ssMaritime

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

 

The Sitmar Ships

Part Two

TSS Castel Felice

 

An early Sitmar Postcard of the Castel Felice

Introduction

Over the years I have received hundreds of requests to do a feature on the Sitmar Ships. In this work, I will present a short history on each ship, together with a number of photographs. I hope that these pages will have you reliving your Sitmar experience. All Sitmar ships, except the Fairsky (2) were old tonnage that were given extensive rebuilds to become from austere migrant liners to quality cruise ships. Ships in this feature include; Castel Bianco, Castel Verde, Castel Felice, Fairsea (1), Fairsky (1), Fairwind, Fairsea (2). In 1984 Sitmar’s only new ship, named, Fairsky (2) was completed. Late in the eighties Sitmar ordered a 63,500 GRT cruise ship to be named Sitmar Fair Majesty, however, whilst being built, Sitmar was taken over by P&O Princess Cruises and she was completed as the Star Princess. I trust you will enjoy this feature on the Sitmar Ships.

 

TSS Castel Felice, ex Kenya built in 1930

Although Sitmar’s Castel Felice was a small liner, she had a pleasant profile. She was built in 1930 for the British India Company as the Kenya. She commenced her maiden voyage on 18 December 1931, heading for Bombay.

During the war, she was renamed Keren and was transferred to the Royal Navy, serving as a troop ship. After the war she was laid up for three years. Early in 1949 the Vlasov Group commenced negotiations to purchase her. However, during these negotiations, on February 19, Keren broke loose from her moorings during a storm and she was badly damaged. The Vlasov Group continued with the sale taking her to Glasgow for repairs. During this time, the Vlasov Group passed into the ownership of the Alva Steamship Company of London, who towed her to Rothesay Bay and she was laid up again. Prior to her eventually being renamed Castel Felice she had numerous name changes, Kenya, Keren, then Kenya again. In 1950 her registry changed to the Panamanian flag and she was renamed Fairstone, only to become Kenya and Keren once again.

In October 1950 she was transferred to Sitmar Line and changed registry again to Italy. On October 15 she was towed to Falmouth where initial rebuilding commenced. She departed under tow on March 10, 1951, heading for Antwerp, where further work was undertaken. Finally, August that year she headed for Genoa under tow, where she received the final Italian touch from her owners. Both her profile and interiors saw many changes. Her funnel was shortened, a raked bow was fitted and promenade deck was extended fully aft. Her main masts were removed whilst a new mast atop the bridge and derrick posts added. Her interiors were completely remodelled, with many new cabins added. When complete she could accommodate 592 cabin class and 944 third class passengers.

With a bright new look, a gleaning white Castel Felice departed Genoa on October 6, 1952, on her maiden voyage to Australia, arriving in Fremantle (Perth) on November 1. Then Melbourne on the 5th and Sydney on the 7th. Upon her return to Genoa she was placed on the Italy South American route commencing in January 1953. In 1954 she made several voyages to Canada and the United States. Later that year she made her second voyage to Australia.

 

 

Promenade Deck

 

Forward Dinning Room

Early 1955 air-conditioning was installed and accommodations were changed to accommodate 28 first class and 1173 tourist class. Upon completion she departed Genoa on February 26 for her third Australian voyage, after which she retuned to the South American route.

A gleaming white Castel Felice berthed in Southampton

Late in 1957 Sitmar obtained the lucrative contract to transport assisted migrants from Britain to Australia. She was given another refit making her ready for her new role. She departed Southampton on April 6, 1958 for Australia. She remained on the Australian (including some visits to New Zealand) service until 1970, when Sitmar lost the migrant contract to Chandris Lines. It was decided that Castel Felice would retire by the end of the year. On August 15, whilst berthed in Southampton, a fire broke out in part of her accommodations. Sitmar decided not to repair the damage and kept the damaged cabins locked. With a reduced number of passengers, Castel Felice departed for her last voyage to Australia, arriving in Sydney on September 26, 1970. She remained berthed in Sydney for eleven days. During which time most of her stores were removed. Finally she departed Sydney on October 7, arriving on the 21st at the Taiwanese shipbreakers’s yard.

Castel Felice will be remembered, like many Italian ships of her day, as a ship that had style and Italian finesse!

Specifications:

 

Tonnage:              12,150 GRT

Length:                150,3m

Beam:                  19,6m

Built:                    1930 A. Stephen & Sons., Glasgow, Scotland

Machinery:            Geared Turbines

Screws:                Twin

Speed:                 16 knots

Passengers:          1,400 one class passengers

Previous names:     Kenya (1930), Hydra (1941), Keren (1941), Kenya (1949), Keren (1949), Kenya (1949), Fairstone (1950), Kenya (1950), Keren (1951-52).

 

Castel Felice seen towards the end of her long career

 

INDEX - The Sitmar Ships

Part One -  Castel Bianco & Castel Verde

Part Two - Castel Felice

Part Three - Fairsky (1)

Part Four - Fairsea (1)

Fairsea Photo Page

Fairsky – Piet Mulder sails on SS Fairsky

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

Castle Bianco - The Karlsson family’s voyage

Other Sitmar Ships

Fairstar ex Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire

Fair Princess - ex (P&O & Princess Cruise ship), Sitmar Fairland, Fairsea, Cunard Line Carinthia

China Sea Discovery ex Fair Princess - broken up

Pacific Sky ex Princess Cruises Sky Princess, Sitmar Fairsky (2) – currently Pullmantur Cruises Sky Wonder (online soon)

 

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Please Note:

Photographs on ssMaritime –Cruise-Australia and all associate pages are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection (including those photos the author has purchased outright and own copyright to). 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs sent to us without details of the photographer/owners concerned. We would therefore appreciate if owners of these photographs would make themselves known to me, that due credit may be given.

 

This notice covers all pages, although, we have done our best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page as each page is updated!

 

 

 

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