ssMaritime.com – ssMaritime.net

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

Matson / Chandris Lines

SS Lurline / RHMS Ellinis

Matson Lines Lurline became the Chandris Lines Ellinis

Above: Postcard of RHMS Ellinis

Chandris issued many postcards of the Ellinis

Images on this page, unless marked otherwise they are from the Author’s private collection

Part One

Matson Lines SS Lurline

The Lurline arriving in Sydney on her maiden visit in 1933

Matson Lines commenced sailing from San Francisco to Australia, due to the takeover of the Oceanic Steamship Company in larger tonnage. In 1871, a number of smaller ships crossed the pacific, until it was decided to build a fleet of 1928 “Mariposa Class Matson decided to build a trio of liners for the Australian service. This series became known as the “Matson Liners”

1 … Mariposa was launched July 18 1931. In 1954 she became the Homes Line cruise ship Homeric. After a major fire in July 1973 she was declared a total loss and was scrapped in Japan in January 1974.

SS Monterey the second liner of the trio

2 … Monterey was also launched in 1931, renamed Matsonia in May 1957, renamed Lurline in 1963. In May 1970, she was sold and became the successful Chandris passenger liner RHMS Britanis. She was sold in 1998, to become the ill-fated Bolofin, which sank 20 October 2000, whilst under tow to the breakers.

3 … Lurline was launched on July 18 1932, and was the only ship to retain her original name until being sold in September 1963 to Chandris Lines to become the subject of this article, RHMS Ellinis.

Dimensions Lurline - Ellinis

Built by: Bethlehem Shipyard at Quincy, Mass, USA

Tonnage: 18,021 GRT – RHMS Ellinis - 24,351 GRT

Length: 192.6 m / 632 ft – RHMS Ellinis - 195.7 m / 642 ft

Beam: 24.2 m / 79.4 ft -

Propulsion: Geared Turbines - 28,500 SHP

Screws: twin screws

Speed: 20.5 knots – max 22 knots

Passengers: 475 First Class – RHMS Ellinis – 1,688 one class passengers

240 Tourist

Crew: 359

On January 15, 1933, SS Lurline departed New York City at noon for her maiden voyage, a “Circle Pacific Cruise,” bound for Auckland New Zealand, Sydney Australia and Asia. She sailed, via Havana, the Panama Canal, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hawaiiand a host of Pacific Island ports. Having visited Australia and Papua New Guineashe then visited many Asian ports before returning to the San Francisco on April 24, 1933. After her Circle Pacific voyage, she, together with her older sister the Malolo, was placed on the shorter, but popular San Francisco to Honolulu service.

I hereby wish to thank Mr. Todd M. Curro for providing the correct scheduling information regarding her maiden voyage as his Grandfather Robert worked on her during this voyage and retained a copy of the schedule in his photo book as seen below.

Todd Curro’s Grandfather - Robert Pitts served aboard the Lurline in 1933

Provided by Todd M. Curro

Schedule provided by Todd M. Curro

SS Lurline the Trooper

The troopship SS Lurline departing Sydney

On 7 December 1941, whilst the Lurline was approximately half way from Honolulu to San Francisco, the Japanese air force bombed Pearl Harbour. She set her engines at maximum speed for San Francisco. However, in a convoy with her two sisters, she returned to Hawaii, laden with troops and much needed supplies.

She proudly continued her wartime service, including visits to Australia. She even transported Prime Minister (Australian) John Curtin to America to meet with President Roosevelt.

Mid 1946 the Lurline was returned to Matson Lines, and underwent and extensive refit at Alameda, during 1947/8. Estimated costs were $US 20 million. On April 15 1948, the Lurline resumed her San Francisco to Honolulu service. As prior the war, the Lurline was christened the Pacific Ocean’s top liner. During her career, she was also used a film set for the "Ma and Pa Kettle Go To Hawaii" movie.

