Begona

The Begona began life as one of 97 Victory ships built during World War II. Originally launched as the Vassar Victory, she would serve multiple shipping lines and routes over a nearly 30-year career, from troop transport to passenger service between Europe, Australia, and the Americas.

Construction and Early Years (1945-1947)

Built at Bethlehem-Fairfield shipyard in Baltimore (yard number 2471), the vessel was launched as Vassar Victory on May 3, 1945, and commissioned on May 28, 1945. As a Victory ship, she was initially fitted with multi-tiered bunks to accommodate 1,597 troops during wartime service.

Sitmar Line Service (1947-1957)

In 1947, Vlasov's Sitmar Line purchased the vessel, renaming her Castel Bianco. She initially operated as a cargo vessel to Australia. Following a 1952 rebuild in Trieste, Italy, which increased her gross tonnage to 10,139 GRT, she was converted to carry 480 passengers in third class. In 1951, she completed three voyages to Australia. By 1953, she was operating between Genoa and Sydney while also serving Central and South American routes.

Cia Trasatlantica Service (1957-1974)

In 1957, Cia Trasatlantica of Barcelona purchased the vessel and renamed her Begona. Her first voyage under the new name took her to Sydney (arriving June 20, 1957) before returning to Genoa on July 19. In August 1957, she departed Trieste for Australia carrying hundreds of Greek brides, arriving in Melbourne on September 23 and Sydney on September 27.

After another refit to accommodate 830 tourist class passengers, she began regular service between Southampton and Spanish ports to the West Indies and Venezuela.

On August 11, 1970, Begona rescued all passengers from her sister ship Montserrat during a mid-Atlantic breakdown. However, her own fate was sealed by a similar incident. On October 10, 1974, Begona suffered an engine failure while carrying 800 passengers in the mid-Atlantic. After drifting for several days, she was towed to Bridgetown, Barbados on October 17. With her engines deemed beyond repair, she was towed to Spain, arriving at Castellon on December 24, 1974, where she was broken up.

Key Facts

Specification	Detail
Dimensions	138.7 x 18.9 m (455 x 62.0 ft)
Initial Tonnage	7,604 GRT
Final Tonnage	10,139 GRT
Engine	Westinghouse geared turbines
Power	6,000 SHP
Speed	15-16 knots maximum
Passenger Capacity	Various: 1,597 (troops), 1,200/480/830 (civilian)
Builder	Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore
Yard Number	2471