Greek pass/cargo liner ARKADIA, imo 5502442/ 176m/ 20.260gt/ 20kn/ pax 1.350; 11/1931 completed by Vickers Armstrongs Ltd, Newcastle, as MONARCH OF BERMUDA for Furness Withy & Co., Hamilton, Bermuda; 1939 converted to troopship, MoWT; 1947 during her re-conversion to peacetime operations at Newcastle, she was virtually destroyed by fire and towed to the Firth of Forth. Rebuilt to 20.256 tons with one funnel and accommodation for 1.600 single class passengers, she was acquired by the Ministry of Transport, mgrs Shaw Savill & Albion, as an emigrant ship and renamed NEW AUSTRALIA; 1953 she trooped to Korea and in 1958 was sold to Ormos Shipping Co., mgrs Greek Line, Piraeus, and renamed ARKADIA. Re-fitted to carry 150-1st and 1,150-tourist class passengers, she started Bremen - Quebec - Montreal sailings in May 1958; 12/1966 arrived at Valencia for breaking up.
Owner's post card - my collection |