Click the logo above to reach
the ssMaritime FrontPage for News Updates & “Ship of the Month”
With
Maritime Historian
Page Three
Israel’s
Flagship - SS Shalom
Later to become the: SS Hanseatic, SS Doric, Royal Odyssey & Regent Sun
January 2011: This Shalom pages have been updated with two new
pages regarding one of her
main
maritime architects - his story and countless images as well as a Deck Plan
As can be seen here, SS Shalom had a unique look with her high
forward superstructure, which gently sloped back to amidships
Author’s private collection
ZIM Israel Navigation Company / ZIM Lines commenced their passenger operations when their first passenger liner, the SS Kedmah arrived in Tel Aviv on July 28, 1947. Her arrival saw ZIM enter the Mediterranean and later the Trans-Atlantic market. In 1953, a stately liner the SS Jerusalem (I) (ex SS Bergensfjord) commenced what was to be a popular service across the Atlantic, although she was later renamed SS Aliya, and she remained in service until 1959.
It was in 1959 ZIM Lines placed an order with a French ship builder “Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard” in St. Nazaire for them to build a new liner for their Trans Atlantic service. The work would be supervised and managed by project manager Captain Rimon and the project technical superintendent was a borrowed IDF Naval officer and architect Edmond Wilhelm Brillant. ZIM had considered a number of names for their new ship and some of these included; “Shlomo-Hamelech” being Hebrew for King Solomon, and English names such as “King David” and “King Solomon,” but ZIM finally decided on a name that suited the need and the times, “Shalom” being the most beautiful of all Hebrew word meaning “Peace” being the perfect name for their new flagship.
This new highly advanced 25,320 GRT liner was designed to have her engines placed aft with twin upright funnels, similar to the famed 1959 Dutch Liner SS Rotterdam, and the English P&O’s 1960 SS Canberra. In design, SS Shalom was a true Trans Atlantic liner, being high sided with large sections of her passenger decks glass enclosed, protecting her passengers from the unpredictable Atlantic weather.
A fine bow shot of the Shalom
Photographer unknown *See the photo credit details at bottom of page
SS Shalom was built at a cost of £7.5 million and she was floated out of her building dock on November 10, 1962. Then having been fully fitting out she was dedicated by the wife of David Ben Gurion, Mrs Paula ben Gurion.
She commenced her deep sea trials on January 24, 1964 and was she was delivered to ZIM Lines in February. She finally headed for Haifa and as she entered Israeli waters and the port of Haifa on March 3, 1964 she hosted the Israeli flag for the very first time. SS Shalom arrived to a tumultuous jubilation for Israel’s grand new flagship had finally arrived as it was the beginning of a new Israeli maritime beginning.
Before commencing her Trans Atlantic duties SS Shalom first operated a number of short cruises out of Haifa, then on April 17, 1964 she departed Haifa fully booked and headed across the Atlantic for New York where she was welcomed with great fanfare!
Although she was fully booked at first, just six months later, in October she was sent to the Netherlands for a refit to make her more suitable for cruising duties as Trans Atlantic traffic had already decreased dramatically due to air travel having gained popularity and all shipping lines were suffering, but apparently cruising had become more and more popular.
Israel issued this stamp to commemorate the maiden voyage of SS Shalom
Author’s private collection
SS Shalom returns from her maiden voyage Trans-Atlantic voyage
Author’s private collection
Passengers disembark in Haifa
ZIM Lines
SS Shalom had two exterior and one interior swimming Pools. Her ten decks were named: Bridge, Lido, Olive Branch (Promenade), Rainbow, Dove, Dining, Main, A, B, and Ophir. Forward on Olive Branch Deck were all deluxe suites and the top graded First Class cabins. Amidships was the Cinema, followed by the Winter Garden and Children’s facilities aft. Rainbow Deck aft had the main Tourist Class lounges, such as the Havah Nagilah Hall, and the Tavern. Amidships was the shopping centre and the Night Club, which was open to both Tourist and First Class passengers, with special aft and forward entrances. First Class lounges were located forward on Rainbow Deck. One deck down, on Dove Deck there were a further six First Class cabins located forward, as well as a block of forty four interchangeable three berth cabins amidships.
