Flaminia
Built in 1921 at the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation in Chester, Pennsylvania, this remarkably adaptable vessel served under seven different names during her 48-year career. Originally constructed as a freighter, she would later be converted for migrant transport and ultimately serve as a pilgrim vessel.
Early Years as Freighter (1922-WWII)
Originally named Missourian, she began service with the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company as a basic freight vessel.
Wartime Service (WWII-1945)
With the outbreak of World War II, she was acquired by the British Government and renamed Empire Swan, serving as a freight and troop carrier in the British Merchant Navy. In 1942, she was transferred to the Belgian Government-in-exile as the Belgian Freighter, primarily operating between British and South American ports.
Post-War Trading (1946-1954)
In 1946, she became the Capitaine Potie under Compagnie Maritime Belge S.A., trading between Belgium, South America, and Africa. Cogedar purchased the vessel in 1948, initially operating her as Genova on South American River Plate services following a refit in Genoa.
Migrant Ship Service (1954-1961)
The vessel underwent major conversion at Monfalcone yards in 1954, emerging as Flaminia. The work included increasing her superstructure, replacing her original Burmeister & Wain diesels with modern Sulzer units, and adding air-conditioning. From 1959, she regularly departed Bremerhaven carrying German, Dutch, Belgian, and Scandinavian migrants, occasionally sailing from Trieste via Suez.
Final Years (1961-1970)
Following Cogedar's acquisition of Media (converted to Flavia), Flaminia was offered for sale around 1961. After a one-year charter to Israel's Zim Line, she was sold to Covena in Genoa. Her final owner was the Saudi Arabian Bakhashab organization, which renamed her King Abdelaziz for pilgrim transport between Gulf States and Jeddah. Following a grounding incident near Jeddah and subsequent repairs at La Spezia, she was finally sold for breaking at Kaohsiung in 1970.
Key Facts
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Built | Merchant Shipbuilding Corp., Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Launched | December 14, 1921 |
| Completed | June 1922 |
| Gross Tonnage | 8,776 |
| Dimensions | 461 ft x 59 ft (140.5 m x 17.9 m) |
| Draught | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
| Engines | Two 5-cylinder Sulzer diesels (7,200 BHP) |
| Speed | 14.5 knots |
| Passenger Capacity | 1,024 (one class) |
| Crew | 270 |