The troops set sail

In 1950, due to incredible success of Laconia, it was decided to also refit her sister ship, the Monterey, which was renamed Matsonia. From this point, both liners now provided only a first class only service between the States and Hawaii. From time to time, cruises were also undertaken. However, as with ships around the world Jet airliners became a serious competition and caused passenger loadings to fall. Matsonia was laid up in September 1962.

On February 3, 1963, Lurline arrived in Los Angeles with serious engine trouble in her port turbine. Matson decided to place her on the market, the repairs were considered too excessive. With the decline of the Lurline, Matson brought the Matsonia out of the mothballs, and, characteristically, changed her name to Lurline, as this name was loved by all. The original Lurline was sold to Chandris Lines in 1963.

Matson Line advertisement

Part Two

RHMS Ellinis

This artist impression was the first Chandris Lines postcard of the RHMS Ellinis

SS Lurline was purchased by Chandris Lines on September 3, 1963, and was refitted in North Shields. Her exterior modernised, however, most of her Hawaiian decor and furniture remained, proving Matson Lines classic styling was exotic and modern. Her interior beauty was renowned. Her engines were repaired whilst she was still in the United States. Her capacity was greatly increased to accommodate 1,668 as a one class liner.

Ellinis with her new sleek look

There was no doubt, bur Ellinis looked smart in her new Chandris livery. With her modernised superstructure and new funnels, she embarked on her maiden voyage from Piraeus to Sydney on December 30, 1963. Her homeward voyages were alternately routed via the Panama Canal to Southampton from 1964.

For the next 10 years, Ellinis made regular line voyages to Australia, as well as operating occasional cruises. For several years, she was employed on an eastward round-the-world route.

A fine aerial view of the Ellinis

In April 1974, the Ellinis was on a cruise to Japan when once again major problems developed in one of her engines, which, we were told, was out of alignment. Ellinis returned to Europe. At the same time, her former sister-ship the Mariposa, then named Homeric, had been sold to be broken up in Taiwan. Chandris lines purchased one of her engines which was transported to Rotterdam, which fitted into the Ellinis. She returned to service in March 1975 and commenced Mediterranean cruises until early 1977.

Line Voyage Brochures

Brochures below from the author’s private collection

Line voyage schedules

Cruise brochures

RHMS Ellinis seen in Sydney around 1978

Ellinis Mini Photo Album

Photographs are soured from brochures and other media from the author’s private collection or as stated

Outrigger Lounge and Bar

The Cinema

Waikiki Dinning Room

Good old fashioned Greek Service

Buffet, starboard on Promenade deck

Heavy sea crossing on the way to Australia

Ellinis in Southampton towards the end of her days

Photographer unknown – *Please see photo notes at bottom of page

Ellinis seen in Sydney once again

Photographer unknown – *Please see photo notes at bottom of page

Ellinis’ last days

Ellinis is seen her close to her being laid up

Having been in service for some fifty years, it was in October 1981 when RHMS Ellinis was laid up in Greece. There were thoughts of returning this fine ship to service, even turning her into floating hotel in San Francisco, however these plans never eventuated. She remained laid up for another five years when she was finally sold to Taiwanese breakers in 1986. On December 3, 1986 she departed Perma under tow bound for the breakers, however she commenced taking on water not far from Singapore on March 11, 1987 and slowly developed a 15 degree list to starboard. However they managed to rectify the problem and the tow continued and she arrived in Kaohsiung on April 15, 1987 and it is said that breaking up commenced about two months later.

However, many of her fittings had been transferred to other ships within the Chandris fleet and engine parts were kept in storage in case they were needed for her sister, the RHMS Britanis.

Ellinis seen laid up in Piraeus. Ship left of her is the Noga, ex Australis

The Ariadne (Bon Vivant) is seen on the right

I trust you have enjoyed reading this page about this liner. If you have sailed on her 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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By Kosta Specis & Hun-Eng Tan

Mr. Goossens commenced in the Passenger shipping industry in May 1960

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Photographs on ssmaritime and associated 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.

This notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

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