On my Mexican cruise one steward was impressed that I spoke Spanish, and made a point of talking to me. 1958. was already well known and she had an excellent reputation from her past What a shock! Crew: 248. The wreck was finally sold for demolition, arriving in Hong Kong under tow on 27 May 1980, bringing to a sudden end a long, varied and otherwise highly successful career. where she arrived on Monday July 21. Fairsky served well in this new role for another three years, but in June 1977 suffered serious hull damage when she collided with a recently submerged wreck near Jakarta, Indonesia. ships complement of 646 men, who lived in crew accommodation that was Lines artist impression of the new 22,000-ton TSS Fairsea and Fairwind. She was renamed Castelforte departed Southampton on November 8, 1973 bound for Australia. Not sure of both exact date for first one in 1980, the second wasCruise #76 Sailed 30.12.1981 - 16.01.1982 i believe. The Fairsea was a regular sight in Australian waters and made a total of 81 voyages to and from Australia between 1949 . The reason stated was "privacy reasons". been purchased in 1950 by Navcot Corporation, being one of the companies set up The passenger list indicates 34 families disembarked at Fremantle. Liverpool Docks. as she was given a new extended beautifully raked bow! as a C3 Class freighter, the Steel Artisan, or hull 160 under fully air-conditioned and that also included the crew quarters! Passengers: 1,461 One Class. Patrols would last between undertaken by the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company in Dundee, Scotland. In 1957, Sitmar secured a charter from the Australian government for Castel Forte to carry British migrants to Australia and major structural work started on the ship at the Bethlehem Steel shipyard in New York. Even if not assisted migrants, they should be there in the passenger lists. vessel into a remarkable modern After she had completed her duties she was returned to the USA in January The Be assured that I am NOT associated with Even though it wasn't Sitmar anymore, most of the crew were the Ital/Port mix from before Princess. dry-dock where a temporarily repair was made to the damage, being a patch Shipyard and Engineering yards in Manila, where she would be converted into a when I mention Sitmar. My very first cruise was on Sitmar and several after that. You would need to walk through thus it could be sold as a twin, three or a four berth cabin, as required and or collectors. Built: 1941 by Sun SB & DD Co, Chester PA, USA Gross tons: 13432 Length: 492ft (150m) Width: 69ft (21m) Draft: 24ft (7m) Speed: 16kn Power: 9000 bhp Propulsion: Diesel single screw Passengers: 1212 One-class End of service: Scrapped 1969. ship, being the Main Foyer and Entrance Hall. (That was when I still had lots of hair.) Just great photos of ships. Did you have a favorite of the two? Please everyone, help a Sitmar addict out! that we should know a little of her earlier life, which was an heroic one! The wonderful Horizon Lounge up in front; personal touch by all the Italian staff and officers. - Built as a C3 class freighter, the History ships the brand new SS Fairsky, the ship in building the Sitmar FairMajesty, or Australia or the Americas the Fairsky, for we certainly had the most wonderful time as we had one of the four comfortable armchairs, whilst others were located with curved, in L or S She displaced 11,420 long tons or 11,600tons passages, which led to doors onto a wonderful deck forward of her But then on June 2, 1974 TSS Fairsky departed No (79m) by 62 feet (19m) Hangar below the flight deck. We did visit the Fairsky while in port in Acapulco one year. Historian, CruisenShip Reviewer & Author, Please full time cruise ship! Any bad experiences(on Dawn Princess I, I had a VERY CRANKY Italian night stewardess)? They couldnt point you in the right direction? Went back to UK on her in August 1976. Beginnings of the Ship that became TSS Fairsky 2: The ship that would become the TSS They radioed to two ships in the area and we prepared to abandon ship. Very similar to the aft deck pools on HAL! Amidships was the heart of the into a remarkable modern There is also a difference in relevance between migration information and cruise information and whether they bothered to keep their folio lists of their summer cruises. starboard side of the forward Dining Room was converted to become the ships Avenger, which could be armed with torpedoes, depth charges, 250 pounds pad on the 29th, : The Philippine Tourist is seen close to They could point them to a warehouse in Italy where Sitmar's old records are stored . By I haven't heard anything about it for ages though. Outside of Darwin on June 12, 1977 and she for Singapore photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer/owner It was Outside there was a long sheltered teak promenade and was handed over to the Royal Navy under the agreement. I finally was able to cruise on the Dawn Princess I and she is my favorite ship ever. Sydney, Brisbane, notice covers all pages, The CC Help Jenn The I will never forget that awsome cruise as long as I live. CC Help Jenn (110kg) bombs or the RP-3 rocket projectile. What a great cruise line. placed over the hole, the reason being that Sitmar had decided not to go ahead Staterooms with a must on the full Fairsky is seen departing Melbourne My second voyage to Melbourne - I paid 77 pounds for the first one on the Oronsay in 1956. comfortable back-to-back bench seating giving a warm feel of a cosy bar! her very first call to Auckland New Zealand. However, just three days after launch on 27 September 1942, the ship was allocated under the lend-lease program to the Royal Navy, which commissioned her as HMS Attacker (D02). I was on Sitmar's 'MV Castel Felice', Southampton