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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

---RMS Dunnattor Castle – MS Victoria---

Later: The Victoria (Chandris Cruises) – Princessa Victoria (Louis Cruises) – Victoria 1 (Kumar Steel)

Princesa Victoria seen in Piraeus

Union-Castle Line, London, commissioned RMS Dunnattor Castle for the London (Tilbury) to Cape Town service. In 1935, Harland & Wolff, Belfast, built the ms Dunnottar Castle in Yard no: 959, and was launched on January 25, 1936, with completion taking pace in June. She departed on her maiden voyage to Southampton to Cape Town in July, and upon her return to the UK, commenced her regular service, Tilbury (London) round Africa.

Dunnottar Castle’s sister ship, ms Dunvegan Castle, was launched three months later. Her African service lasted just under three years, when she was seconded into the Royal Navy in 1939. She was torpedoed west of Ireland by the German submarine U46 on August 27, 1940, and sank one day later.

Rare stamp of the Dunnottar castle

Author’s private collection

An early sepia postcard of the ms Dunnottar Castle

Author’s private collection

Specifications as built

Tonnage: 15,007 GRT

Loa: 174.53m / 560 ft

Beam: 21.92m / 71.9 ft

Draft: 8.05m / 28 ft 2 in

Engines: Burmeister & Wain Diesels

11,200 BHP

Screws: Twin Screw

Speed: 18 knots

Passengers: 285 first class

250 tourist class

Cargo: 5 holds

ms Dunnottar Castle remained on the African service until the outbreak of WW2, when like most passenger liners; she was converted as an armed merchant cruiser by the British Navy. She departed on her first tour of duty on October 14, 1939. In 1942, she commenced duties as troop ship until 1948, when she was decommissioned from Naval service. She immediately received a comprehensive overhaul and resumed her London - Africa service in 1949, which continued for the next nine years.

Major Conversion

Then in 1958, the Dunnottar Castle was sold to Incres SS Co, Monrovia, and she was renamed Victoria. She was rebuilt at the Schiedam ship building yards in (Rotterdam) the Netherlands, were she received one of the most elaborate reconstruction seen to dates, she also received a new engine and a beautifully raked bow. The next reconstruction of this kind was Cunard’s Media, which became the remarkable Cogedar Line Flavia.

An aerial photograph taken Victoria on her delivery voyage in 1960

Author’s private collection

Upon completion, renamed Victoria, she emerged with a new superstructure, funnel with mast, and a striking new bow. The dull Union-Castle profile of the Dunnottar Castle had become a ship with long flowing lines. Victoria was considered as one of the most modern ships of the day.

January 1960 - Victoria completes her positioning voyage and arrives in New York

Author’s private collection

She entered the New York-West Indies cruise service in 1960, and became a much sought after cruise ship by Americans.

Victoria arriving in Copenhagen June 14, 1973

Photograph Mr. Klaas Krijnen of the Netherlands

Above & Below: These two postcards clearly reveal the significant

transformation, which took place, becoming a yacht like cruise ship

Author’s private collection

Right: Two Victoria Brochures

Author’s private collection

In 1964, she was sold to Victoria SS Co Monrovia, a subsidiary of Swedish company Clipper Line, Malmo. She retained both her name and service. Incres Line continued as agents for the ship. Victoria as a cruise ship was greatly admired, and for the next eleven years she continued cruising from New York to the Caribbean.

After fifteen years of service in the United States, Victoria was purchased by Chandris Lines in 1975. Chandris considered her as the perfect all round cruise ship. With new funnel markings, a blue ribbon around her hull, she was renamed “The Victoria.” She recommenced her duties in June 1976, and cruised for Chandris both in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean until 1993.

Chandris changes her name from Victoria to - The Victoria

This photo was taken before her receiving the blue ribbon around her hull

Author’s private collection

The Victoria seen with an added blue line (ribbon) to her hull, and blue, black domed funnel

featuring the distinctive Chandris X

Author’s private collection

Chandris sold The Victoria to Louis Cruise Lines in 1993 a company that had operated Mediterranean cruises from Cyprus for some time. Louis Cruise Lines renamed their new acquisition, Princesa Victoria, was registered in Limassol and successfully cruised into the new millennium.

Louis Cruises Line Princesa Victoria postcard

Author’s private collection

Princesa Victoria was sold to the breakers in April 2004. Arrived in India on May 25, 2004

Beached on August 2. Demolition began September 1.

INDEX

MS Princesa Victoria – Page One

Princesa Victoria Photo Album 1

NEW Page Victoria in 1971

Princesa Victoria Photo Album 2

Princesa Victoria Cabin Plan

New photographs by Stephen William Storey

Victoria I beached at the Kumar Steel Breakers Yard

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