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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