Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (HML)

 

 

This page is devoted to postcards of HML. An alphabetical list of ships covered on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete postcard history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table are official postcards of the fleet in alphabetical order.

 

 

Ships on This Page:-

Aeolia (1950-1960)

Apollonia (1963-1988)
Apollonia II (1990-1997)

Aquarius (1972-1987)

Castalia (1974-1988)

City Of Cork (2001-2002)

Corinthia (1) (1939-1959)

Corinthia (2) (1988-1994)

Cynthia (1966-1973)

Cynthia I (1993-1994)

Cyrenia (1947-1957)

Egitto Express (2001, 2002)

Egnatia (1960-2001)

Egnatia II (1998-2000)

Egnatia III (2002- )

Ionia (1946-1964)

Isthmia (1966-1970)

Lydia (1) (1956-1967)

Lydia (2) (1985-1995)

Massalia (1958-1974)

Media (1958-1968)

Media II (1992-2002)

Neptunia (1) (1975-1988)

Neptunia (2) (1991)

Neptunia (3) (1995)

Poseidonia (1) (1969-85)

Poseidonia (2) (1988- )

Villa De Sete (2000)

 

Associated Pages:-

Coast Lines

Fred Olsen Line

Irish Ferries

Marlines

P&O Ferries

Stena Line

Swedish Lloyd

Thoresen Car Ferries

Ferry Postcards

Simplon Postcards Home Page

 

References:-

   

 

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Table of Ship Histories

Name	Other names	Built
Aquarius	Adriana	1972
Castalia	Scandinavian Saga, Stena Arcadia, Enchanted Sun, etc	1972
Egnatia III	Stena Scandinavica, St Killian, St Killian II	1973
Media II	Viking I, Viking Victory, European Glory, Neptunia	1991
Neptunia	Viking I, Viking Victory, European Glory, Media II	1991
Poseidonia (1)	Innisfallen	1948

 

 

 

 

 

 

HML Fleet List

 

 

Corinthia (1) (HML: 1939-1959)

 

Corinthia was built in 1911 as the Oranje Nassau, and was bought by HML in 1939. She was scrapped in 1959.

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines art postcard of Ionia.

 

Duncan photographic postcard of Carinthia.

 

 

 

 

 

Ionia (HML: 1946-1964)

 

Ionia was built in 1913 in Hartlepool as the Digby for Furness Lines UK-Canada service. During WW1 she served with the Royal Navy as HMS Digby, and later with the French Navy as Artois. After the war she returned to her old route, again as Digby, and from 1925 operated on the New York-West Indies service as the Dominica. She was then sold in 1934 to become the flagship of the United Baltic Corporation as the Baltrover. Route was London-Gdynia. During WW2 she reverted to her original transatlantic route. In 1946 she was sold to Hellenic Mediterranean Lines for £950,000, appearing in service in 1948 as the Ionia. Her route was Marseille-Genoa-Naples-Piraeus-Alexandria-Limassol-Port Said. Sold in 1964, she was lost as Ionian the following year.

 

Official Furness Lines art postcard of Digby.

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines art postcard of Ionia.

 

 

 

 

 

Cyrenia (HML: 1947-1957)

 

Cyrenia was built in 1911 in Govan as the Maunganui for the Union SS Co. of New Zealand. She served through both wars and sailed over 2 million miles with the Union SS Co. Maunganui was sold for HML service in 1947, and was used for emigrant services from Italy and Greece to Melbourne as the Cyrenia. By 1952, she was being laid up for much of the year, with summer use only in the Mediterranean. Cyrenia was broken up in 1957.

 

Unidentified photographic postcard of Cyrenia.

 

 

 

 

 

Aeolia (HML: 1950-1960)

 

Aolia was built as the KNSM liner Stuyvesant. She was acquired by HML in 1950, and scrapped in Japan in 1960.

 

Official KNSM postcard of Stuyvesant.

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines art postcard of Aeolia.

 

 

 

 

 

Media (HML: 1958-1968)

 

Media was built in 1936 as the Fasan of Argo Line. She was sunk in Hamburg during the war, and was 80% rebuilt in 1949. Fasan was sold to HML in 1958, and carried only 56 passengers, She operated on longer routes than the Marseille-Eastern Mediterranean service of the larger passenger ships. She was scrapped in 1968.

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines art postcard of Media.

