Lloyd Triestino - SS Toscana

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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author

Lloyd Triestino Line

SS Toscana

Built as the North German Lloyd SS Saarbrucken

A painting of the German built liner - SS Saarbruchen, the ship that became the SS Toscana

SS Toscana was originally built as part of a series of new German ships known as the “Weser Class” of ships and she and a sister were built for the Norddeutscher Lloyd named the Coblenz and Saarbrucken in 1923. As built both ships had accommodations for 98 First Class and 142 Second Class passengers. When completed they were registered as being 9,429 GRT (Gross-Tons) and were placed on the rather glamorous Bremen to the Far East service. However, in 1935 Norddeutscher Lloyd three brand new 18,000 ton liners to operate on this route and they were capable of a service speed of a remarkable 21 knots, rather than the 12.5 knots of the older ships. Thus the decision was made that these twelve year old ship would be sold.

This postcard of Toscana certainly made her look much more attractive than she really was

It is quite obvious that the hull ribbing and the sponson had been blacked out

Author’s private collection

Although it is not shown in most of the postcard or photographs of the ship, as they were touched up by the companies artist, as can be seen above and reality, but one of the most notable things about this ship (and her sister) was her ugly looking hull. Indeed her profile may have been a standard two master, with an all white superstructure, a neat looking passenger cargo ship with a tall slender funnel, but it was her hull that stood out as looking very strange indeed and was very ugly! Her hull was corrugated from atop all the way down and along the water line it contained massive amidships sponson along each side of the ship, which were designed to reduce rolling of the ship to a degree. In other words, it was the forerunner of the modern stabilisers. However, there has never been an image produced of the Saarbrucken that actually shows the sponson, and even Lloyd Triestino in their earlier days blocked it out of their photographs and postcards to make her look better!

A Postcard of the luxurious then Norddeutscher Lloyd SS Saarbrucken, but no sight of the corrugations or sponson

Author’s private collection

Specifications

Built: 1924 AG Weser, Bremen, Germany

Sister ships: Weser, Werra, Coblenz, Trier, Fulda

Engines: Triple Expansion Turbines by the builder.

Screws: Twin

Speed: 12.5 knots

Length: 480ft - 146m

Beam: 146.3ft - 17.6m

Tonnage: 9,429 GRT as built / Toscana 1962 9,584 GRT

Passengers: 98 First - 142 Second / from 1951 - 890 One Class

Late in 1935 the Italian Government purchased both ships and placed them under the management of the Italia Line. The SS Coblenz was named Sicilia and SS Saarbrucken became the Toscana both operated as troop transports for one year they were transferred in 1937 to Lloyd Triestino Line who gave them a refit in order for them to accommodate a large number of passengers. in fact around 2,000 passengers in rather austere conditions, some in cabins, but the vast majority in large dormitories in t’ween decks, including where there had once been cargo space. who entered them on the Italy to South America service, and later on the East and South Africa service.

One of the most notable things about this ship was her peculiar look. Her profile may have been a standard two mast all white passenger cargo ship with a short buff coloured funnel, but it was her new hull livery that stood out as looking strange as she was painted all white. For some ships that would be really nice, but not for this ship. For this would enhance her hideous hull corrugations and massive sponson down each side of the ship, and there was no doubt that she simply looked ugly and this could be why there are no photographs whatsoever to be found of her in an all white livery to this day, although I have a mock-up of her in white.

SS Toscana seen touched up with a white hull and the sponson added in grey, as the original image was in black without it

In 1940 both ships were converted into Italian flagged Hospital ships, and amazingly only the Toscana survived the conflict, and she was just one of a very few of Italian ships to survive the war in one piece and able to continue regular liner services once refitted! In September 1943 she was taken over by the Allied forces, but the Toscana was returned to Italy in 1945, but she was not handed back to Lloyd Triestino until 1947, who gave her an extensive refit.

Lloyd Triestino’s Passenger Cargo Liner Toscana is seen after her post war refit. Here we see that hideous Sponson along both sides of her hull

Photographer unknown - *Please see the photo notes at the bottom of the page

Toscana’s refit would see her change dramatically internally as well as externally. Her hull was thankfully repainted black again, in addition her funnel was lengthened. She now offered accommodation for 136 passenger in Saloon Class and 690 in Third Class. Saloon Class offered mostly two and four berth cabins with comfortable and attractive Lounges, bars and a spacious dinning room. Whilst Third Class was a little more basic having six berth cabins as well as dormitories, its lounges were a little more modest, but quite pleasant. Upon completion she returned to service operating voyages between Italy, Egypt and South Africa.

