zpss3

(SS3) SHAW, SAVILL & ALBION LINE
(1914 - 1975)

   Postcard in the author's collection

   Themistocles - twscs 11,231gt 1911               sln 7 photos Digital Order:
                    Belfast (Aberdeen Line)       No. a639881 uw
                    1911 commenced on       No. a639882
                    London-Sydney route                                 No. a639883
                    1914-1919 troopship                              No. a639884
                    steamed 222,000 miles,                             No. a639885
                    carried 51,500 troops                                 No. a639886
                    1920 returned to                                     No. a630887
                    London-Sydney service                               slv photo Image
                    1928 under White Star                                  No. b36279 uw
                    Line management,
                    Brisbane became her
                    Australian terminus
                    1932 came under SS&A.
                    ownership, remained
                    in Australian service
                    but from Liverpool
                    1939-1945 remained in
                    commercial service.
                    1946 laid up after 79
                    voyages to Australia
                    1947 scrapped

Postcard in the author's collection

Ceramic (I) - trpscs 18,481gt                            sln 5 photos Digital Order:
                    1913 Belfast (built for No. a636768 am
                    White Star Line) No. a636770 uw
                    1913 entered Liverpool-    No. a636771 uw
                    Sydney service (from stern)
                    1914 troopship, in No. a636773 am
                    Second Convoy No. a636774
                    carrying Australian (Troopship with troops,
                    troops to the Middle 23.11.15)
                    East. sln photo colour postcard uw
                    1920 first post war Digital Order No. a636769
                    sailing Liverpool - slv 2 photos Image
                    Sydney No. b36283 uw
                    1934 came to SS&A No. b41347
                    when they took over (with tug)
                    White Star's Australian slsa photo
                    interests, remained PRG 280/1/16/351
                    in Australia via the (Opening of Ocean Pier,
                    Cape service Hobart, Tasmania)
1936 modernized slq photo of postcard uw
                    new tonnage 18,713gt (back of card was signed
                    1940 trooping out of by members of the 26th
                    Australia Battalion, WWI)
                    1942 torpedoed off
                    the Azores, outward
                    bound from Liverpool
                    with 378 passengers
                    and 278 crew and
                    gunners. Only one
                    survivor who was
                    taken out of the
                    water by the U-boat.

   From the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"

Akaroa (II) (ex-Euripides) - slv photo Image
                    trpscs 14,947gt 1914 No. b38011 uw
                    Belfast nlnz photo (1932-54)
                    Jul. 1914, first voyage No. 1/4-010258-F
                    London-Brisbane (off wharf, probably
                    Aug 1914 requisitioned Wellington)
                    in Brisbane by the           nmm 3 photos
                    Australian Government No. G3545 aq
                    as a troopship (1940-1945, Liverpool)
                    Oct-Nov 1914 in First No. P18348
                    Convoy carrying (1938, Auckland,
                    Australian troops who   manoeuvring with
                    had embarked in($19.79 +$12.98)    tugs)
                    Sydney    No. P28706 aq
                    1915 reverted to UK       (1939, London)
                    control but trooping
                    mainly to Australia
                    1919, repatriating
                    Australian troops
                    At the end of her war
                    service, she had
                    steamed 208,307 miles
                    and carried 38,439 troops
                    1920 returned to
                    commercial service
                    1927 laid up for 5
                    months, then on
                    Liverpool-Australia run
                    1929 passed to White
                    Star Line management
                    1932 taken over by
                    SS&A, refurbished,
                    new tonnage 15,128gt,
                    r/n Akaroa
                    1933 on SS&A
                    Southampton, Panama,
                    Wellington service
                    1939-1945 remained
                    in commercial service
                    1945 reconditioned
                    new tonnage 15,320gt
                    1954 last sailing,
                    scrapped

From "The Old Ship Picture Galleries"
Mahana - twscs 11,795gt 1917 sln 3 photos Digital Order
                    Belfast No. a638245 uw
                    1917 requisitioned No. a638246 am
                for war work    No. a638247 uw
                    1925 3^rd class removed nlnz photo
                    and modified into cargo No. 1/2-014981-G uw
                    vessel (Wellington, c.1930s)
                    1939-1945 continued slv photo Image
                    in commercial service No. bs004082 uw
                    1949 chartered as    nmm 3 photos:
                    frozen meat store ship No. p29607 uw
                    1953 scrapped    (1925 probably
on the Thames)
   No. G3942 aq
1943, probably
   Liverpool)
No. P18493
(1952 Capetown)

   From "The Old Ship Picture Galleries"