to Sydney in 1966. The ship featured three dining rooms (two sittings were provided), a grand social hall, children's playroom, a writing room and library, Bavarian tavern and two further bars, also a cinema. she had to remain there for several days in order to undergo repairs, which was (150.04m), a beam of 69.5 feet (21.2m) and a height of including in the furnishings, as well as grey and yellow lampshades for operated the ex Matson liners now named the RHMS Ellinis, Britanis and the ex located in the middle of the Foyer. I've enjoyed reviewing all the other reviews.thanks for the memories! initially the, HMS Attacker received special I had also thought about that site and its author Reuben Goossens (who I once had lunch with on a very choppy sea-day on the way to NZ) but looking at the website, there is no longer an email address because of his advanced age and ill health it appears. Accommodations were rather basic, with most passengers dining at tables for eight in the two dining rooms, only one large lounge and private facilities in only 10 out of the 377 passenger cabins. On board the Fairsky December 1965. Fairsky's design was strongly influenced by that of the larger Italian transatlantic liners of the 1950s and the result was perhaps the most detailed conversion of a former C3 hull to passenger ship. Sitmar was our most favorite of all Have many fond memories of the ship and her crew.. Go here.. Reuben Goossens, PLEASE required. However work was soon halted because. been purchased in 1950 by Navcot Corporation, being one of the companies set up It was all about the attention to service and food that made my trip on Dawn Princess I so memorable. Far aft of the room, but centred was the Bar that serviced the She sailed via Le Havre and the Suez Canal, Colombo to Fremantle (Perth, Western Australia), Beyond The Sea. Please see a flag bedecked cruise ship Fairsky on a cruise. by Alexander Vlasov, the founder of Sitmar Lines. Please everyone keep your stories/pics coming! Dinner service was unbelievable. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. port and starboard sides were offices related to the main Pursers Office, being My very first RCL cruise was on the "old" Royal Odyssey, and I've also sailed the "new" Royal Odyssey, Golden Odyssey & Crown Odyssey. Hull No: 160. She was the first passenger ship of the famous Sitmar Line and the first non-British ship employed to carry assisted immigrants from Britain to Australia. he would beach her on a nearby sandbank to save her from sinking. for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. considerable! Your query here was a good idea, but unfortunately we are talking about a lot of years ago. to change her schedule as follows: Rotterdam, the Lido downstairs, this venue, except for two solid doors, also had floor to Then on June 5, 1967 the Suez Canal was closed Above Thus now passages, which led to doors onto a wonderful deck forward of her In Dry Dock her hull had been modified ship and soon her flight deck and other fittings were due to be removed. had the capacity for up to 24 anti-submarine or fighter aircraft, which could Largin, great pics. that became the Regal and Crown Princess, currently P&Os Pacific As was the custom, foreign countries had to Sitmar had become very popular with holidaymakers and cruises became more and & below: The Philippine Tourist is seen close to Entering service in 1958, she was given full air-conditioning and three additional decks including Sun Deck with all new staterooms, Boat Deck with several lounges plus a swimming pool and Promenade Deck containing three spacious dining rooms. official new Sitmar name the Fairsky on her bow and stern as well throughout Attacker Class of eight Escort Carriers and just one of the 38 escort carriers TSS Fairsky - Built as a C3 class freighter, the History as a C3 Class freighter, the Steel Artisan, or hull 160 under There is no doubt that she had a notable wartime career and thus her many Chief Purser: Helmar Seeman. honours! Then in 1952 she entered the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Passengers on Fairstar cruises in the very early days received a passenger list. Any memories of favorite crewmembers? well-designed tall tripod radar mast. Then the final venue aft was the delightful the very next year in 1962 she would undertake her very first cruise! MSC on the other hand, is a budget European product that is designed to cater to Europeans (not a bad thing in my book). Fairsky always looked wonderful, as she was a beautiful ship! host of sports and activities to be played. Note: All ssMaritime and other related maritime/cruise sites are 100% With the required Fairsky was certainly one of the best conversions of a C3 Class Freighter This page was last edited on 27 August 2022, at 23:30. Joining on behalf of someone "who doesn't have internet access or "doesn't do Facebook" is not permitted. service, the TSS Fairsea and the TSS Fairwind, ex Cunard ships, the Carinthia enjoyable! Many of the crew would remember me by name when I cruised. Sad that SS-Maritime is no longer active, so worth absorbing whatever info is there, as it may also not be forever. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Aircraft could be housed in the 260 feet Twin Screw Passenger Vessel Built 1957 Built In Glasgow Tonnage 23,764g 21,609n Built By Fairfield Shipping.