ZIM’s 1964 Hebrew language brochure for Israeli’s
ZIM Lines
First Class accommodations were elegant twin bedded rooms, whilst Tourist Class offered two, three or four berth cabins. All cabins had private facilities. Accommodations on SS Shalom were considered some of the best on the Atlantic. SS Shalom was regarded as a ship of outstanding beauty, with her richly coloured contemporary-style décor. Her interiors were designed by Dora Gad, a very well known Israeli interior decorator. She won an award for her work on the Shalom and several other ZIM ships. SS Shalom, as did all Israeli ships before her, served a kosher cuisine, which became quite popular with all her passengers, Jewish or otherwise.
The
Synagogue on the SS Shalom
Image provided by Ron Hoffmann scanned from a
postcard
An
SS Shalom glass Dish
Provided by Ron Hoffmann
As built, SS Shalom accommodated 72 First Class passengers, with 87/131 interchangeable, and 887 Tourist Class passengers. She carried a crew of 450 on Atlantic sailings, but 500 whilst cruising.
In October that year, her First Class accommodations were enlarged at the De Schelde Yard in Holland to 148 First Class and 864 Tourist Class. ZIM decided to do this to make her more suitable for cruise duties. She soon resumed duties and headed across the Atlantic.
However, on a thick foggy day on November 26, 1964, SS Shalom departed New York commencing a cruise. Not long out to sea, just off Point Pleasant, 28 miles south west of Ambrose Light, SS Shalom collided with, and sliced through a Norwegian tanker, the Stolt Dagali.
The 12,725-ton Norwegian tanker Stolt Dagali
Author’s private collection
Sadly 19 crew members of the Stolt were sadly lost. Her stern section sunk in 130 ft of water, whereas her bow section remained afloat and was salvaged. With the bow of SS Shalom badly damaged, she returned to New York where she was fully repaired. Fortunately, the Stolt Dagali carried a cargo of non-flammable vegetable oils otherwise both vessels might have been consumed in flames.
Daily News – Headlines November 27, 1964
Author’s private collection
Above: The damaged bow of the Shalom – Below: The forward section of the Stolt Dagali, which remained afloat and was salvaged
Author’s private collection
Although a popular ship, the truth is from the moment
SS Shalom went into service in 1964, she suffered losses and encountered
ongoing difficulties, including the collision. Considering the financial
situation of ZIM Israel Passenger Line, the Israeli flagship was sold in 1967.
SS
Shalom is seen here berthed at Montreal July 1967, just before she was sold
Postcard - Photographed by Harry Wolf
As already stated on Page Two of this ZIM feature, SS
Jerusalem (II) had already been sold to the American International Service
Travel Board who used her in the Caribbean as a floating hote,
she then returned to cruising as the Bahama Star and
the Bonaire, but was sold to be broken up in 1979, but sunk on her was to the
breakers.
Her sister the SS Theodor Herzl completed the final
passenger voyage for ZIM Passenger Lines on November, 27, 1969, after she was
sold to the same company and was renamed Carnival she was also employed in the
Caribbean as a luxury floating hotel. In 1971, Carnival was sold a number of
times and was named Veracruz and Sun Ambassador. Whilst being refitted in
Greece in 1990 she caught fire and was destroyed.
When ZIM Lines sold the SS Theodore Herzl it was close to the end, except for the little MS Moledet, but with the Company's passenger branch was eventually liquidated in 1970, this ended a romantic chapter of the Israeli’s Company's history. ZIM had laid its foundation in 1947 with one passenger ship, the SS Kedmah and during the next twenty two years ZIM became a renowned shipping company and ZIM's passenger liners are still fondly remembered, for they had a unique reputation for excellence in service, fine food, and that much talked about incredibly stunning décor.
Sadly, SS Shalom brought about the end of ZIM Lines, and their last passenger ship the Moledet was sold in 1970 to become the famed cruise ship Jupiter, The SS Zion also became a magnificent cruise ship, much loved by so many, it was named the Dolphin IV.
SS Shalom was sold to the German Atlantic Line in
1967, just three and a half years after Israel’s flagship commenced
services out of Haifa.
Please read Page 4 for details of her design and building
by Maritime & Naval Architect
ZIM Lines SS Shalom and SS Jerusalem (II) seen berthed together
ZIM Lines
----------------------------------------
German
Atlantic Line
SS Shalom became the German Atlantic Line’s liner SS Hanseatic (II). Sadly, on her bow, German Atlantic painted her name in huge letters, which simply looked hideous and detracted from was a fine looking ship! She was placed on the Hamburg New York service until 1969, when she became a full time cruise ship.