Arawa (III) (ex Esperance Bay)                See Aberdeen & Australian
                    twscs 13,837gt 1922             Commonwealth Lines (AC)
                    Glasgow slsa 2 photos:(1922)
                    (Built for Australian No.PRG 1324/1633 uw
                    Commonwealth Line) No.PRG 1324/1632 uw
nlnz photo (1940, Wellington)
No.1/4-010403-F
nmm 3 photos:
No. P18361 am
(owners photo)
No. P21457 am
(1941-1945)
No. P18364
(1947, off Capetown)
awm photo (Sept. 1945)
ID No. NWA1013
(approaching in Darwin
  with repatriated POWs
from Singapore/Malaya)

   From the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"

Tamaroa (ex-Sophocles) - twscs    nlnz photo
                   12,341gt 1922 Belfast No. 1/4-010149-F am
                     (Built for Aberdeen Line) slv photo Image
                    1922 London-Brisbane    No. b36278 am
                     service nmm photos
                   1926 chartered by SS&A    No. P18641 aq
                   and r/n Tamaroa, on No. P18644 aq
             Southampton, Panama,    (1934)
               Wellington service       No. P24170 aq
                    1932 under SS&A ownership (1929-1945 as
                    1940 troopship    troopship)
                    1942 in North Africa landings
                    1948 first post-war sailing
                   London, Panama, Wellington
                    1956 last voyage
                 1957 scrapped

Postcard in the author's collection.

Mataroa (ex-Diogenes) - twscs                nlnz 2 photos
                    13,837gt 1922 Belfast    No. PAColl-6001-09
                    (Built for Aberdeen Line) (uw with tug)
                    1922 London-Brisbane    slv photo Image
                    service       No. gr000027 uw
                    1926 chartered by SS&A       nmm 3 photos
                    and r/n Mataroa, on       No. P18516 uw
                    Southampton, Panama,     No. P18517 uw
                    Wellington service          No. P18518 aq
                    1932 under SS&A ownership
                    1940 troopship
                    1944 carrying US troops
                    to Northern Ireland
                    1948 returned to
                  commercial service
                    1956 last sailing
                    1957 scrapped.

Postcard in the author's collection.

Dominion Monarch - qdscs                        nlnz 3 photos:
                   27,155gt 1938 Newcastle No.1/4-020617-G aq
                    1939 new Australia and    (1940s Wellington)
                    New Zealand combined No. 1/4-020615-G
                    Service: London,    (1940s, in Wellington
                    Southampton, Tenerife,   harbour)
                    Cape Town, Durbin,    No. 1/4-009429-F
                    Fremantle, Melbourne, (c.1939? in harbour)
                    Sydney, Auckland,    sln photo Digital Order
                    Wellington in 35 days      No. a637240 uw
                    1940 requisitioned as        slv photo Image
                 troopship - one of six       No. gr000821
                    large liners which sailed          nmm 3 photos:
                   unescorted    No. P18412 uw
                    1946 returned to SS&A    (from builders)
                    1947 restored by her builder,     No. P18413 uw
                    new tonnage 26,463gt     (from builders)
                    1948, resumed her pre-war        No. N33983 uw
                    service    (Passing Gravesend
                    1961 last sailing to Wellington    bound down on her
                    1962 floating hotel at Seattle    maiden voyage, Feb.
                    World Fair, then scrapped       1939)

   Postcard in the author's collection.

New Australia (ex-Monarch of Bermuda) - See Assisted Emigration (AE)
                    qdcs 22,424gt 1931 Newcastle
                    1931 entered New York-Bermuda
                    service
                    1939 laid up New York and
                    sent to Liverpool for conversion
                    to troopship, carried Canadian
                    troops on the way
                    1940 Norwegian campaign,
                    and carried Italian diplomats
                    to Lisbon for exchange with
                    British diplomats from Italy
                    1942 North African landings
                    1943 Sicily campaign then
                    carried US troops to UK
                    1947 went to Tyne for
                    conversion burnt out by fire but
                    hull and machinery were sound.
                    Purchased by Ministry of
                    Transport, and went to
Southampton for rebuilding.
                    Three funnels reduced to one
                    and her foremast became a
                    bipod funnel uptake.
                    New tonnage 20,205gt,
r/n New Australia
                    with accommodation
                    for1,600 emigrants
                    1950 first sailing under
                    UK-Australia Migration
                    Agreement, ship
managed by SS&A.
                 1953 carried Australian
                    troops to Korea
                    1958 sold to Greek Line
                    refitted, curved bow added
                    r/n Arkadia, on
                    Bremerhaven-Montreal
                    service
                    1961 again refitted
                    1966 scrapped

