Matson Lines: SS Malolo, Matsonia, Home Lines: Atlantic, Chandris: Queen Frederica

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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

Matson Line

SS Malolo – Matsonia

Later: Home Lines SS Atlantic - Chandris Lines RHMS Queen Frederica

This painting shows SS Malolo as built with the traditional reddish brown Matson hull

The Matson liner SS Malolo was built by W. Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia in 1926. She was the first of a number of ships designed by William Francis Gibbs for Matson Line. SS Malolo was launched on June 26, 1926. Completed in May 1927, she departed on the 24^thfor her sea trails. However the next day, whilst experiencing thick fog, she was located near the Nantucket Lightship a Norwegian vessel, SS Jacob Christensen collided with Malolo causing her to suffer substantial damage, with some 7,000-tons of water flooding her engine room. However, due to her advanced design and a high standard of safety features, such as having a double bottom and watertight bulkheads, she was kept afloat and was towed to New York where she entered dry-dock and was repaired and completed.

Finally she was completed and delivered to Matson Lines in October 1925, and on November 16, she departed San Francisco for her maiden voyage to Honolulu.

When built the Malolo was the largest, technically advanced for her time, and was considered the most luxurious cruise liner to have been built in the United States.

As the Malolo departed Honolulu during her maiden return voyage, Matson initiated the custom of passengers throwing their leis into the sea as the ship passed Diamond Head. The lei floating away would signify that the passenger would return again to the shores of Hawaii.

This luxury liner accommodated 457 First Class & 163 Cabin Class passengers in comfort and style. Although not a large ship, she was spacious considering the passenger ratio. Public rooms in both classes were elegant with walls lined with fine timbers combined with subdued colours and luxuriously furnished. Malolo would be one of the first liners to have an indoor swimming pool, which became a popular and much spoken of feature of the ship. Accommodations were mostly outside, with only a few inside cabins. The vast majority had private facilities.

Externally the Malolo was what we might consider an average looking ship, having the traditional Matson reddish brown hull, white superstructure, with two masts, two tall yellow, black topped funnels with the traditional “M” Matson logos on them. However, what was extraordinary was that her lifeboats were slung low on her superstructure, something that would be changed 10 years later when she was greatly modernised. In 1931 Matson took delivery of the Mariposa, being the first Matson liner to have a white hull, making her look more suited for the tropics. In due course Malolo was also painted all white.

Although the Malolo continued the West Coast to Hawaii service she also undertook a number of longer cruises. She departed San Francisco on September 21, 1929, heading across the Pacific visiting Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand then down to Australia. Ports visited in Australia were Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne and Sydney. She then crossed the Tasman Sea to Auckland New Zealand, she then returned to San Francisco via Fiji, American Samoa and Hawaii.

Here we see the Malolo in her all white livery whilst cruising the Pacific to Asia and Australia

The menu shown below came from the estate of the famed silent screen star Billie Dove, whom apparently sailed to Hawaii
with her husband Bob Kenestan. These menus are part of Paul Melzer’s collection and he kindly emailed these to me.

From the Paul Melzer’s collection

Specifications - SS Malolo

Built by: W. Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia

Yard #: 509

Tonnage: 17,232 GRT / 1937: 17,226 GRT

Length: 582ft - 177.3m

Width: 83ft - 25.4m

Engines: Steam; Geared Turbines by the builders

Screws: Twin – 25,000 SHP

Service peed: 21 knots

Passengers: 457 First Class & 163 Cabin Class

1937: 693 First Class only

SS Matsonia:

With the departure of an earlier Matson liner, the Matsonia, in 1937 Matson Lines decided to substantially rebuild the Malolo and rename her Matsonia. The work undertaken would greatly alter her overall appearance, as her life boats were relocated two decks higher. The deck where the lifeboats had been was fully enclosed, providing additional cabins including a number of the famed Matson “Lanai Suites.” The new boat deck included a much sought after promenade, popular in the warmer climates. In addition her older accommodations were vastly improved. Upon completion she looked stunning and had the appearance of a much larger ship, although she now registered at 17,226 GRT. SS Matsonia looking much like a new ship continued to sail between San Francisco and Honolulu until 1941.

SS Matsonia seen after her 1937 rebuild

On November 21, 1941, Matsonia was requisitioned by US Navy to be deployed as a troop transport ship. She received a hurried transformation in order to transport up to 3,000 troops and departed San Francisco on December 5 bound for the Philippines with troops. However, due to the attack on Pearl Harbour Matsonia was turned back “and zigzagged home to San Francisco” according Sam Fox who was on board. There she was loaded with weaponry and other needs for the war zone, as well as some 3,280 troops. She departed San Francisco bound for Honolulu in convoy with her newer sisters, the Monterey and Lurline. For the duration of the war she transported troops around the Pacific and also made a number of calls to Australia.

A Voyage to Brisbane Australia:

Tony Prince was just six years old when he sailed on the Matsonia from San Francisco departing on October 6, 1945, arriving in Brisbane Australia on October 22. He said “I was on this voyage with my father to join family in Australia. I understand it was not a scheduled voyage however I have a copy of the passenger list to substantiate it. I well remember sailors tossing ammunition overboard during the trip. Gun tubs were still in place along the decks and the ship still wore her wartime grey colour scheme. After all, the Pacific War had only been over for a very short time and she was still under US Navy command.”