Above and below: SS Hanseatic. Can’t miss her name if you tried!
Author’s private collection
Author’s private collection
zim-hanseatic-mug-michael-tahirak
Sent in by past passenger Michael Tahirak
A postcard of SS Hanseatic seen on a cruise in 1972
Author’s private collection
----------------------------------------
Home
Lines
A Here is a superb photograph of the SS Doric seen departing
Photograph taken by
In 1973, the German Atlantic Line went out of business and she was sold to Home Lines who renamed her SS Doric. She received an extensive refit, which saw her aft superstructure extended aft.
With her buff to yellow mast and funnel, SS Doric looked attractive
Author’s private collection
After her refit, SS Doric now accommodated 725 one class passengers. Over the next eight years SS Doric successfully operated cruises from Port Everglades to the West Indies from October to April, and between New York to Bermuda for the balance of the year.
A Home Lines brochure. Note her extended aft decks
Provided by Björn Larsson - www.timetableimages.com
A souvenir Home Lines SS Doric food tray
Sent in by Scott
A Home Lines postcard of the Doric
Author’s private collection
----------------------------------------
Royal
Cruise Line
As Home lines had a new ship on order, they decided to sell her in 1981 to Royal Cruise Line who renamed her SS Royal Odyssey. Under this guise she would cross the South Pacific twice, visiting Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia.
SS Royal Odyssey with her attractive new funnel
Author’s private collection
Before commencing services, Royal Odyssey received an extensive four month refit in Greece, which saw her distinctive twin funnels removed, and replaced by a single conventional, but attractive funnel. Her upper superstructure was extended from the Bridge to the funnel. Hr new look gave a fresh, modern and a pleasing profile. Her passenger capacity was increased to 814.
During the refit, Royal Cruises also made some technical alterations as well as adding a huge bulbous bow, which dramatically improved her sea-keeping abilities.
A fine stern view of the SS Royal Odyssey
Photographer unknown *See the photo credit details at bottom of page
Author’s private collection
In 1986, Royal Odyssey crossed the Pacific arriving in Sydney on November 24, from where she operated four Pacific cruises. When completed, she departed Sydney on February 13, 1987 retuning to Los Angeles. However, due to popularity, on December 24, that year, she returned to Sydney and operated another two Pacific cruises. Then on February 19, 1988 she departed Sydney for the last time and as Royal Cruise Line was about to delivery of their new ship, Royal Odyssey was sold.
----------------------------------------
Regency
Cruises
Regency Cruises purchased the magnificent Royal Odyssey in 1988, and renamed her Regent Sun and commenced a popular cruise seven year career with Regency Cruises until 1995.
Regency Cruises was formed by Greek ship owner Antonios Lelakis in 1984. The first ship was Regent Sea which was built as the 1957 Gripsholm. The Lelakis family purchased second hand tonnage at a vast rate, which eventually saw the group collapse in 1995. All ships were arrested and laid up.
SS Regal Sun - Author’s private collection
Regal Sun was laid up with the rest of the Regency fleet. At one stage there was a rumour that Royal Venture Cruises were going to purchase the Regal Sun and rename her Sun Venture and return her back to service. Sadly this project never eventuated.
Having been being laid up, in 2001, she was sold to Indian breakers who renamed her “Sun” and she departed under tow for Alang India where she was to be scrapped.
However, on Wednesday July 25, 2001, the SS Sun took on water and was listing some 30 degrees whilst off the coast of South Africa. Suddenly she keeled over and sunk at 7:05 PM local time. This was the end of a liner that some thirty seven years earlier was welcomed into the Port of Haifa with great jubilation as the crowning glory of ZIM Lines and Israeli passenger shipping! She was the ship of the future that at least had many lives and she did give many a superb cruise vacation especially in her latter incarnations!
A fine stern view of Israel’s pride and glory, SS Shalom – ZIM
----------------------------------------
ZIM Lines INDEX
Introduction: ZIM Lines early history
& their early smaller passenger ships
Page One: SS Jerusalem I, ZIM’s very first Trans Atlantic passenger line.
Page Three: SS Shalom,
Hanseatic, Doric, Royal Odyssey, Regal Sun, Sun
Use
the Back button on your browser or Close the Page to return to the previous
page
or go to our INDEX
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”