Eugenio C / Big Red Boat II

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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

From the author’s private collection

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 “The Big Red Boat II” and commenced service in 2000.

Sadly, The 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 placed on a short based charter to the U.S. government after which she was laid up at Freeport where most of her fleet mates had already been laid up. She was laid up alongside the magnificent SS Rembrandt, ex Rotterdam, which has since been completely refurbished and is now open in Rotterdam Holland as the successful SS Rotterdam Hotel and Tourist centre.

SS The Big Red Boat II is seen laid up at Freeport alongside the SS Rembrandt

Photographer unknown – See photo notes at bottom of page

The Big Red Boat II was placed on the market along with all other ships of her fleet. Although her interiors were in excellent shape it was her mechanical reputation that remained the biggest drawback for finding new owners, as she required major repairs to her boilers. The Big Red Boat II was sold to Argo Ship Management in 2003, who sadly allowed her condition to deteriorate. However, she continued on the market, but it became obvious that cruise companies were not willing to take a gamble on this once fine liner. In addition being a steam ship means that operational costs would be considerable compared to a motor ship, this being another reason why she languished in Freeport for five long lonely years.

SS Big Red bunkering in the Azores on April 15

Not being able to find a buyer - be it for active duties or even as a hotel, for which she would have been perfect, in 2005 this magnificent ship was sold to Indian breakers. She departed Freeport for India under her own power and she was seen with huge plumes of black smoke flowing behind her with the name Big Red on her bow and stern. She was seen bunkering in the Azores on April 15, before heading for Alang.

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

SS Big Red She arrived in Alang on Sunday June 5, 2000 and was beached on the 7th.the day after the arrival of the Margarita L, ex Windsor Castle. Two fine and much loved liners have gone forever, one of Italian heritage and the other very British that ended its day more like a Greek tycoon’s private yacht.

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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Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

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Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

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