Sydney

Originally built as a C-3 cargo freighter during World War II, this versatile vessel served multiple roles including aircraft carrier, migrant ship, and cruise liner over a diverse 33-year career.

Construction and Wartime Service

Constructed by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp, the vessel was launched on April 9, 1942 as the freighter Croatan. Completed in January 1944, she was transferred under lend-lease to the Royal Navy and converted to an escort aircraft carrier as HMS Fencer. After just one year of service, she returned to the U.S. Navy and was laid up in the Reserve Fleet at Jacksonville, Florida.

Migration Service

In 1950, Flotta Lauro purchased the vessel during a war-surplus sale. Renamed Sydney, she underwent extensive conversion in Genoa before commencing her inaugural voyage to Australia in September 1951. Her regular route included calls at Naples, Messina, Port Said, Aden, Fremantle, and Melbourne, with occasional stops at Brisbane. Return voyages to Genoa incorporated stops at Singapore, Colombo, and Cochin.

In 1953, the vessel diversified her service by conducting four special Coronation voyages between Quebec and Liverpool. A 1959 refit in Genoa expanded her passenger capacity and added air conditioning and additional public areas. The Sydney continued migrant services until 1966, when she and her sister ship Roma were withdrawn following the introduction of the Oranje and Willem Ruys.

Final Years

Converting to Mediterranean cruise service, she was later transferred to Sovereign Cruises and renamed Galaxy Queen. The vessel experienced difficulties when she sank at her berth, was raised, only to sink again two days later. Sold to Greek interests and renamed Lady Dina, she continued to face operational challenges before finally being scrapped at La Spezia in 1975.

Key Facts

Specification	Details
Tonnage	14,708 GRT
Length	492 ft (150 m)
Beam	69 ft (21 m)
Draught	29 ft (18.8 m)
Propulsion	D.R.G steam turbines (9,350 SHP), single screw
Speed	17 knots
Passenger Capacity	Initially: 92 first class, 680 tourist class After 1959: 119 first class, 994 tourist class
Decks	Six passenger decks
Livery	White hull and superstructure, blue funnel, dark blue boot-topping