SS Mongolia (1922)
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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Ship displacement= | Ship length=573 feet (175 m)* overall, 551 ft 6 in (168.10 m) between perpendiculars[1] | Ship beam=72 ft (22 m)[1] | Ship height= | Ship draught=30 ft (9.1 m)[1] | Ship depth=38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)[1] | Ship decks= | Ship deck clearance= | Ship ice class= | Ship power=6 double-reduction-geared steam turbines[1] | Ship propulsion=Twin screws[1] | Ship speed=16 knots (30 km/h)[1] | Ship capacity=231 first class, 180 second class passengers; 669,000 cu ft (18,900 m3) cargo space including 136,000 cu ft (3,900 m3) refrigerated volume |
SS Mongolia was a twin-screw passenger and cargo ocean liner powered by steam turbines, launched in 1922 for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). Initially assigned to routes between the United Kingdom and Australia, she later operated on the UK to New Zealand service. In 1938, she was chartered to P&O's subsidiary, the New Zealand Shipping Company, and renamed SS Rimutaka.
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After being sold in 1950, the vessel was renamed SS Europa', transporting immigrants from Europe to the United States. Subsequently, she served as a cruise ship under the Bahamas flag named SS Nassau. Her final role was as a Mexican-registered cruise liner named SS Acapulco', operating between Los Angeles and Acapulco. Notably, she remains the only ocean liner ever registered under the Mexican flag. The ship was dismantled in 1964.[2]
Mongolia, 1922–1938
The vessel Mongolia was commissioned by P&O from Sir W G Armstrong, Whitworth & Co. Ltd. located in Newcastle upon Tyne on 22 November 1918. However, her construction was postponed due to the postwar overhaul of existing ships, resulting in her launch only occurring on 24 August 1922. After completion of fitting out and successful sea trials, the ship was officially handed over to P&O on 26 April 1923. The estimated cost for the ship was around £1 million.
Her inaugural voyage began from London to Sydney on 11 May 1923, initially operating as a four-weekly mail service which was increased to a biweekly schedule starting in 1925. In 1928, she underwent conversion to use oil fuel.
Among significant events during her service were a collision on 16 July 1933 with the tanker British Venture and a breakwater in Copenhagen, which was followed by grounding; later, on 3 December 1936, she collided with Villa de Madrid near Marseille.
The Mongolia was taken out of active service and laid up for sale in 1937.
For nine years, Harry Ramsey Rhodes served as her captain.
Rimutaka, 1938–1950
In 1938, P&O chartered the ship long-term to their subsidiary, the New Zealand Shipping Company, which renamed her SS Rimutaka, marking the third vessel to bear this name, and registered her at Plymouth. At this time, she was modified to accommodate 840 tourist class passengers. Prior to commencing service under her new name, she was involved in a collision with Corfleet off the Nore. Following repairs, she embarked on her first voyage to New Zealand on 12 December 1938. The Rimutaka operated on a route from London via Panama to Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand.
On 9 March 1939, a fire broke out in her No. 3 hold. With the onset of World War II in September that year, she was requisitioned for conversion into an armed merchant cruiser but was released before any modifications were made. Instead, from 12 May 1940 until 14 June 1946, she served within the Liner Division while predominantly maintaining the UK–New Zealand route throughout the war.
After the war concluded, she resumed service with NZSC along the same route until her final voyage with them in January 1950, departing Wellington bound for London. Subsequently, she was returned to P&O for sale.
Europa, 1950–1951
On 3 March 1950, ownership of the ship passed from P&O to Compania de Navegacion Incres SA (Incres Shipping Company) of Panama—an affiliate of Home Lines—for £95,000. Renamed SS Europa, she was refitted to carry 614 tourist class passengers and had her refrigerated cargo spaces removed. She then entered service transporting stateless immigrants from Europe to North America. Crewed by Italians, her initial departure port was Genoa; subsequent voyages originated from Antwerp and later Le Havre. Plymouth served as an intermediate stop for boarding British immigrants. Her destinations included Halifax, Nova Scotia and New York City. The Europa continued operating this immigrant transport role until late September 1951.
Nassau, 1951–1961
Following this period, the vessel underwent refurbishment in Genoa to transform into the SS Nassau, operated by the Incres Nassau Line as a cruise ship running routes between New York City and Nassau in the Bahamas. Its cargo compartments were removed to accommodate swimming pools and various passenger facilities, aligning with its new function. This marked the first instance of a ship being dedicated exclusively to cruising throughout the entire year.[3] In 1954, the ship’s registration was shifted to Liberia.[1]
Acapulco, 1961–1963
In 1961, ownership transferred to Natumex Line (Compañía Navegación Turística Mexicana SA), a Mexican government enterprise, which employed the vessel for biweekly voyages connecting Acapulco and Los Angeles. The ship was reconstructed by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd. in Glasgow, Scotland, receiving a new bow and funnel among other modifications. Upon arrival in the United States, the SS Acapulco initially did not meet the standards set by the United States Coast Guard.[4] During her third journey departing from California, she experienced a mechanical failure while at sea.[2]
In 1962, she was stationed at the Century 21 Exposition serving as a floating hotel.[2]
The ship was taken out of service in 1963 at Manzanillo, Colima, and in 1964 she was towed to Japan for dismantling, arriving in Osaka on 15 December 1964. Scrapping commenced at Sakai on 6 January 1965.[1][2][5]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpocyc - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedmckenna - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpier21 - ↑ "Disaster and Shipwreck Files: A". Historian's Office. U.S. Coast Guard. 2003.
- ↑ Smith, Eugene Waldo (1978). Passenger Ships of the World, Past and Present. Boston: G. H. Dean.