 

 

 

 

 

Lydia (HML: 1956-1967)

 

Lydia was built in 1931 by Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen, for the Adelaide SSCo, Australia. As the Moonta, she was used on their Port Adelaide-Port Lincoln-Port Pirie-Whyalla-Wallaroo coastal passenger service. In 1955 she was sold to HML, and entered service in 1956 as the Lydia on a route Marseille-Genoa-Piraeus-Alexandria-Limassol-Beirut-Port Said. She was sold to French owners in 1967, and was beached on the French coast at Le Barcares as a recreation centre.

 

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines art postcard of Lydia.

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines postcard of Lydia.

 

Postcards of Lydia ashore at Le Barcares, France.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Massalia (HML: 1958-1974)

 

Massalia was built as the Bretagne (3) by Akers Mek. Verksted, Oslo, in 1937 for the Fred Olsen Line route Oslo-Antwerp. Following the loss of both 1938 sisters Black Prince (1) and Black Watch (1) during the war, she replaced them on the Oslo-Newcastle from 1945. In 1958 Bretagne (3) was sold to Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, Piraeus, and renamed Massalia. She served on a route Marseille-Genoa-Piraeus-Limassol-Beirut-Port Said-Alexandria-Piraeus-Genoa-Marseille until 1967 when she was laid up. She was scrapped in 1974.

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines postcards of Massalia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Egnatia (HML: 1960-2001)

 

4,458 grt - 1397 passengers - 130 cars - 18 knots

 

Egnatia was built in 1960 by S.A. des Chantiers Reunis Loire-Normandie, Grand Quevilly, for Hellenic Mediterranean Lines. She was the first passenger/car ferry built new for Greek owners, and she operated a Brindisi-Corfu-Igoumenitsa-Patras service opposite the Appia of Adriatica. Egnatia operated for HML throughout her career, until laid up in 1995. She was sold for scrapping in India in 2001.

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines postcards of Egnatia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apollonia (HML: 1963-1988)

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines postcard of Apollonia.

 

Further Hellenic Mediterranean Lines postcard of Apollonia.

Scand supplied by Michael Kenyon

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isthmia (HML: 1966-1970)

 

Isthmia was built for Swedish Lloyd as the Suecia in 1929 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle. Her sistership was the Britannia, which became the Cynthia. She entered service in 1929 between Göteborg and London. In 1966 she was sold to HML, and entered service in 1967 as the Isthmia on a route Marseille-Genoa-Piraeus-Alexandria-Port Said-Beirut. She was broken up in Turkey in 1973.

 

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines postcards of Isthmia.

 

 

Enlarged view of Isthmia from the postcard above.

 

Photo: © Don Smith.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

 

 

Cynthia (HML: 1966-1973)

 

Cynthia was built for Swedish Lloyd as the Britannia in 1929 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle. Her sistership was the Suecia, which became the Isthmia. She entered service in 1929 between Göteborg and London. In 1966 she was sold to HML, and entered service in 1967 as the Cynthia on a route Marseille-Genoa-Piraeus-Alexandria-Port Said-Beirut-Naples-Marseille. She was broken up in Italy in 1973.

 

Photo: © Don Smith.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

I do not have a postcard of Cynthia.

If you can help, please email: simplon@simplon.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Poseidonia (1) (1969-85)

 

Poseidonia was built in 1948 as the Innisfallen, replacing a 1930 ship of the same name which was lost in WW2. Innisfallen was sold in 1969, and eventually served as Poseidonia for Libra Maritime (Hellenic Maritime Lines - HML). She was broken up at Brindisi in 1985. The earlier history of this ship is covered on this link.

 

 

This is an official Libra Maritime/HML card.

 

A Duncan photo card of the Poseidonia.

 

 

 

 

 

Aquarius (HML: 1972-1987)

 

4591 grt - 312 passengers/berths - 19.5 knots

 

Aquarius was built in 1972 by United Shipping Yard, Perama, for use as a cruise ship by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines. She was sold to Jadranska Linijska Plovidba (Jadrolinija), Rijeka, in 1987, and renamed Adriana.

 

Complete history of Aquarius

 

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines postcard of Aquarius.

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines postcard of Aquarius.

 

Photo: © Foto Fleet File Rotterdam

Scan supplied by Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

 

 

Castalia (1974-1988)

 

8,500 grt - 1600 passengers - 250 cars - 18 knots

 

Castalia was built in 1974 by Kynossoura Dock Yard Ltd, Kynossoura, Salamis. She was another stunning looking ship built for Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, even more so than the 1972 Aquarius. She worked on their main ferry route Brindisi-Patras until sold to Stena Gulf Line in 1988 and renamed Scandinavian Saga. She was chartered to SeaEscape for short cruises out of Florida until 1991. She has remained in similar use ever since, for a variety of owners, under the names Pride of San Diego, Tropic Star II, Stena Arcadia, Emerald Empress, Sofia, Enchanted Sun and Talisman.