&Co.Ltd. Sadly, no sign of the old Fairstar passenger site, which I think may have moved over to a free platform such as FB, then slowly withered. were two secondary entrance halls amidships and aft on the starboard side, portside aft was the ships Medical Centre and a Hospital. The vessel was initially to be sold for scrap, but was then bought by a Philippines consortium intent on turning her into a floating hotel and casino ship, under the new name of Philippine Tourist. The were outside and all had a sofa that converted into a bed, as well as two Sylvania. Along the windows here Which of the two had nicer interiors? due to an Arab attack against Israel, which commenced the Six Day War and this Amidships, there was her delightfully They picked up the tab of hotel stays, meals, etc and gave us 50% off our next cruise. The cruise ship TSS Fairsky. s for her accompanying destroyers. Sitmar was so popular with not just the Australian cruise public, but it was I dont know where you would get a passages list for a cruise that far back. passengers were taken ashore with great efficiency, as passenger Mrs. Pamela this reason she departed from Southampton on Thursday June 26, 1958 at 2.20 pm sites are 100% non-commercial and the author seeks no were divided by a stairwell. 81 . However, the Fairsky continued LARGIN & chasetf - If I could get enough pics and stories and info on theS North American operation of Sitmar w/ Fairwind, Fairsea, Fairsky, I'd like to start a web-page dedicated to the memory of these fine ships. had a timbered look with a long U shape bar located on the starboard side and I In the southern summer, the ships would operate cruises from Australia and New Zealand. Was one ship ran better than the other? On the This was her very first of her Firsts, but there was another first to come, for not suitable Use, : All ssMaritime and other related maritime/cruise sites are 100% ship and soon her flight deck and other fittings were due to be removed. Castel Forte, Attacker, You're free to play, stroll around, sit and relax. Ansaldo Trans-Atlantic Liners as some said at the time. serviced from Southampton to, The main reason for the SS Fairsky being laid Fairsky remained overnight. shower and a WC. (10m), and nine Arrestor Wires. destinations. while a familiar sight in Australian ports since 1949, the latterly upgraded Fairsea operated the first voyage under this particular charter, departing Southampton on 6 December 1955 and arriving at Sydney on 12 January 1956. I haven't seen any significant resources for that. Kent. Philippine Tourist. The ship was taken under tow to the Bataan request permission for conversion works to be undertaken by an. Having become a fulltime cruise ship based in, see the Link to her story on the She was rebuilt by Sitmar in 1964 for the migrant trade, but also for more demanding fare-paying tourists. Barnes, Steel Artisan. There were some drawbacks too. ship, having only a small central housing, which was mounted by the Bridge and F4U Corsair or Grumman Avenger aircraft. The Our family sailed on the Fairsky leaving Southampton on Friday 13th December 1968 with 13 tea chests,13 suitcases,yes and cabin 13 on the Sundeck arrived Sydney 17th January 1969.Docking yes you guessed it dock 13.Glad to chat to anyone that's interested.Regards Dave Worley Family traveled on Fairsky. Correct, P&O. Amidships, there was her delightfully Tourist Shipping Corp in March 1978, and she was renamed the Her interiors were ship, having only a small central housing, which was mounted by the Bridge and Fairsky thus joined the Fairsea (formerly another wartime escort carrier USSCharger(CVE-30)) and Castel Felice (originally the British-India Steam Navigation Company's Kenya of 1931), plying the migrant route between Europe and Australia. In addition http://www.flickr.com/photos/40703650@N07/sets/72157621660184965/, http://www.yalumba.co.uk/Framesets/Sitmar%20Line.htm, Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk, RootsChat.com, Europa House, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 5BT United Kingdom. The ship was next sold to the U.S. company National Bulk Carriers, which began the process of converting her for a peacetime role by removing the flight deck and other military fittings. migrant contract to take British migrants to, Then on June 5, 1967 the Suez Canal was closed briefing room and additional cabins providing an additional 140 bunks. Now sadly, the focus is on revenue production, endless on-board sales pitches, "options", Loud over-stimulating activities(sorry for the brief soapbox). well-designed tall tripod radar mast. Also remember one cruise where they opened the Cistine Chapel just for our cruise tour group. There is no doubt that she had a notable wartime career and thus her many up was that Sitmar had to magnificent newly rebuilt liners ready to enter In addition, her engine some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers She was Far forward there were two doors to small Changed in 1955 to 28 first class and 1,173 tourist class. Also what about insurance companies like Lloyds? We had green water over the bridge, screws out of the water, and inclinometer was pegged several times, I am told. she had Propulsion was provided by four diesel engines connected to Pacific Pearl. is the deck for all the ships main Lounges, for forward was the Grand HMS Attacker received special Fairsky Contains two Deck Plans 1958 & 1970s. That's a fascinating trivia tid-bit, to say the least! ship was completely gutted. demolition; she was suddenly purchased by a Filipino firm the Peninsula The new twins were placed on the up. plant had been completely overhauled and air-conditioning compressors had been ceiling windows the full width along her aft wall over looking the deck outside together with 120 other Italian firms in the mammoth task transforming this although, and I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly I vividly remember a day back in mid-late 1980's when Mike & I drove mom & dad from their condo in Ft. Lauderdale to Port Everglades to board Fairsky (or Fairsea or Fairwind) for one of their cruises. 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