ssMaritime.com &
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With
Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
Flotta Lauro Lines
TN Sydney & Roma
As
rebuilt C3 class ships, both Roma and Sydney received excellent rebuilds
Author’s
private collection
These two
ships entered the Italy
- Australian service in 1951 and managed to set a whole new standard in migrant
transportation, as they offered superior surroundings. All Flotta Lauro liners
had that something extra. It is called a touch of “Italian Flair!
SS Sydney was
laid down in San Francisco
at the Western Pipe & Steel Co as a C3 class cargo ship. However, plans
were altered during building and she was to be completed as the Auxiliary
Aircraft Carrier SS Croatan. But, yet another change of direction took place
towards her completion and she was launched on April 9, 1942,
as the H.M.S. Fencer. She had been lent-leased to the Royal Navy for wartime
duties.
These ships did change
in appearance during the war as their usage altered
Above we see the
H.M.S. Fencer, which became the TN Sydney
Author’s
private collection -
The Roma was
laid down in 1942 at the Tacoma
at the Seattle-Tacoma SB Corp. Like her sister Sydney, she was also completed
as an Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier. She was launched on September 7, 1942,
as the Glacier. On July 31, 1943
she was handed over to the Royal Navy and was renamed H.M.S Atheling.
After a
successful tour of duty, both ships were returned to the US
in December 1946, and were duly laid up with countless other C3 class ships
awaiting their future. Many of these were purchased by European Countries to be
converted a emigrant ships to the US,
Canada,
South Africa & America,
as well as Australia
and New Zealand.
Many were austere in the extreme, whilst others became handsome liners with
excellent facilities.
Both Atheling
and Fencer were purchased by Lauro Lines to be rebuilt as passenger liners.
Unlike other C3 ships, both Sydney (Fencer) and Roma (Atheling) were rebuilt as
classy looking two class liners.
Early artist
impression of the new Lauro ships
Author’s
private collection
Specifications Sydney & Roma
Rebuilt in: Genoa Italy
1950/51
Tonnage: Sydney
14,708 – Roma 14,687
Length: 150m
(493ft)
Width: 21m
(69ft)
Draft: 2.7m
(29ft)
Engines: D.R.G.
Steam Turbines (9350 SHP)
Screws: Single
Service speed: 17
knots
Home Port: Naples
- Italian registration
Passenger decks: 6
Passengers: 1951
- 92 First - 680 Tourist Class
1960
– 119 First – 994 Tourist Class
Crew: 276
Livery: White
Hull
and Superstructure. Black topped blue funnel with the Flotta Lauro white star
logo. Blue line on the upper hull and blue boot-topping
First class
occupied two of the superstructure decks, whilst Tourist had three decks below.
Both classes had a large range of public rooms featuring décor and furnishings
that had that touch of Italian flair and style. Each had their own pool and
open-air cinemas. First class accommodations had single and two berth cabins,
some with private facilities. Tourist had mostly two, three or four berth
cabins, a few having six to eight berths. Both ships had two holds forward and
one aft.
This popular
postcard was sold onboard
Author’s
private collection
TN Roma
departed on her maiden voyage from Genoa for Australia
in August 1951 arriving in Fremantle on October 1, continuing to Melbourne and arriving in
Sydney
on the 17th. She then went north to Brisbane
before returning home.
TN Roma arriving in Sydney
on her Maiden voyage - October 14, 1951
Photograph by L.J. Baee
TN Sydney
departed from Genoa
on her maiden voyage just 14 days later in September and arrived in Fremantle
on October 17, then continued to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
A superb photo of the
TN Sydney
Photograph by and © T. Y. Freeman
Her main duties
to Australia continued until
1963 when her service was taken over by the Surriento, however she also
operated a number of Trans-Atlantic voyages from Genoa
to New York in
the latter part of 1953.
The Giorgio Gazzea family sailed on the TN Roma from Genoa
to new York
on October 10, 1956
Kindly provided by Dennis Gazzea (born in the US) travelling were his Father, Mother,
two sisters and brother Elvio
From July to
September 1953 the Sydney operated four
voyages from Liverpool to Canada,
after which she returned to her regular Australian service.
Above: A Passage Ticket for the Gappiello Family,
who sailed on the Roma, departing Naples
on April 7, 1964
Provided by Mr. Gappiello
TN Roma seen at Nr. 7
Station Pier Melbourne
Photographer unknown - *Please photo notes at bottom of
page
A 1964/65 fares and
sailing schedule
Provided by past Roma passenger,
Mr. Gappiello
Roma returned
to the Australian service in December 1956. During sailings southward their
Tourist Class was mostly filled with assisted emigrants Downunder, but also
having some full fare paying holiday makers in both First and Tourist classes.
Whilst sailing Northward these ships were popular as tourist liners filled with
Italian and other nationalities heading home visiting their families or
Australian’s visiting the “Mother Country” England and those
heading for adventure to tour the UK and Europe.
A fine view of
SS Roma
Photographer unknown
- *Please photo notes at bottom of
page
Ports of Call
Generally:
Genoa/Naples Messina, Port Said, Aden, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Singapore,
Bombay, Port Said, Messina,
Naple/Genoa.
TN Roma off the coast
of New South Wales Australia
Photographer unknown - *Please photo notes at bottom of
page
In 1963, Roma
and Sydney was already in competition with a multitude of ships, including the
very popular the Royal Dutch Mail liners, the MS Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
(JVO), MS Oranje and the MS Willem Ruys, then with the JVO sold, but the latter
two having been totally rebuilt into the modern Angelina Lauro and Achille Lauro
the Roma was placed on a three year service from Naples
to New
York.
Then in 1966
both Roma and Sydney were redeployed to the Naples,
LaGuaira service. However, one year later, due to
poor loadings the Roma was sold to the breakers and was broken up at Savona
in 1967.
Sydney off the coast of Australia
Photographer unknown - *Please photo notes at bottom of
page -
After the
demise of the Roma, Sydney
was renamed Roma and became a fulltime cruise ship. As a cruise ship she
certainly had little success as she was sold and changed hands every year
thereafter. In 1969 she was sold to Aretusa SpA di Nav. She was laid up in
1970, then sold the same year to Sovereign Cruise Ships Ltd. Sold again in 1971
to Mediterranean Cruises and was renamed Galaxy Queen. 1972 sold G Koszovillis who renamed her Lady Dina. 1973 sold to Marimina Shipping Co Sa who
renamed her Cariba 2. Finally in 1974 she was sold to
ship breakers Terrestre Marittima, La Spezia,
who began breaking her up September 1975.
Artist
impressions of ships were quite common in the 50’s
Author’s
private collection
Photo Album - Page
One – First Class
Photo Album
– Page Two – Tourist Class
Deck Plans - Page
Three
**************************************
I
trust you have enjoyed reading this page on these much loved passenger liners.
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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Please
Note:
Photographs
on ssmaritime and associate 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
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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.
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photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page,
that is, when a page is updated!
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