   Postcard in the author's collection

Wairangi (II) (ex-Empire Grace) - slv photo Image
                    twscs 13,478gt 1942 Belfast No. gr001421 uw
                    (Completed for Ministry nmm 2 photos:
                    of War Transport with No. P18689
                    SS&A as managers) (1948, Capetown
                    1946, acquired by SS&A   harbour)
                    1951, refitted, passenger No. P1869 am
                    accommodation reduced (1946-1948)
                    from 112 Tourist to 12
                    First Class, new tonnage
                    12,804gt
                    1963, went aground i
                    Baltic near Stockholm,
                    scrapped after refloated

                                                        Postcard in the author's collection

Waiwera (III) - twscs 12,028gt slv 2 photos I
1944 Belfast No. b42252 uw
1967 sold to Greek    No. b41976 aq
owners r/n Julia (1949)
1968 scrapped    nmm 3 photos
No.P18709
No. P24345
(1944-1945)
No. P3034
(1956, Southampton
Water)

   Postcard in the author's collection.

Corinthic (II) - twscs 15,682gt                      slv photo Image
                    1947 Birkenhead No. b41592 uw
                    1947 Maiden voyage nmm 3 photos:
                    Liverpool-Sydney, No. P18391
                    then on London- (1948, Capetown)
                    Wellington service    No. P18392 ut
                    1965 final passenger    (Thames)
                    voyage. Passenger      No. P18394 uw
                    accommodation removed.
                    Cargo only. New tonnage
                    14,285gt.
                    1969 scrapped

   Postcard in the author's collection
.
Athenic (II) - twscs 15,187gt slv photo Image
                    1947 Belfast No. b42201 ut
                    1947 maiden voyage                                  nmm 2photos:
                    London, Panama,    No. P18370 uw
                    New Zealand    (copy of builders
1965 last passenger          photo)
                    voyage. Reduced to     No. P18371
                    cargo only - new    (1948, Capetown)
                    tonnage 14,248gt
                   1969 scrapped


   Postcard in the author's collection.

Ceramic (II) - twscs 15,896gt nmm 2 photos (1951)
                    1948 Birkenhead No. G5914 uw
                    1948 maiden voyage    No. G5915 uw
                    Liverpool-New Zealand
                    1951 hull painted white
                    and funnel modified
                    as standby royal yacht
                    1971 final voyage on
                    charter to Cape Town
                    1972 scrapped

      Postcard in the author's collection.

Gothic (II) - twscs 15,902gt                            slv 2 photos: Image:
                    1948 Newcastle No. b41379
                    1948 entered Liverpool-    (1950, black
                    Sydney service then the painted hull)
                    London, Panama, New No. b41940.
                    Zealand service. (white hull,
                    1951 chartered by the      dressed overall)
                    Admiralty and converted sln 2 photos: Frame Order:
                    as the Royal Yacht for the    No. GPO2-05206
                    visit of King George VI (1954 Royal visit, white
                     to Australia and New    hulled Gothic leaving
                   Zealand. The King's ill    Sydney with Royal party)
                    health led to a decision     No. GPO2-05207 uw
                    that Princess Elizabeth and       (1954, leaving Sydney at
                    the Duke of Edinburgh       end of Royal visit)
                    would make the visit in   nmm 2 photos
                    his place. The King's       No. P18432
                  death in 1952 led to        (1952, Capetown
                    cancellation of the visit.    fitted as Royal yacht)
                    Nov. !953-Apr. 1954       No. G6344 ut
                    Queen Elizabeth       (probably Dec.1951,
                    and the Duke visited           in Mersey after refit)
                    Australia and New
                    Zealand on the Gothic
                    Sep. 1954 back in
                    commercial service.
                    1965 passenger
                    accommodation
                   removed - became
                a cargo only ship
                    1969 scrapped

   Postcard in the author's collection.

