Sitmar Line- Fairsky

ssMaritime

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

The Sitmar Ships

Part Three

SS Fairsky

At the time, Fairsky was to be Sitmar’s most ambitious rebuild

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.

Fairsky was one of the best conversions of a C3 Class freighter

Fairsky began life quite differently to what she would eventually become - a modern Passenger Liner. She was built as a C3 class cargo ship in 1941 by the Western Pipe & Steel Co in San Francisco. She was intended to be named Steel Artisan for Isthiam Steam Ship Co. Three month after her keel had been laid down the incomplete ship was taken over by the US Government for the use as an escort aircraft carrier the USS Barnes. She was loaned to the British Royal Navy named the HMS Attacker. She was commissioned on September 30, 1942.

HMS Attacker at sea

Being able to carry 18 aircraft she served as convoy escort in the North Atlantic. During her war time duties she also served the waters of France and the Pacific. She had a notable wartime career. After she had completed her duties, she was returned to the US in January 1946 and was laid up and placed on the market. She was sold in 1947 to a New York Company who commenced the removal of armaments and the flight deck. This was stopped when she was purchased in 1950 by Navcot Corp, a company set up by Alexander Vlasov, founder of Sitmar Lines. She was renamed Castel Forte and was laid up until 1952, when she was officially transferred to Sitmar.

After being sent to Newport for possible conversion she again laid up. In February 1957, Sitmar had her moved to the Bethlehem Shipyards in New York to commence the mammoth task in rebuilding her as a passenger liner. Here she received a new modern superstructure and a stylish funnel. She sailed to Genoa in December 1957, where she received her interior fittings including accommodations for 1,461 passengers. In 1958, she was registered in Liberia with her new name Fairsky.

By now Sitmar had obtained the lucrative migrant contract to take British migrants to Australia and she departed Southampton on June 26, 1958, with 1,430 passengers onboard. Fairsky continued on the Australian service until 1970. The ships of Sitmar Line became a popular sight in Australian and New Zealand waters.

Seen here as Fairsky, the cruise ship

The main Lounge

The Lido Lounge & Bar

Outside two berth cabin, with a sofabed

Fairsky brochure

Fairsky operated a number of cruises out of Sydney in 1967, then when Sitmar lost their migrant contract to Chandris Lines, they looked towards a venture in cruising. On June 2, 1974, Fairsky departed England for the last time. After arriving in Sydney, she became a fulltime cruise ship based in Sydney. Fairsky departed Darwin on June 12, 1977, calling at Singapore and Djakarta. However, upon departing Djakarta on June 20 Fairsky struck a sunken wreck which saw her bow badly holed, the captain decided that he would beach her on a nearby sandbank to save her from sinking. The hole was filled with concrete and she was able to proceed to Singapore to investigate her damage. Sitmar decided not to repair her and she was placed on the market. She was bought to be broken up in Hong Kong. Fairsky was able to sail there under her own power, arriving in December 1977.

Upon her arrival, Fairsky was laid up awaiting demolition; however, in March the next year she was purchased by a Filipino company to become a floating hotel and casino based in Manila. She was renamed Philippine Tourist, but this venture was doomed, as in November 1978, she caught fire and was gutted. The wreck was sold back to the Hong Kong breakers and under tow she arrived on May 24 1979 and duly broken up.

Whilst cruising out of Australia, Sitmar had become popular with holiday makers and cruises became more and more popular. Fairsky chanced the trend in cruising, which was taken over by the companies flagship Fairstar, which became known as the Funship!

Fairsky, the ugly duckling when built became an attractive and popular ship for all that sailed on her, and she will always be fondly remembered!

Specifications:

Tonnage: 12,464 GRT

Length: 153m

Beam: 21.2m

Built: 1942 - Western Pipe & Steel Co. San Francisco

Machinery: Geared Turbines

Screws: Single

Speed: 17.5 knots

Passengers: 1,461 one class passengers

Previous names: Castel Forte, Attacker, Barnes, Steel Artisan.

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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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.

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