Immigrant Ships
Navigation

 

TSS Castel Bianco
 Sitmar Line
  • Length: 138,7 m
  • Beam: 18,9 m
  • GRT: 10,139 t
  • Built: 1945 Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore, USA
  • Operator: Sitmar Line, Genoa
  • Speed: 15 kn
  • Passengers: 1,200
  • Sister ship: Castel Verde (ex-Wooster Victory)
  • Former names: Vassar Victory (1945), Castelbianco (1947-52)
  • New name: Begoņa (1957-74)

She was built for the US Maritime Commission as a freighter of 7,604 GRT. In 1947 she was bought by Sitmar Line and rebuilt into a passenger ship for 480 passengers. In 1952 a further rebuilding in Trieste increased her passenger capacity to 1,200. She operated on the route Genoa - Sydney and the Mediterranean - Middle America - South America.

In 1957 she was sold to Cia Trasatlantica, Barcelona (Spanish Line), and the passenger capacity was reduced to 830. She operated on the route Southampton - Spain - Middle America. On October 4, 1974 she suffered a machine failure and started drifting. After some days the German tug Oceanic took her in tow and towed her to Bridgetown, Barbados where they arrived on the 17th of October. On December 24, 1974 she arrived to Castellon, Spain for demolition.

International Refugee Organisation - Group Resettlement to Australia:

Departure Port Departure Date Arrival Port Arrival Date
Naples, Italy 18 Feb 1949 Melbourne, Australia 20 Mar 1949
Genoa, Italy 27 Apr 1949 Sydney, Australia 27 May 1949
Naples, Italy 5 July 1949 Sydney, Australia 3 August 1949
Naples, Italy 26 Sep 1949 Sydney, Australia 24 Oct 1949
Naples, Italy 26 Sep 1949 Sydney, Australia 24 Oct 1949
Naples, Italy 29 November 1949 Melbourne, Australia 29 December 1949
Bremerhaven, Germany 22 April 1950 Fremantle, Australia 17 May 1950
Unknown Unknown Fremantle, Australia 29 March 1952
Sources: