was laid up at
SS Enchanted Isle
In July 2003 she was sold to the Global Marketing
Company who renamed her New Orleans, but then on October the 2nd.she departed Violet, Louisiana and ship lovers
discovered that she was bound for the breakers in India. She arriving at the
breakers yards on
SS Brasil / Universe
Explorer’s end:
Sadly, the SS Universe Explorer, ex SS Brasil
was also sold to Indian breakers and she was beached at Alang on
This feature on an excellent ship is continued over the next four pages. I trust that you enjoy this feature, especially if you have sailed on the SS Brasil or the SS Argentina!
*The SS Brasil story continues on “Page Three” - See the links below on the ships Index.
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or go to our INDEX
Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
Also
visit my …
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Classic Liners Campaign” & “Classic Ocean
Voyages”