 

Complete history of Castalia

 

 

Official Hellenic Mediterranean Lines postcard of Castalia.

 

Photo: © Foto Fleet File Rotterdam

Scan supplied by Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

 

 

Lydia (1985-1995)

 

Lydia was built as the Koningin Fabiola in 1962 by J. Boel et Fils S.A., Tamise, for Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RTM). She served on their Oostende-Dover route until 1983 when she was laid up. In 1985, Koningin Fabiola was sold to Ionian Navigation Co and renamed Olympia. Later that year, she was chartered to HML and renamed Lydia. In 1995, Lydia was sold, and subsequently served as Ephesus, Bergama and Bosporus in the Eastern Mediterranean. She was laid up in 2000.

 

Tropic Postcards T112 Lydia (ex-Olympia, Koningin Fabiola)

Photo: © Frank Heine

 

 

 

 

 

Neptunia (1) (Libra Maritime: 1975-88)

Corinthia (2) (HML: 1988-1994)

 

The Duke of Argyll was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, in 1956, the first of three Dukes (the others being Rothesay & Lancaster) to replace a 1928 trio with the same names on the Heysham-Belfast night service of British Railways (London Midland Region). She was 376 ft long, 4797 gross tons, and carried 1800 passengers (600 first class, 1200 second). Sleeping berths were provided for 240 first class and 214 second, with open berths, rugs and pillows available for the rest. Her speed was 21 knots.

 

In 1965, British Railways was rebranded British Rail, and new corporate colours and logo were introduced. In 1968, an Act of Parliament separated the shipping interests of British Rail into a new division, for which the marketing name Sealink was adopted in 1970.

 

In 1970 Duke of Argyll was converted to a car ferry, with a vehicle deck of only 6ft 6in height, loaded from the stern. Passenger capacity was 1200, in one class, with 400 berths, although first class was reintroduced from 1972. Day services were also run from this time. The Heysham-Belfast route was closed on 5th April, 1975, with the Duke of Argyll running the final sailing to Ulster. She was sold to Greece in the same year as Neptunia for Libra Maritime, becoming Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (HML) Corinthia in 1987. Subsequent names were Faith Power, Fairy Princess and Zenith, being burnt out under this name in Hong Kong in 1995.

 

 

Official Libra Maritime card of Neptunia

 

Another official Libra Maritime card of Neptunia

 

Simplon Postcards sp1040 of Corinthia.

 

Ramsey Postcards Nr.02 of Corinthia, Patras-Brindisi service.

 

 

 

 

 

Poseidonia (2) (1988- )

 

Ulster Queen was built in 1967 by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast for the Liverpool-Belfast service of Belfast SS Co (part of Coast Lines). From 1971, the service was marketed as P&O Ferries, although registered owners only changed to P&O in 1978. The Liverpool-Belfast service closed in 1981, and Ulster Prince was laid up at Oostende. Service followed as Med Sea, Al Kahera and Ala-Eddin. In 1988 she was bought by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, and renamed Poseidonia.

 

 

Photo: © Foto Fleet File Rotterdam

Scan supplied by Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

 

Apollonia II (1990-1997)

 

Apollonia II was built as Travemünde (1) in 1964 at Orenstein-Koppel und Lübecker Machinenbau, Lübeck for Moltzau Line A/S, Gedser, Denmark, entering service between Gedser and Travemünde. The Gedser (1), delivered in 1963, was near sister (Gedser was distinguishable by the open sided walkways each side aft). In 1968, Travemünde was briefly chartered to Burns & Laird Lines. In 1969, she had a brief charter to Viking Line. In 1970 Travemünde (1) was chartered then sold to Lion Ferry Ab, becoming the Europafaerjan II on their Grenå-Varberg route. Between 1976-88 she was owned by Corsica Ferries as the Corsica Nova. She then served for various Mediterranean owners including a spell for HML as Apollonia II from 1990-97.

 

 

Photo: © Rickard Sahlsten.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

Photo: © Rickard Sahlsten.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

I do not have postcards of Apollonia II.

