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[ 06-21-2003: Message edited by: Great Lakes ]
Seeing the pics of Anastasis brings back a lot of memories for me. While I never sailed on Victoria, I did sail on one of her 3 sisters, Europa, from Durban to Brindisi in 1959. I see that apart from the funnel colour, Anastasis looks pretty much the same as she did in her Lloyd Triestino days, even down to the blue trim on her hull.
Africa and Europa entered service to South Africa in 1952 while Victoria and Asia started their Far East service in 1953. The 4 ships had virtually identical profiles with the anchors being the most notable difference between the two pairs. Sadly, only Victoria remains today.
For me the saddest ending was that of Europa. Sold to Saudi concerns in late 1976, she was renamed Blue Sea. On Nov 12 while anchored at Jeddah, she caught fire and sank at her anchorage on the night of Nov 14/15. She was declared a total constructive loss. Her end was covered in the Feb 1977 issue of Sea Breezes.
Some might argue that Asia had the saddest ending, suffering the indignity of being converted to a livestock carrier before being scrapped a few years later.
Africa was withdrawn from service in January 1976 and renamed Protea (the South African national flower). In 1980 her class certificate was withdrawn by Lloyds and she was later scrapped.
Even today, these ships are held in high regard in South Africa (Asia and Victoria sailed around the Cape when the Suez Canal was closed by the 6 day war in 1967 and remained closed for 8 years). Of the 4, Europa seems to be the sentimental favourite, at least among the people I know in RSA.
Anastasis has called at Montreal in the past. I hope she calls again.
[ 06-22-2003: Message edited by: Brian_O ]
Willem van der Leek
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