What is your Favourite Ocean Liner

[Titanic]

and Why?

[2milesdown]

I have always like the france because i love the sleek lines of the ship. I also liked the inovative funnels.

[Titanic]

Yes the S.S. France is a bueaty, she was built in 1960, and she was reborn as a profitable cruise ship in 1980 as the Norway, she is the last of the great French Transatlantic ocean liners

[Leopold Plumtree]

S/S United States. Understated beauty, nice lines and power!

[Titanic]

she is definently a bueaty she was far the fastest liner ever, she was rapidly overtaken by the Jet age and then became unprofitable she also won the Blue Riband for crossing the Atlantic from Biship Rock to Ambrose in 1952, she crossed aprox. 3 days, 12 hours at the speed of 34.51 Knots

[Titanic]

I rather like the Aquitania, "The ship Beautiful" served for an amazing 35 (1913 to 1948 and scrapped in 1950)years including both world wars and was for a long time the last remaining four-funnel ship in the world

[Leopold Plumtree]

If I had to choose a four-funnelled liner, I'd probably go with Aquitania.

[Titanic]

If I had to choose a Modern ship it would be the Queen Mary 2

[Michael J. D'Silva]

RMS Olympic/Titanic; it's tough to choose between two beautiful sisters!
Mike

[comrad]

My favorite is the RMS Olympic, have always liked the olympic-class but as she was the first and the onlyone to survive a hole life it is her.
If I had to choose a modern ship it would have to be the QM2.

[Mark Chirnside]

Hello,

Once again I'd go for the Olympic. I'm sure you can guess why!

Best wishes,

Mark.

[scotfot]

One funnel - QE2 - looks like a liner, not an apartment block.

Two funnels - Michelangelo/Raffaello - simply gorgeous.

Three funnels - Normandie - ahead of it`s time and breathtaking public rooms.

Four funnels - Olympic/ Titanic - Beautifully proportioned- exactly as a liner should look.

I`d be interested to know anyone else`s favourite and why also.

[Shipbuilder]

My favourite ocean liner is the old RMS ST HELENA, 3,150 gross tons, 76 passengers. I sailed in her for 11 years, 1979 - 1990. We had an excellent ship's company, the passengers loved it, most of them preferring us over the big ships. The food was excellentl. One happy family. Here we are anchored at Acsension Island sometime after 1983. The thing floating in the sea astern is the circular swimming pool that normally lived on the foredeck, it had to be put over the side whilst we were working cargo an anchorages. We were not a short-voyage ship either. Normal run was Avonmouth (UK), Canary islands, Ascesnion Island, St. Helena Island & Cape Town. Occasionally Tristan da Cunha. Spent 13 month on MOD charter in the Falklands in 1982/83, first as a minesweeper support ship then mini troopship/supply ship running between Port Stanly, South Georgia & Ascension Island. Not the prettiest of ships, but in my opinion the best. Prior to the ST. HELENA, I had sailed in a number of Union-Castle liners & didn't think they could be surpassed, but surpass them the ST. HELENA did.
Bob

[scotfot]

Hi Shipbuilder, Thanks for posting the photograph of your "favourite" liner and the information, I`ve only been "at sea" for 10 days in my life, must have been wonderful for you to spend all those years on the ocean wave. How long was the RMS ST HELENA ?

regards, scotfot.

[Shipbuilder]

Hi Scotfot,
The ST HELENA was 300 feet long. She was built in Vancouver as the coastal passenger ship NORTHLAND PRINCE and for the first sixteen years ran from Vancouver up to Alaska. In 1978, she was converted for ocean voyages with 76 cabin passengers plus a further 48 on deck between Ascesnion & St. Helena Islands (about 700 miles apart). Finally taken out of service in 1990, then we all transferred to the new ST. HELENA, built in Aberdeen and fitted for 132 cabin passengers. The new ship is still running, but I always preferred the old one!
Bob

[scotfot]

Hi Shipbuilder, I looked on the RMS St Helena website for information on her sailings, would love to take that trip to Cape Town via Ascension and St Helena! Don`t have the time or money right now but if I ever win the lottery I`ll be a definate passenger.Thanks for posting the information, I found it of great interest and also improved my geography

regards, scotfot.

