Mozaffari

The Mozaffari was one of two sister ships built for the Mogul Line in the late 1940s, representing an unusual chapter in post-war migration history. Along with her sister Mohammedi, she was designed for the Indian Ocean pilgrim and passenger trade but briefly entered the Australia migration service in 1950. The vessel's single voyage to Australia under the temporary name Ocean Victory exemplified the complex logistics of post-war shipping, where vessels were adapted and renamed to meet urgent transportation needs.

Built by the respected Scottish firm Lithgows Ltd at Port Glasgow, Mozaffari embodied the practical design philosophy of her era—a sturdy, reliable vessel capable of carrying both regular passengers and large numbers of pilgrims during the seasonal hajj traffic between India and the Middle East.

Construction and Design

Mozaffari emerged from the Lithgows shipyard at Port Glasgow in 1948, following her sister Mohammedi which had been delivered the previous year. The 7,026-gross-ton vessel measured 451 feet in length and 60 feet in beam (137.5 × 18.3 metres), powered by a triple expansion engine driving a single screw to achieve a service speed of 14.5 knots.

The ship's accommodation reflected her dual role in the Indian Ocean trade. For regular service, she carried 10 cabin class and 52 deck class passengers on the Bombay to Red Sea route. However, during the annual pilgrim season, her configuration transformed dramatically—the 'tween decks and cargo holds could accommodate up to 1,390 passengers, making her a vital link in the sacred journey to Mecca.

Original Service with Mogul Line

Mozaffari entered service with the Mogul Line, a subsidiary of P&O that operated between 1913 and 1960. The company maintained a mixed fleet consisting primarily of cargo vessels, supplemented by a few ships capable of carrying passengers or pilgrims. This arrangement allowed Mogul Line to serve the diverse transportation needs of the Indian Ocean region, from commercial cargo to religious pilgrimage.

The vessel's white hull gleamed under the Indian Ocean sun as she plied her regular route between Bombay and the Red Sea ports. Her spacious holds and passenger accommodations made her well-suited to the seasonal nature of pilgrim traffic, while her cargo capacity ensured year-round employment carrying goods between India and the Middle East.

The 1950 Australian Charter

Early in 1950, both Mozaffari and Mohammedi received an unusual assignment that would temporarily take them far from their familiar Indian Ocean routes. The ships were chartered to make single voyages to Australia from Malta, carrying migrants as part of the post-war resettlement efforts. The reason for this charter arrangement remains unclear from historical records, but it reflected the urgent need for passenger tonnage in the massive population movements following World War II.

The Mysterious Renaming

One of the most intriguing aspects of this charter was the requirement that both vessels be renamed for their outward voyages. The name changes were effected at Aden while the ships were en route to Malta to collect their passengers, suggesting bureaucratic or diplomatic reasons that have not been fully documented. Mozaffari became Ocean Victory for this special voyage, while her sister Mohammedi was temporarily renamed Ocean Triumph.

Ocean Victory's Journey

As Ocean Victory, the vessel departed Malta on 21 February 1950, calling at Port Said four days later on 25 February. The long journey across the Indian Ocean to Australia's western coast brought her to Fremantle on 24 March, followed by Melbourne on 30 March. Her voyage concluded in Sydney on 2 April 1950, where all emigrants disembarked to begin their new lives in Australia.

The transformation back to Mozaffari occurred with remarkable speed—on 3 April, just one day after the migrants' disembarkation, the ship resumed her original identity. By 5 April, she had departed Sydney bound for Port Lincoln in South Australia, where she loaded a cargo of wheat. On 22 April, Mozaffari set course for India, her brief Australian interlude complete.

Return to Indian Ocean Service

Back in familiar waters, Mozaffari resumed her regular duties in the Bombay to Red Sea trade. The ship's hull was later repainted from white to black, marking a visual change from her earlier years. She settled into the routine that would define the remainder of her career—carrying passengers, pilgrims, and cargo across the waters she knew best.

For more than two decades, Mozaffari continued this reliable service, adapting to the changing patterns of trade and travel in the Indian Ocean. Her robust construction and practical design served her well through the varying demands of commercial shipping and seasonal pilgrim traffic.

Final Years and Disposal

The end came gradually for Mozaffari. On 11 February 1977, she was laid up in Bombay, her active career concluded after nearly three decades of service. Six months later, she was sold to local shipbreakers, joining the countless vessels whose steel would be recycled for new purposes in the industrial workshops of Bombay.

Her sister Mohammedi followed a similar fate, arriving in Bombay for the final time on 24 February 1978 and being sold to shipbreakers that July. Together, the two sisters represented the end of an era in Indian Ocean shipping, their practical designs and faithful service exemplifying the workhorse vessels that connected distant shores and enabled human journeys both sacred and secular.

Key Facts

Specification	Details
Built	1948, Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow
Gross Tonnage	7,026 tons
Dimensions	451 × 60 ft (137.5 × 18.3 m)
Propulsion	Triple expansion engine, single screw
Service Speed	14.5 knots
Passenger Capacity	62 (regular), 1,390 (pilgrim season)
Sister Ship	Mohammedi (1947)
Temporary Name	Ocean Victory (February-April 1950)
Final Fate	Scrapped at Bombay, 1977