Fairsea
Built in 1942 at Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Pennsylvania, this versatile vessel began life as the freighter Rio de Plata for Moore-McCormack Line's South American routes. Her remarkable career would span wartime service as an aircraft carrier and later years as a prominent emigrant transport vessel.
Wartime Service
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the vessel was requisitioned by the U.S. Navy and underwent conversion to an aircraft carrier. She served in Atlantic Convoy duty as USS Charger, successfully surviving the wartime period before being placed in the "mothball" fleet after the war's end.
Conversion to Passenger Service
In 1950, Sitmar Line acquired the vessel for conversion to passenger service. After extensive refitting, she emerged as Fairsea (1), inaugurating Sitmar's passenger services to Australia with her first voyage from Bremerhaven to Sydney in 1950. Initially configured to carry 1,800 passengers in a single class, she featured numerous prominently positioned lifeboats.
Emigrant Transport Years
The British Government chartered Fairsea (1) in 1955 for emigrant transport services, with her first departure from Hampshire on December 6, 1955. Following a refit in Trieste, her passenger capacity was adjusted to 1,460. She operated alongside other Sitmar liners on the England-Australia-New Zealand route, carrying emigrants outbound and economy tourists on return journeys.
Final Years and Fate
In 1966, Fairsea (1) operated Australian coastal cruises, serving routes to Hayman Island, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Cairns. After release from charter in 1968, she returned to the UK via Panama. Her career ended tragically in 1969 when she suffered a severe engine room fire and had to be towed 900 miles to Bilboa. The extensive damage led to her being towed to La Spezia, Italy, for scrapping. Her name was subsequently transferred to the former Cunard liner Carinthia, which became Fairsea (2).
Key Facts
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 492 ft x 70 ft (150 m x 21.3 m) |
| Draught | 24 ft (7.3 m) |
| Gross Tonnage | 13,432 |
| Propulsion | Two Geared 6-cylinder Doxford diesels (9000shp) |
| Speed | 16 knots |
| Passenger Capacity | Initially 1,800, later 1,460, finally 1,212 (one class) |
| Crew | 394 |
| Registry | Initially Panamanian, later Italian |
| Base Port | Genoa |