ssmaritime
With Reuben Goossens
Maritime
Historian
Shaw Savill Line
At the time of her building, the QSMV (Quadruple Screw Motor Vessel) Dominion Monarch was the most powerful motor liner in the world and the largest ship operating full time on the Australasian trade. Shaw Savill already had a great deal of experience in operating all first class only passenger services and was able to assure their guests a unique luxury voyage. Dominion Monarch with 525 passengers, combined with her crew passenger ratio, offered a service that is unequalled to this day.
She was an unusual
ship as her design was that of a large passenger-cargo liner, with a relatively
small passenger complement considering her size. To this day, Dominion Monarch
remains the largest (all first class) cargo passenger liner ever to be built.
Many larger, faster passenger liners would later serve on the Australasian
service, however, with the eventual demise of the Dominion Monarch, the era of
deluxe traditional sea travel ended. She departed from Australasian and
Specifications
Builder Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson,
Built for Shaw Savill
Launched 27 July 1938 (by Lady Essendon)
Completed January 1939
Length 207.8 m / 682 ft
Width 25.9 m / 84 ft, 6 inches
Draught 34 feet
Propulsion 4 Doxford 5 cylinder opposed-piston Diesel engines
Screws Quadruple
Service speed 21.5 knots
Passengers 525 passengers (508 in 1947), all first class
Passenger decks 6
Crew 385
Port of registry
Livery Black hull, white superstructure, buff and black funnels
red boot topping
Holds 6, carrying around 3,600 tons of general cargo, and 12,800 tons
of frozen meat or dairy produce
The “Dom”
finally slips into the water!
Author’s private collection
Dominion Monarch
was launched at 3.30 p.m. on
Author’s
private collection
Dominion Monarch was launched at 3.30 p.m. on
Maiden voyage
Completed late in
January 1939, she completed her sea trials off St Abbs
Head, after which she was delivered to Shaw Savill.
Dominion Monarch seen
off Tenerife on February 21 during her maiden voyage
Photograph -
Her voyage
continued via
The grand lady is seen here at sea
From the author’s private
collection
Public facilities and accommodations
Accommodation was
provided on a lavish scale for 525 first class passengers (after her refit in
1947 – 508 passengers). 160 single berth cabins, as well as 182 multiple
berth cabins, including two deluxe suites, having a double bedroom, sitting
room, bathroom, and a lobby. A good number of cabins had private
facilities. Passengers had the use of six decks - Games deck –
Lounge deck – Promenade deck & A - B & C decks.
PS: All images in this interior/exterior collection are from the author’s private collection.
The spacious Main Lounge --
The public rooms
consisted of a Lounge, Drawing Room, Writing Room, Smoke Room,
Aft again was the Writing Room on the starboard side, whilst the Drawing Room was on the port side. Aft again was the classic Smoke Room, which had a dramatic period design, with a large fireplace. Aft on Lounge deck was the delightful Verandah, which doubled as the cinema.
The classic Smoke Room
Forward on
Promenade deck was the popular
The Restaurant on C deck was fully air-conditioned, with seating for 300 passengers.
Writing Room
Dine in style in the fully air-conditioned Restaurant
Ships Pool
This is what makes the ship tick!
**************************************
World War II
A sad looking ship, during even sadder days
Author’s private collection
During her second
voyage,
Dominion Monarch bellboy, John Carver is seen
on the right
Provided by John Carver
She was despatched
to
Dominion Monarch the
trooper seen in Wellington New
Author’s private collection
I received the following interesting E-mail from one of the troopers who sailed on her in October 1943:
“Although I did not have the pleasure of voyaging on this superb
liner, the Dominion Monarch in it's heyday, but I did
sail on her whilst she was a troopship. We embarked at Liverpool and sailed to
All or most of us travelled to
Seen toward the end of her war service
Author’s private collection
**************************************
Back in Service
Dominion Monarch looking her grand self, departing
Provided by Ian Shiffman of …
http://home.worldonline.co.za/~snai/launch
- Email Ian at ShiffmanI@sundaytimes.co.za
A superb study of a
great liner
*Photographer unknown
Dominion Monarch
was returned to Shaw Savill in 1948, after a refit she recommenced her regular
duties. On many occasions, whilst Dominion Monarch was in Wellington New
Zealand during the early sixties, the youthful author, employed in the shipping
industry as an office boy, spent a great deal of time on this fine liner,
enjoying the beauty of her classic appointments. I recall the joyful departures
with the brass band playing and colourful streamers thrown by passengers
leaning over the rails saying goodbye to their loved ones on the quay.
A rare encounter, Dominion Monarch and the Southern Cross
berthed side by side in Wellington New
Author’s private collection
The
John Kelk Story.
Dominion Monarch actually
had Bellboys and John Kelk was one of these. One of
his main duties on the liner whilst she was at sea was to open the door to let
passengers into the dining room at meal times, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Then after each meal he and the other Bellboys would have to sweep up all the
spills in the dinning room. John was located, he told me on the portside door
together with a lad by the name of Peter. Whilst, one of the other boy’s
named Cato was on the starboard door. John recalls that the best job he had
whilst on board was when they were in
John boarded her on
26 February 26 and completed his duties on
This photograph of John was taken on
Photograph provided by John Kelk
Sadly, during the mid sixties the Australasian luxury passenger market was rapidly declining. All too often, she would depart with just a small complement of passengers, therefore the time came when Shaw Savill had to decide that this grand liner had simply become uneconomic and was to be sold.
Arriving at Circular Quay
Author’s private collection
Author’s private collection
Here we se the black
and white version of an artist impression of what was a colour version
I took this from a
Shaw Savill postcard that had the ships details at the bottom
Author’s private collection
Goodbye
On
*Photographer unknown
I was dockside as
she departed
Here we see the Dominion Monarch depart Wellington New
It was a sad moment not only for me, but also for the
thousands that lined the docks to see her go!
Author’s private collection
The End of a great liner
She was leased from
June to November 1962 as a hotel ship for the Seattle World Fair. She was
moored at Pier 51,
With her name changed to Dominion Monarch
Maru
see is seen here in
Author’s private collection
Heading for the
breakers
Author’s private collection
A Lasting Memory
Dominion Monarch
had a dignified 24-year career, even though it being a short life compared to
most other liners, she remains one of the most impressive and luxurious of all
first class passenger cargo liner ever to be built! She was a one of a kind,
the kind of grand and graceful liner that will never grace our seas again!
Reuben Goossens
The magnificent Dominion Monarch preparing
for departure –
Author’s private collection
View Items of QSMV Dominion Monarch - Memorabilia
Also read
about other Shaw Savill ships on ssMaritime.com:
SS Southern Cross - SS Corinthic-Athenic-Ceramic-Gothic
“The Big Blue
Water Liners sailing to the distant shores.
I watched then come, I watched them go, and I watched them die.”
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PLEASE NOTE: I receive
hundreds of requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and Sailing Schedules. I hereby
wish to advise that I am unable to assist due to time restrains and as most
shipping companies have long gone these lists/schedules are no longer
available. I
regret to advise that any request for these will no longer be answered
regardless of the circumstances presented!
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