In 1946, she was decommissioned and it is estimated that she transported over 176,000 persons, troops, war brides and civilians.

She was returned to Matson in April 1946 and was given a refit making her ready to resume her pre-war duties. She departed San Francisco on May 22, 1946 and remained on the Hawaii service until April 1948 when she was laid up at Alameda, California and placed on the market.

A Voyage in 1946:

In December 1946 Marshall Earl Wilcox and his wife Gladys Olivia boarded the Matsonia for a cruise which according to their daughter Dawn, was greatly enjoyed. A series of superb menus survive from this voyage and we are pleased to supply scans of these below.

Four superb menu covers from Mr & Mrs Wilcox’s cruise on the Matsonia in 1946

This set of images was kindly provided to us by Dawn Sandner (USA), daughter of Mr & Mrs Wilcox

A View of the interior

As you can see from all four covers the colours are vivid and the art work is simply superb!

As the Matsonia was laid up to be sold in April 1948 another Matsonia (ex Lurline, Monterey - built in 1932) would continue the name and service in 1956. This ship would later become the Greek Chandris liner HHMS Britanis.

She is seen here as the Home Lines - SS Atlantic

SS Atlantic:

Soon Matsonia was sold to the Mediterranean Line, being the Panamanian flagged subsidiary of Home Lines and was given the name Atlantic. She was sent to the Ansaldo shipyards in Genoa to be refitted. When completed she was registered at 15,602 GRT and now accommodated 283 First Class, 224 Cabin Class and 735 Tourist Class passengers. Except for the additional lifeboats and the Home Line logo on her funnels, externally she was basically unaltered.

SS Atlantic Departed Genoa on May 14, 1949, on her maiden voyage to New York, sailing via Naples and Barcelona. She continued this service until 1952 when she commenced on the Southampton, Canada service sailing via Le Harve. During the winter months, like so many other ships, she operated cruises from New York to the Caribbean.

RHMS Queen Frederica:

Renamed Vasilissa Friederiki she was now part of the National Hellenic American Line fleet

In January 1955 SS Atlantic was transferred to the newly formed National Hellenic American Line (a Home Lines subsidiary) and renamed SS Vasilissa Friederiki being Greek for Queen Frederica. However, only the English version of the name was ever used on her bow, with the Greek lettering appearing on her stern. She was refitted to accommodate 132 First Class, 116 Cabin Class and 931 Tourist Class passengers and she departed Piraeus on 29 January 1955 for Naples, Palermo, Halifax and New York and remained on this service with various variations. However, she departed Naples on December 15, 1958 bound for Australia laden with Italian migrants. Australian ports visited were Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne and Sydney, returning to Europe via the same ports but her destination was Piraeus.

A Postcard of the RHMS Queen Frederica after her 1960 refit with her lower promenade deck fully built in

Towards the end of 1960 she was given a major refit and partial rebuilt, which saw her after superstructure extended, her glazed lower Promenade Deck fully plated in, making room for additional cabins.

When completed she was registered at 21,239 GRT, accommodating 174 First and 1,005 Tourist Class passengers. She commenced and remained on the Cuxhaven, Canada service until November 1965.

She became much loved in Australia and New Zealand as the Chandris liner lovingly known as the - “Queen Fred”

In November 1965 she was sold to Dimitri Chandris Piraeus (Chandris Lines), but was registered for Themistocles Nav, S.A. Featuring the traditional Chandris blue and black topped funnel with a large white X (being the Greek for CH) Queen Frederica departed Piraeus on December 10, 1961 bound for Australia. Upon her return to Greece, instead of continuing on the Australia service Chandris decided to place her on the Piraeus to New York service, with cruises in the winter months.

Queen Frederica is seen here berthed in Fremantle (Perth) in 1967.

She made a round trip from Southampton to Australia in October 1966 (then registered at 16,435 GRT) and made a number of cruises before returning to Europe.

She returned to Australia again in 1967, again undertook several cruises during the summer and finally departed Australian waters for the last time in March 1968.

A Sovereign Cruises postcard

Upon her return to Europe she was chartered to Sovereign Cruises to operate Mediterranean cruises, which ended in September 1971 when she was laid up in the River Dart on the 22^nd.

Still looking splendid, the old girl - Queen Frederica is seen here laid up

In June 1972 she Queen Frederica sailed to Piraeus where she was laid up, but later was given a refit and was chartered to Blue Seas Cruises to be used for Mediterranean cruises out of Palma de Mallorca between April and November 1973. After the charter concluded she was laid up again at Piraeus. Fifty year after being delivered to Matson Line she was sold to Greek breakers in July 1977 and was towed to Eleusis breakers yards. In February 1978, whilst her interiors were being demolished she was gutted by fire and work was temporarily halted. Three years later her ravaged hull could still be seen amongst other ships at the breakers yard.

SS Malolo, Matsonia, Atlantic and Queen Frederica serving under various flags was the perfect example of great American maritime design and engineering, exuding the quality of American shipbuilding. A class of shipbuilding that concluded in the US when the great SS United States was completed!

A fine Chandris Lines postcard of “A great little ship”

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