I received an email from Gerald Buttigieg, who’s Father sailed on the QSMV Dominion Monarch from Port Said to Durban 1947. He also told me about his Mother’s voyage accompanied by his nine year old sister and himself on the SS Toscana from Port Said to Durban on August 10, 1948, and a later he sent the following as well as the ticket and relevant newspaper clippings related to his rather interesting story.

“We departed Port Said on the iconic SS Toscana, from what I gather was a ship that took countless of immigrants from Italy and Egypt to Australia via Durban in the early 50 and 60’s. I understand she was originally the German liner Saarbrucken. My mother, sister and I left Port Said on August 10, 1948, and we sailed “Dormitory Class.” My mother saved the ticket which I still have. We arrived in Durban on September 3, 1948 and upon arrival the ship was quarantined outside Durban Harbour due to an outbreak of typhoid on board the ship. Apparently there were some deaths en route and apparently there had been some burials at sea. At the time I was only five years of age at the time. But I did manage to obtain some newspaper clippings going back to the Toscana’s arrival in Durban that confirms the quarantine and its actual arrival. In my research I also found a diary of a passenger who boarded in Venice and wrote up a day by day diary. He sadly contracted typhoid and was gravely ill on arrival in Durban and sadly he died three days later. Gerald Buttigieg. South Africa.”

Lloyd Triestino ticket cover

The Buttigieg family ticket on the Toscana

Articles in the Natas Mercury regarding the typhoid on board the Toscana

A fine view of the ship

Having operated her on the South Africa service it would be on October 19, 1948, when Toscana commenced her new career as she departed Genoa on her first voyage to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on November 30, and Sydney on December 2.

What a wonderful counter style stern the Toscana had!

Author’s private collection

In 1949 she was joined by several other Lloyd Triestino ship, such as the Sebastiano Cabato and Ugolino Vivaldi and together these three ships maintained the Lloyd Triestino presence in Australia.

Then in 1951 came three brand new sleek and ultra modern Lloyd Triestino liners, the Australia, Neptunia and Oceania. With these three new liners on the scene, Sebastiano Cabato and Ugolino Vivaldi were removed from the Australian run, but the SS Toscana continued on the Australian service.

Toscana certainly looked somewhat better from astern

The old favourite Toscana received yet another refit and she would now become an 819 passenger all one class liner, giving all passengers the run of the ship. Although, she would sail from Italy to Australia filled to capacity with Migrants, but on her homeward vpoyage she would alwayd sail purely as a cargo ship with her six holds full of cargo and she would not carry any passengers whatsoever!

Toscana seen on April 27, 1954, ready for departure from Trieste for Australia

Photograph by passenger Mr. Guido-Villa

One way traffc only - Passengers boarding - bound for Australia and a new life

Photograph by passenger Mr. Guido-Villa

She is seen here late in 1959

Photographer unknown - *Please see the photo notes at the bottom of the page

She operated with passengers to Australia and cargo home for nine years, until she was finally taken out of service in late 1960 and waslaid up for just over a year. She was eventually sold to a local ship breaker in Genoa and she arrived at their shipyard on February 21, 1962 and was soon broken up after she had given 38 years of faithful service to both Germany and Italy. She may not have been the best looking ship around, far from it, infact she was one of the ugliest liners around, but she was one of the most reliable!

SS Toscana seen during her final voyage back to Italy on the Indian Ocean in 1960

SS Toscana provided so many passengers many fond memories of their voyage on this ship, even though she was a humble ship and thus far from a luxury liner, but, she plied the seas and brought countless Italians and Europeans and others to many destinations, a new land as ben it as migrants or visitors, and so many started a new life in their new found home. I have received so many emails over the years and there are those who speak fondly of the old Toscana, yes, she may have been rough on the edges, and the seasick stories are many, but she had a character of her own and as I have been told, the food was always very good.

Toscana is seen her during her last days

If you sailed on the Toscana and have a story to tell, and/or have some photographs or printed material, will you contact me in order that I can use it to improve on her story? Full credit is always provided! My email address can be found on my ssMaritime.com Front Page; See the note at the bottom of the page.

Reuben Goossens.

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Other Lloyd Triestino Liners on ssMaritime:

TN Galileo & Marconi & MV Africa & Europa

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Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

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