[Heart of the Titanic]

Personally, I would have to say, for me, the Titanic overshadows them all, but I find that some of the most worthy ships, that have not the popularity they should for being able to withstand grave peril on the seas, are the ferries of the Alaska Marine Highway system. Believe me, I have been on a few in the course of my lifetime on seas that had even the long-time crew paranoid, but the ferries are modern marvels for their amazing stability. I felt they deserved noting here. Ships are as much a part of my life as those in the Navy or the Coast Guard, if not more so. So, the historical ones are lovely and memorable and all, but the present ones are doing their duties just as well, if not better than their ancestors.

[Shipbuilder]

I can't imagine for any reason on Earth why TITANIC should oversahdow anything else! She sank on her maiden voyage, with great loss of life - a complete disaster for whatever reason! As for the rest, I have sailed for 31 years in British ships in some of the most apalling weather imaginable, but quite honestly, I have never seen any of the crew "paranoid" about it - although I have often seen passengers in that state even in relatively calm weather. Often heard the question (from passengers) "Does it often get as bad as this?" To which the reply is usually given, "It seldom gets as good as this!"
Bob

[Heart of the Titanic]

Shipbuilder,
Of course, a person of such lengthy experience as you would know of such things. Have you ever been in the Bering Sea or in Alaska's seas? Just a question.

[Shipbuilder]

I have been briefly up to Alaska, but most of my bad weather experiences were either in the North Atlantic in winter, or my 13 months down south (Falkland Islands) running between Port Stanley & Grytviken, South Georgia for 13 month, 1982/83 in the 3,150 gross ton ST. HELENA.
Bob

[Shipbuilder]

I have been briefly up to Alaska, but most of my bad weather experiences were either in the North Atlantic in winter, or my 13 months down south (Falkland Islands) running between Port Stanley & Grytviken, South Georgia for 13 month, 1982/83 in the 3,150 gross ton ST. HELENA.
Bob

[Shipbuilder]

This is what 13 months in the Southern Ocean did to us (ST. HELENA). It was taken on our first day in drydock after we returned to the UK from a most arduous Ministry of Defence charter. The ship (ex NORTHLAND PRINCE) was already a veteran of 16 years on the Alaska run (I was not aboard then). Despite her immense strength, the seas off the Falklands really bashed us about though! Apart from the damage you can see, number one hatch cover was damaged beyond repair and the whole lot had to be replaced.
Bob

[Shipbuilder]

The right hand side of the picture has not appeared for some reason, but you can still get an idea of the general condition.
Bob

[Heart of the Titanic]

Oh, my word! How did it stay afloat? It seems like such a small ship, or is that just how it seems? You have me intrigued.

[Shipbuilder]

"Oh, ST. HELENA, the strength of her, the faithfulness of her, the imagination of her. To me she was not a ramshackle old "has been" carting passengers and freight up and down the Atlantic - to me she was endeavour, the test, the trial of life. I think of her with pleasure, with affection, with regret - as you would think of someone dead, whom you have loved!" (With apologies to Conrad).

My bond with this fine old ship was forged long before I completed my 11 years in her. To me, at least, she was one of the finest passenger liners ever to plough the seas, and I have sailed in some of the best (WINDSOR CASTLE, REINA DEL MAR, PENDENNIS CASTLE, TRANSVAAL CASTLE etc).