Southern Cross - twsc nlnz photo
                    20,204gt 1955 Belfast No.1/4-018293-F
                    1955-1969 Round the World (c.1955, Wellington
                    service: Southampton, harbour) harbour)
                    Trinidad, Curacao, Panama, slq photo Image
                    Tahiti, Fiji, Auckland,       No. 179332 uw
                    Wellington, Sydney,        nmm 2 photos
                    Melbourne, Fremantle, No. P28120 ut
                    Durbin, Cape Town,        (leaving Southampton)
                    Las Palmas, Southampton No. N37451 aq
                    1969 chartered by Lions    (1971)
                    International to carry
                    members from Australia
                    to a convention in Tokyo,
                    and to provide hotel
                    accommodation there.
                    1970 cruises to Pacific
                    Islands from Australia
                    in southern summer, and
                    cruises out of Liverpool in
the northern summer.
                    1971 laid up
1973 sold to Ulysses Line
                   and refitted for cruising,
                    new tonnage 16,500gt
                    r/n Calypso
                    1975 Mediterranean
                    cruises
                    1980 acquired by
                    Gotaas-Larsen Inc
                    r/n Azure Sea
                    owned by Eastern
                    Steamship Lines,
                    Panama, for cruises
                    in Mexican waters
                    1982 sold to
                    Western Steamship
                    Lines, Panama, for
                    same service
            1986 as the result
of amalgamation
ownership passes to
                    a new company
Admiral Cruises.
1991 Royal
Caribbean Cruises
acquire Admiral
Cruises and sell
Azure Sea to
Dolphin Cruise Line
and r/n Ocean Breeze
for cruises in the
Caribbean out of
Florida and New York
2000 the ship was
                    purchased by Imperial
Majesty Cruises and
refurbished., and
                    continued her cruise
activity.
2003 Ocean Breeze
replaced by a newer
ship, and scrapped

From the "Old Ship Picture Galleries"

Akaroa III (ex-Amazon) - twsc    nmm 2 photos
                   20,368gt 1959 Belfast No. N32638 aq
                    (Built for Royal Mail Line)    (1971, Southampton)
1967 new tonnage No. N32639 aq
18,556gt (1971, Southampton)
                    1968 transferred to SS&A
                    r/n Akaroa, entered
                    Southampton, Australia-
                    New Zealand service
                    1971 sold to Uglands
                    Rederi, Grimstad,
                    Converted into car
                    transporter, new
                    tonnage 10,886gt
                    1977 sold to Liberian
                  owners, r/n Hual Akarita
                  1981 r/n Akarita
                    1982 scrapped

   Postcard in the author's collection
.
Northern Star - twscs 24,756gt nlnz photo
                   1962 Newcastle No. EP/1962/2496-F
                    1962-1969, Round the (27 Aug 1962, arrival
                    World service but in the in Wellington on
                    opposite direction to    maiden voyage)
                    Southern Cross (above):     slq photo Image
                    Southampton, Las Palmas,    No. 134106 uw
                    CapeTown, Durbin,
                    Fremantle, Melbourne,
                    Sydney, Wellington,
                    Auckland, Fiji, Tahiti,
Panama, Curacao,
                    Trinidad, Southampton
                    1970-1973 summer
                    cruises from Australia
                    1974 ship had been
                    plagued with technical
                    problems, and the
                    airlines had captured
                    passenger market,
                    scrapped

Postcard in the author's collection

Aranda (ex-Aragon) - twsco 20,362gt
                   1960 Belfast (Built for Royal
                    Mail Line)
                    1967 new tonnage 18,575gt
                    1969 transferred to SS&A harbour)
                    r/n Aranda, entered
                    Southampton, Australia-
                    New Zealand service
                    1971 sold to Leif Hoegh,
                    Oslo, r/n Hoegh Traveller,
                    converted to car transporter,
                    new tonnage 10,912gt
                    1977 sold to Liberian
                    owners, r/n Hual Traveller
                    1981 r/n Traveller, scrapped

   As Arlanza. Postcard in the author's collection

Arawa (IV) (ex-Arlanza) - twsco
                    20,362gt 1960 Belfast
                    (Built for Royal Mail Line)
                    1967 new tonnage 18,595
                    1969 transferred to SS&A harbour)
                    r/n Arawa, entered
                    Southampton, Australia-
                    New Zealand service
                    1971 sold to Leif Hoegh,
                    Oslo, r/n Hoegh Trotter,
                    converted to car transporter
                    1977 sold to Liberian
                    owners, r/n Hual Trotter
                    1981 r/n Trotter, scrapped

   Postcard in the author's collection

                 Ocean Monarch (ex Empress of England) -
                     trpscs 25,585gt 1957 Walker-on-Tyne
                   (Built for Canadian Pacific Steamships)
                    1970 acquired by SS&A,
                   r/n Ocean Monarch, one voyage to
                    Australia then refitted as one class
                    Liner for cruising, new tonnage
                    25,791gt
                    1971 commenced cruising
                    1973 Pacific cruising from Sydney
                    1975 withdrawn from service,
                    scrapped

Sources
1. Duncan Haws' "Merchant Fleets Vol.10: Shaw, Savill & Albion"
(TCL Publications, Burwash, East Sussex 1987)
2. Website "Old Ship Picture Galleries" (www.photoship.co.uk)
3. John M Maber's "North Star to Southern Cross"
(T. Stephenson & Sons Ltd, Prescot, Lancashire 1967)
4. Website: "Shaw Savill & Albion Line Ships"
(www.shawsavillships.co.uk)

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