SS Atlantic - SS Universe Campus

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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author

American Export Lines

SS Atlantic

Previously: SS Badger Mariner – Later: SS Universe Campus / SS Universe

American Export Lines - SS Atlantic, sporting what was then the largest swimming pool at sea!

Author’s private collection

PART ONE: SS Badger Mariner.

SS Atlantic was built as a 9,214 GRT C4 type cargo ship for the US Marine Commission in 1953 by Sun Ship Building & Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania. Named the Badger Mariner, she was launched on July 1, 1953 and delivered on October 29 and she commenced her freighter duties. However she was placed on the marker and sold in 1958.

PART TWO: SS Atlantic - American Banner Lines.

SS Atlantic was rebuilt from a simple C4 Class freighter into a fine passenger liner by Mr. Bernstein

Author’s private collection

Mr. Bernstein was a very successful German-Jewish ship owner before he was arrested by the Nazis and had his ships confiscated in 1937. However he was released owing to his high international profile and was allowed to emigrate to the United States where he restarted his love for shipping and created the American Banner Lines. Bernstein chartered a number of ships between 1948 and 1951 operating passenger voyages from New York to Plymouth and Antwerp.

Finally he decided that he would operate a passenger liner between New York, Belgium and the Netherlands. SS Badger Mariner being one of the many the C4 class ships up for sale was acquired to fill this role in 1957 and she would be extensively rebuilt into a passenger liner and renamed Atlantic. Accommodations on SS Atlantic would differ from many ships on the Atlantic, except for several Holland America Line ships, where Bernstein obtained the idea from, for 85% of the ship would be dedicated to Tourist Class, with small but elegant First Class section up on Boat Deck.

She was sent to the Ingalls Ship Building Corporation at Pascagoula, who under took the massive task of converting this freighter into a major passenger liner, but still having a considerable cargo capacity. Upon completion, she had accommodations for 40 First Class and 860 Tourist Class passengers and a crew of 320. She was 564ft long, 76ft wide, and had a drought of 28ft, and was registered at 14,138 GRT. She was completed and delivered in June 1958, and she departed on her maiden voyage from New York to Amsterdam on June 11.

SS Atlantic departs on her maiden voyage from New York to Antwerp and Amsterdam - June 11, 1958

Originally - Associated Press

However Bernstein timing was a poor one due to it being the beginning of the passenger jet age and his new liner service did not prove to be profitable and all too soon the SS Atlantic departed Amsterdam on October 25, 1959 for her final voyage for the company. Upon her return home she was sold and transferred to her new owners in November. Not long after having sold the Atlantic Arnold Bernstein decided to retire from the shipping industry. He died on March 6, 1971 aged 83.

American Banner Lines – Brochure:

An American Banner Line brochure

The above brochure was kindly provided by Björn Larsson of …

www.timetableimages.com/maritime/index.htm

An artist impression of the SS Atlantic from inside the brochure

The above brochure was kindly provided by Björn Larsson of …

www.timetableimages.com/maritime/index.htm

The Tourist Class Dinning Room

Author’s private collection

A typical Tourist Class four berth outside Cabin

Author’s private collection

A postcard of the American Banner Lines SS Atlantic

Author’s private collection

PART THREE: SS Atlantic – American Export Lines.

SS Atlantic seen in her all white in her new Mediterranean livery – Tenerife around 1960

Photographer unknown - *Please see photo notes at bottom of page

American Export Lines took delivery of the SS Atlantic in November 1959 and decided to retain her name. She would be given a comprehensive refit making her suitable for the Mediterranean service and this would be done by her original builders - Sun Ship Building & Dry Dock Co., Chester.

She was completed in May 1960 and was registered as 18,100 GRT, and departed on her maiden voyage from New York to Haifa on May 16. At first she continued sailing as a two class ship; however in 1965 she became a one class ship with just 840 passengers. At the time the Atlantic was part of a sailing trio of ships, along with the SS Constitution and Independence between the US to the Mediterranean.

In 1965 Bob Griffin joined her as the ships Athletic and Sports Director and he was kind enough to provide the following photographs for which I am most grateful! We are able to see her in her glory days. Later he also sailed on her running mates the SS Constitution and Independence.

SS Atlantic seen in St Thomas in 1965 with her running mate SS Independence at her stern

Photograph by past SS Atlantic Sports Director Bob Griffin

Sports Director Bob escorting “Lolita” to the floor during Fancy Dress & yes “She Won!” (Did only the men vote?)

Photograph by SS Atlantic ships photographer

SS Atlantic seen in Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1965

Photograph by SS Atlantic’s ex Sports Director Bob Griffin

A list of the Cruise Staff left in all cabins of SS Atlantic inn 1965

From Bob Griffin’s private collection

With the eventual decline in sea travel SS Atlantic was laid up in New York in October 1967 and was moved to Baltimore during March 1969 and she remained idle. It was not until 1971 that a buyer was found for her, and would be to a company who after a fire had destroyed one of their ships in Hong Kong and they urgently needed to replace her.

A popular postcard of the Atlantic

Author’s private collection

The second postcard of the series

Author’s private collection

PART FOUR: SS Universe Campus - Orient Overseas Line.

SS Universe is seen here after she had her name shortened in 1976

Photographer unknown - *Please see photo notes at bottom of page

SS Atlantic was sold in 1971 to C.Y. Tung and renamed Universe Campus and registered in Monrovia at 13,950 GRT for Seawise Foundation Inc. One of the main reasons for Tung’s purchasing her was the loss of the ex RMS Queen Elizabeth which had been destroyed by fire in Hong Kong harbour in January whilst her conversion as the Seawise University was almost complete, and he needed a ship that would need little work done to it to operate as an at-sea college and the Atlantic proved to be perfect! Externally she received a funnel extension; her funnel was painted yellow and the traditional C.Y. Tung/Orient Overseas Line red Lotus flower emblem.

Ex RMS Queen Elizabeth, renamed Seawise University ablaze in January 1971

Originally a Press photo

She departed on her first cruise on September 4, 1960 and she commenced a very successful career for the next 35½ years plying the world. While sailing as a university at sea, it would be during the summer months she would make cruises to Alaska for regular passengers but with the emphasis on education of the environment, etc.

A fine shot of the SS Universe Campus with the Chandris liner RHMS Ellinis behind her

Photographer unknown - *Please see photo notes at bottom of page

PART FIVE: Postcards of the SS Universe with a white & blue hull.

Author’s private collection

A postcard of the SS Universe sporting her new livery with a blue hull and funnel

In this image the red Lotus flower seems to be missing, I do not know why, but it did return

Author’s private collection

In 1976 her name was shortened to Universe and she continued her usual duties. Over the years reports came in and they always said how wonderfully she was maintained and that she was simply beautiful.

SS Universe is seen here towards the very end of her days

However, in her latter years her boilers would be her major problem and the reason she was finally retired in December 1995 due to major boiler failure. She was sold in 1996 to an Indian ship breaker and was taken under tow to India. She arrived at the breakers beach at Alang on April, 6 and was soon broken up.

In all she gave a good 42 years of excellent service, it was only her last months she became a troubled ship and thus was sold. However, thousands have sailed on her and she will always be remembered for the wonderful days she has given so many passengers and students alike! They are wonderful memories. If you have any of her and photographs, please share them with me that I may use them on this feature!

Also read about American Export Lines …

SS Constitution & SS Independence

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Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

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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!

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