Here are a few of the thousands of pictures I took during those momentous years, 1979 - 1992.
A blustery day in Biscay, scars of the South Atlantic, repairing after the Falklands when a generator exploded in the drydock, the new steel hatch to replace the original damaged in the Southern Ocean.
Bob

[Heart of the Titanic]

That poor old girl has taken a beating, but she is still very beautiful. I can see why you have fallen in love with her. Are you in love with the ocean as much as you are with ships because, after all, one cannot be without the other? I am glad that the generator exploded when the ship was in dock and not at sea. She must be quite the reliable vessel.

[Shipbuilder]

Thank you. The generators was not inside the ship. It belonged to the drydock company and was supplying power to a shor blaster. I was just returning from the shore when it went off and I hapenned to have the camera with me at the time. After restoration, we sailed for another7 years before being sold for further trading as AVALON, but scrapped shortly after India. We transferred to a newly built ship of the same name in early 1990. twice the size with 132 passengers, but I never really liked it as much as the old one, so left in late 1992 to become ship model builder, writer & marine historian. Here is a picture of three of aboard the old ship in late 1989. Left to right - myself, centre Dave (chief officer) & right (Bob the captain). I am still very keen on the sea, but prefer reading about it these days.
Bob

[Heart of the Titanic]

I'm sorry to hear that she was scrapped. I guess that ships can't last forever, especially those that endure such arduous labor as yours, but she will forever live on in your memory and those of your shipmates. So, where all did she take you?

[Shipbuilder]

Our main route was Avonmouth (UK) to Cape Town via the Canary Islands, Ascension & St. helena Island (South Atlantic).
During the Falklands we added Port Stanley, San Carlos, Grytviken, Gibraltar, Portland, Portsmouth, Rosyth. Later, we called at Dakar, West Africa, where we were stuck for a month for repairs following an almost disatrous fire on Halloween Night, 1984. Towed in by German salvage tug. Most of our American passengers didn't want to fly home from Dakar, claiming that after spending their lives cruising on big passenger ships, the ST. HELENA (despite the fire) was their favourite. They were fantastic during the fire & the aftermath of drifting & the one week tow, carrying buckets of freshwater from the opened tanks on the foredeck, helping to cook on open fires on the foredeck using wood chopped from the accommodatuon during the fire. Most of them in their 60s & 70s never complained in the uncomfortable conditions prevelant at the time & really pulled their weight to save the ship. A finer bunch of passengers I have seldom come across.
We also began to call at the very remote island of Tristan da Cunha (South Atlantic) & also visited Simonstown South Africa from time to time.
Most of us still remain in touch & our last reunion was in London at the Foreign & Commonwealth office, 2006, when we received presentations from the Falklands Government for services rendered in 1982.
Bob

[Heart of the Titanic]

What sort of services did you perform? Did you enjoy your trips to Africa? I plan on going there someday, myself. It seems as though you have been around a decent portion of the world. After all that excitement, I am not so sure I would want to settle down to a normal life, but I guess, after a certain point, one needs a little peace in his/her life. By the way, you have said that you are an author, so what books have you written?

[Shipbuilder]

I was radio officer. Between 1961 & 1992, I sailed in 19 ships, ten of them were cargo ships ranging from colliers general cargo ships, container ship, bulk carriers, log carriers and large oil tanker (9 years). The remaining years were in spent in nine passenger liners & one cruise ship. Most of my extensive travelling was done in the cargo ships. South Africa run was great, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban each trip apart from the ST. HELENA's that only called at Cape Town. For the last five years, my wife sailed with me aboard both ST. HELENA's. We had our honeymoon voyage on the old ST. HELENA including a blessing at St. Paul's Cathedral, island of St. Helena, conducted by the Bishop. This was followed by a reception aboard the ship at the anchorage, attended by officers & passengers. The only book that may interest readers here is RMS ST. HELENA AND THE SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS by myself (Robert A. Wilson). It is available on Amazon & covers my 13 years in the two ships, illusrated by 75 photographs & plans (25 in colour). I write regular articles on ship modelling for MODEL SHIPWRIGHT journal & have had my own column SHIPS OF THE PAST in TELEGRAPH (Monthly of the Merchant Navy Officers Association), since 1999. Also an e-book on ship modelling & another on vintage radio design & construction.
When I build model ships, my wife paints the seas.
Bob

[Heart of the Titanic]

I'll be sure to try and get a copy of the book, if I get a chance. What was your favorite part of traveling with the St. Helena?

