Sitmar Ships

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

The Sitmar Ships

Part One

SS Castel Bianco / Castel Verde

After World War II, Alexander Vlasov who had a long maritime history took over Sitmar Line. Thereafter all the ships of Sitmar Line featured the large blue V on their shapely yellow funnels. In 1949, Sitmar commenced a passenger service between Genoa and Sydney.

A ship was chosen for the purpose being one of the many American Victory VC2-S-AP2 class of freighters that were laid-up. The ship selected had her keel laid on March 19, 1945 when her designation was simply “Hull Number 818.” She was launched on May 3, 1945 and was delivered on May 28, 1945. She was officially named SS Vassar Victory and she obviously had been built at great speed as had so many of the Victory ships at the time, it was like an automated system! Yet as the future proved these were well built and very strong ships indeed!

After a considerable rebuild Vassar Victory was renamed Castel Bianco and she soon headed Downunder. Sitmar gained popularity with passengers and in 1953 she was joined by another Victory freighter, which was renamed Castel Verde. These sister ships, although identical when built, could easily be identified, for Sitmar decided that the Caste Verde’s did not need such an extensive rebuild, which meant she was one deck lower.

1… Castel Bianco

Sitmar postcard of the Castel Bianco seen after her 1952 rebuild

Castel Bianco, ex Vassar Victory was built in 1945 for Maritime Commission as a 7,604 GRT (Gross Registered Tons) freighter. In 1947 Sitmar Line obtained her and had her rebuilt into a passenger ship for 480 passengers and she commenced her new role as an emigrant ship.

Seen after her first rebuild in 1947

A further rebuilding in Trieste took place in 1952, which increased her passenger capacity considerably for upon completion she was able to accommodated 1,200 passengers.

She operated on the Australian service as well as in the Mediterranean, to the United States and to South America. However, she and her sister Castel Verde became a popular sight in Sydney harbour.

After her 1952 rebuild she looked quite a modern ship for her time

Her main Lounge & her interiors had that typical Italian flare

Castel Bianco seen in the mid 50’s

In 1957 Castel Bianco was sold to Cia Trasatlantica, Barcelona (Spanish Line) who reduced her passenger capacity to just 830. On October 4, 1974 she suffered a massive engine failure and she drifted for a several days, until the German tug “Oceanic” took her in tow to Bridgetown, Barbados. She remained laid up there and it was considered that it was not worthwhile repairing her and thus she would be solkd for scrap. She finally departed the next year for Castellon in Spain where she was broken up in 1975.

Specifications:

Tonnage: 10,139 GRT

Length: 138,7m

Beam: 18,9m

Built: 1945 Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore, USA

Operator: Sitmar Line, Genoa

Speed: 15 knots

Passengers: 1,200 one class passengers

Former names: Vassar Victory

Sold to become: Spanish ship, Begoña

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Karlsson family sail for Canada

************

2… Castel Verde

Original Sitmar postcard of the Castel Verde

Like Castle Bianco, Castel Verde was built in 1945 as a Victory class freighter. She was launched as the Wooster Victory and was sold to Vlasov in 1947. The company decided to retain her original name and she was operated on various charters until 1950, when she was renamed Castel Verde and she commenced on the Genoa and Central America route. In 1953 she was rebuilt with extra passenger accommodation, increasing in size from 7,607 GRT to 9,006 GRT.

Seen prior to her 1953 rebuild

As mentioned earlier, she was one deck lower than the rebuilt Castel Bianco, which was rebuilt one year earlier. As the Castel Verde, she returned to the Central American service, as well as a number of voyages to Australia. In 1957 she was sold to the Spanish Line and renamed Monserrat. She was finally scrapped in 1973.

The Dinning Room

Specifications:

Tonnage: 9,006 GRT

Length: 138,7m

Beam: 18,9m

Built: 1945 Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore, USA

Operator: Sitmar Line, Genoa

Speed: 15 knots

Passengers: 1,033 passengers

Former names: Wooster Victory (1945)

Sold to become: Spanish ship, Montserrat (1957-73)

Postcard of the Castel Verde after being rebuilt again in 1953

************

The Sitmar Liners - INDEX:

The Early Sitmar Liners …

Part One … Castel Bianco & Castel Verde - Built as a Victory VC2-S-AP2 class of freighters.

Castle Bianco - The Karlsson family’s voyage.

Part Two … Castel Felice - ex SS Kenya.

Castel Felice - Cabin Plan & the Robert Brinkhuis story 1965.

Castel Felice - My 1957 voyage to Canada by W. D. Hempel.

Castel Felice - The Williams family sail to Australia in 1957.

Castel Felice - Three articles about a family’s voyage on the Castel Felice and arrival in Australia.

Part Three … Fairsea (1) - Built as a C3 class freighter.

Fairsea – Photo Page.

Fairsea - Deck Plan.

Fairsea – The Strachan family migrates from the UK to Melbourne in December 1957.

Part Four … Fairsky (1) - Built as a C3 class freighter.

Fairsky – Deck Plan.

Fairsky – Piet Mulder sails on SS Fairsky.

Fairsky – Fairsky hits a wreck out of Djakarta – The Pamela Joyce Hansen story.

The last Sitmar Liner and Cruise Ships …

Fairstar - ex Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire – Built as a Bibby Line troop ship.

Fair Princess - ex P&O & Princess, also Sitmar Fairsea (2), Fairland, Cunard Line Carinthia.

China Sea Discovery - ex Fair Princess - broken up.

**************************************************

Use the Back button on your browser or Close the Page to return to the previous page
or go to our INDEX

Who is the Author of ssMaritime?

Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

Where the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos Story

Also visit my …

“Save The Classic Liners Campaign” & “Classic Ocean Voyages” pages

Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author or from the author’s private collection. In addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address may be found on www.ssmaritime.com only), in order 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 these individuals either refuse to provide credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show these charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!

This notice covers all pages, although, and 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!

Free Counter