Eugenio C / Big Red Boat II

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

S.S. Eugenio C

Later names: EugenioCosta, Edinburgh Castle, The Big Red Boat II, she was broken up as “Big Red”

An early Linea Lines post card of SS Eugenio C

(from the author’s private collection)

Costa Armatori SpA (Linea C) Genoa ordered a new ship for the South American service. She would be not only new, but, revolutionary. She was built by Cantieri Riuniti Dell Adriatico in Monfalcone, Italy. Her keel was laid down on January 4, 1964.

SS Eugenio C seen during her construction

From the Paolo Baldazzi collection

This fine liner was launched on November 21 1964 and was delivered to Linea C on August 22, 1966 and duly departed for her maiden Trans-Atlantic voyage from Genoa to Buenos Aires. Her twin turbines gave her a remarkable speed of 27 knots, shortening crossing the Atlantic considerably. She accommodated 178 first class passengers, 356 second class and 1102 tourist class. With her many modern features in all classes, she became a popular luxury liner, much was sought after by the rich and famous. For the next ten years Eugenio C operated a full time Trans Atlantic service from Genoa to South America, however, with passenger loadings dropping rapidly in the late seventies, she undertook more and more cruises. However, by 1983 a Trans Atlantic voyage would be a twice yearly positioning voyage as she cruised year round from Europe or the Americas.

Specifications:

Length: 713ft – 217.39 Meters

Breadth: 96.1ft – 29.39 Meters

Draught: 28.3ft – 8.63 Meters

Gross Registered Tonnage: 32.753 Tons

Main Engines: De Laval Twin Cross compounded turbines in two cylinders 55,000 SHP

Boilers: 3 Babcock and Wilcox selectable superheat boilers of integral furnace design

Propellers: 2

Speed: 27 knots / 28.4 max

Passengers: 178 First – 356 Cabin – 1,102 Tourist

Crew: 424

Two sets of stabilizers / Fully air-conditioned

EugenioCosta

In 1984 SS Eugenio C was renamed EugenioCosta

From the author’s private collection

It was decided in 1984 to rename Eugenio C and give her an extensive conversion. She was renamed EugenioCosta. In 1994 it was planned to transfer her to “American Family Cruises” (part of the Costa Group) and rename her American Adventure, however, this venture was never realised. EugenioCosta completed her last cruise in November 1996.

The elegant lines of the well built SS EugenioCosta

Edinburgh Castle

SS Edinburgh Castle

From the author’s private collection

EugenioCosta was sold to the Bremen Vulkan shipyard in part exchange for the Costa Victoria. The British company, Lowline Shipping acquired her in 1998, and chartered her to Direct Cruises, who operated budget cruises, which were marketed through telephone sales to the UK. Renamed Edinburgh Castle, she received a US$12 million refit and commenced her new cruise service with Direct Cruises. Sadly, the ship was plagued with mechanical problems, which saw her owners go into liquidation in 1999. Lowline Shipping filed for bankruptcy. Ownership passed to their main creditor, being Cammell Laird.

Big Red Boat II

It was hard to miss the SS The Big Red Boat II with her bright red hull

Photographed by Bill Donall

Edinburgh Castle now part of the Cammell Laird stable, was chartered to Premier Cruises. She received a 10 month US$25 million overhaul and refit, which saw her hull painted bright red, like the other Premier ships. She was renamed Big Red Boat II and commenced service in 2000.

Sadly, Big Red Boat II did not have a long cruising life with Premier Cruises as the company also went into liquidation in September 2000. Still owned by Cammell Laird, Big Red Boat II was laid up at Freeport Bahamas in 2000. She was placed on the market. Although her interiors were in fine shape, her mechanical reputation remained the biggest drawback for finding new owners. In addition, as she required major repairs to her boilers, it became obvious that cruise companies were not willing to take a gamble on this once fine liner. Of course, being a steam ship would also mean that operational costs would be considerable compared with a motor ship, this was another reason why she languished in Freeport for five years.

In January 2009 the author received an email from a past staff member of The Big Red Boat II and foud it interesting reading, and present it hereunder.

“Having read your feature I was quite saddened to hear of Big Red Boat II final demise, as I was fortunate enough to have served on her final run. I joined Premier Cruise Lines in April 2000 to work in the casino as a croupier. Being young, free and single it felt very much like being paid to be on holiday!

The cruise itinerary was a 7 day cruise out of Houston around the Gulf of Mexico. We had three ports of call, Veracruz, Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel. Veracruz was a fairly small place to visit and the port was very much an industrial one. I believe the idea was to try and develop the region by the Mexican tourist board as a new destination. The old parts of town were quite interesting but the passengers were not particularly enthralled with the port.

Our next destinations were far more enjoyable for all concerned. Quite unusually for a short cruise we had overnight stops in Cozumel and Playa Del Carmen. I think this was the real reason for most passengers booking this cruise, a night’s entertainment in these exciting places. When we set sail the following afternoon there were some very sorry looking people on board and that was both passengers and crew alike.

All other time was spent at sea and although the ship was clearly old, it was still very comfortable and well facilitated.

Unfortunately the ship was plagued with problems almost from day one. The most common complaint was the lack of air conditioning and I believe several of the early cruises ended up with all the passengers being promised a free replacement cruise later in the year. Perhaps our biggest mishap was the sinking of the tug boat as we docked in Galveston. Still don’t know how we did it but it got us plastered all over the newspapers and featured on most news channels. It also led to the cancelling of cruise, much to the annoyance of the holidaymakers concerned, and a lengthy stay in dry docks in Alabama.

I think that it was a Monday or Tuesday evening at sea when the announcement went out that we were no longer headed for Mexico but were on our way to Nassau instead. It took several days to find out what had actually happened but by the time we reached our berth in Nassau we all knew we were in for along stay. The Big Red Boat 1 pulled up alongside us after a couple of days and that was the beginning of the end. We were actually stranded in Nassau for a couple of weeks while negotiations went on to try and save the company but finally we were all handed plane tickets and allowed to head for home.

It was a real shame to learn that nobody was able to save the ship from scrap. She may have been old and small in comparison to today’s giants but there was something strangely endearing about her. I think in some ways when you sailed on the Big Red Boat II you stepped back in time a little to the golden age of steam ships. Unfortunately old things tend to break a lot and you are probably better off on a modern cruise ship with all the luxury that goes with it.

Chris Stewart”

SS Big Red bunkering in the Azores on April 15

Not being able to find a buyer, sadly in 2005 this magnificent ship was sold to Indian breakers. She departed Freeport for India under the name Big Red. She was seen bunkering in the Azores on April 15, before heading for Alang. She arrived in Alang on Sunday 5 June.

This once great liner is coming to the end of her life, a sad sight!

SS Big Red arrived at Alang on Sunday 5 June 2005 to be broken up. The very next day SS Rita, ex Margarita L, Windsor Castle also arrived at Alang. Two fine and much loved liners have gone forever, one of Italian heritage and the other English.

Enter our Eugenio C / Edinburgh Castle / The Big Red Boat II - Photo Album

NEW: The Big Red Boat II photographed by Klaas Krijnen in Freeport

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I trust you have enjoyed reading this page on this much loved passenger liner. If you have sailed on her then 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!

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