[Shipbuilder]

Thanks. The book may be found by simply entering it's ISBN number in a search engine. isbn 1-904445-24-1
Although it is almost sold out from the publishers, it is still being sold world-wide on the internet, but I think Amazon is the cheapest with "used" copies at about £5. Mor details on my website http://www.miniatureships.blogspot.com I am not personally involved in the sales though, the publishers deal with all that.

I suppose I have a vague connection with the TITANIC. As you will know, in 1912, the RMS TITANIC was the first passenger liner to send out a distress message in morse code using the new SOS signal. The RMS ST HELENA was the last British ocean liner to send out a distress using morse code when we caught fire on Halloween Night, 1984. When I got to the radio office, there was smoke everywhere. The satellite communications had stopped working because we had lost power and it was dependent on the gyro compass to keep the dish pointed at the satellite. The emergency generator started up OK, restoring power, but the gyro was by the unstable, so I tuned up the main transmitter. Just as I was about to put out the call, the ship blacked out again as the emergency generator had choked on the smoke. I then took my final option & started up the emergency transmitter that was powered by 24 Volt batteries. As I was sending the alarm signal, I could heard a loud tuning note between the alarm dashes, so I knew someone had heard. Then, after the distress message was sent, the British oil tanker OVERSEAS ARGONAUT answered saying they were 25 miles away and coming as fast as they could. Also the American cargo ship KITTANING was one their way, but 80 miles distant. OVERSEAS ARGONAUT arrived just before 0100 & we thanked KITTANING & released them to continue their voyage. By this time, our engineroom had been flooded with CO2 inert gas to smother the fire and the boats were swung out with all the passengers & most of the crew in them. The fire was subdued, so we did not need to abandon, but it was over 24 hours before the fire was completely out. The tanker stood by for two days and only left when we were in a stable condition and the german salvage tug FAIRPLAY IX was on its way to us. It took a week to tow us to Dakar (West Africa) where it took a month to repair us.
Morse code has since been abandoned at sea and all communications are via satellite!

My favourite part of the voyage was always after leaving Tenerife southbound. sailiing south to Ascesnion & St. Helana in an area that was never rough. After St. Helena, we picked up the Trade Winds down to Cape Town & it could be quite lively at certain times of the year. Cape Town was always a pleasant stay & we were often there for a week or more before going back north.

Bob

[Heart of the Titanic]

So you have had your fair share of adventures on the high seas. No wonder you wrote a book about the St. Helena. In my personal opinion, the best stories are those where the story is imperfect and something goes wrong. After all, that is life.

[Eric Longo]

"As you will know, in 1912, the RMS TITANIC was the first passenger liner to send out a distress message in morse code using the new SOS signal."

Hello,

I don't think that is correct. I think it is a myth. Was it not the Cunarder Slavonia or the Arapahoe or some such vessel in 1909?

Best,
Eric

[Tom.Insley]

"As you will know, in 1912, the RMS TITANIC was the first passenger liner to send out a distress message in morse code using the new SOS signal."

Hello,

I don't think that is correct. I think it is a myth. Was it not the Cunarder Slavonia or the Arapahoe or some such vessel in 1909?

Best,
Eric

The first recorded American use of "SOS" was in August of 1909. Wireless operator T. D. Haubner of the SS Arapahoe radioed for help when his ship lost its screw near Diamond Shoals, sometimes called the "Graveyard of the Atlantic."

A few months later, the Arapahoe received an "SOS" distress call from the SS Iroquois. Radio Officer Haubner therefore has the distinction of being involved in the first two incidents of the use of "SOS" in America, the first as the sender and the second as the receiver.