If you can assist with postcards or scans, please email:- simplon@simplon.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Neptunia (2) (1991)

Media II (1992-2002)

 

Neptunia was built as the Viking I in 1964 by Kaldnes Mekaniske Verksted A/S, Tönsberg, Norway, for Otto Thoresen for service between Southampton and Cherbourg. During the winters of 1965/6, Viking I was chartered to Atlantic Steam Navigation for services from Tilbury or Felixstowe to Rotterdam and Antwerp. In 1968, Thoresen merged with Townsend to form Townsend Thoresen Car Ferries. Viking I worked regular charters for other companies such as TT-Line, Lion Ferry, Silja Line, Stena Line etc. In 1976 Viking I was renamed Viking Victory and initiated a new service from Portsmouth to Le Havre/Cherbourg. Other services from Southampton subsequently moved to Portsmouth.

 

In 1983 Viking Victory was sold to Cypriot owners and served under various owners as Sun Boat, Caravan, Vasmed, Sunny Boat and European Glory until 1991 when she was chartered by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (HML) and renamed Neptunia. In Neptunia 1992 was bought by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (HML) and renamed Media II. She ran on service Patras-Igoumenitsa-Korfu-Brindisi. In 2002 she was sold to Mediterranean Freedom Marine, Limassol and renamed Media V for a service between Italy and Albania.

 

 

Ramsey Postcards 86 of Media II.

Photo: © A.Stacey.

 

 

 

 

 

Cynthia I (1993-1994)

 

Cynthia I was built as Hammershus (3) in 1965 by Jos L Meyer Verft, Papenburg-Ems, for A/S Dampskibsselskabet på Bornholm services Copenhagen-Rönne-Ystad. In 1973, registered owners became Bornholmstraffiken. In 1993 Hammershus was sold to HML for use on their Brindisi-Corfu-Igoumenitsa-Patras service as Cynthia I. She was sold again the following year to United Shipping Co, Panama. Under the name Kraljica Mira, she ran between Split-Ancona for Sem Maritime Company.

 

Photo: © Foto Fleet File Rotterdam

Scan supplied by Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

 

 

Neptunia (3) (1995)

 

Ulster Prince was built in 1967 by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast for the Liverpool-Belfast service of Belfast SS Co (part of Coast Lines). From 1971, the service was marketed as P&O Ferries, although registered owners only changed to P&O in 1978. The Liverpool-Belfast service closed in 1981, and Ulster Prince was laid up at Oostende. In 1983 she served Lady M for Marlines, followed by service as Tangapakorn, Long Hu and Macmosa in the Far East. In 1995 she was bought by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, and renamed Neptunia, but later the same year was in use as Panther for Hellenic Orient Lines between Bari-Cesme. In 2000 she was named Vatan and then Manar, the latter for Al Thuraya Marine Service Co, Dubai between Port Rashid-Umm Qasr (Iraq). She was the one of the first merchant ships to enter Umm Qasr after the 2003 Iraq conflict.

 

 

I do not have postcards of Neptunia (3).

If you can assist with postcards or scans, please email:- simplon@simplon.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Egnatia II (1998-2000)

Villa De Sete (2000)

City Of Cork (2001-2002)

 

Egnatia II was built as Aurella by J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co, Germany, in 1973 for Viking Line consortium member SF Line. Aurella was used on the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route until 1982, when she was sold to Irish Continental Line (later shortened to Irish Ferries). She served with them as St Patrick II on their services between Ireland and France until 1998, although in later years she was often chartered out or laid up at Le Havre as spare. In 1998 she was purchased by HML (Hellenic Mediterranean Lines) and was renamed Egnatia II. She was also chartered out to BalearExpress as Ville de Sete, and Swansea Cork Ferries as the City of Cork. A complete postcard history of Aurella is shown on this link.

 

 

Photo: © Martin Jensen.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

Photo: © Andreas Wörteler.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

Photo: © Andreas Wörteler.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

Photo: © Frank Lose.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

I do not have postcards of Egnatia II, Ville de Sete or City of Cork.

If you can assist with postcards or scans, please email:- simplon@simplon.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Egitto Express (2001, 2002)

 

Egitto Express was built as Expresso Cagliari in 1974 by Cant. Nav. "Luigi Orlando", Livorno. She was one of four sisters built for Trans Tirreno Express S.p.A, and entered service between Livorno-Olbia. In 1980 Expresso Cagliari was sold to Tirrenia di Navigazione S.p.A, and chartered to Adriatica di Navigazione S.p.A. She was renamed Espresso Egitto and used on a Venice-Piraeus-Alexandria service. In 1991 Espresso Egitto was rebuilt and returned to service as the Egitto Express. During the summers of 2001 and 2002, Egitto Express was chartered to Hellenic Mediterranean Lines.

 

 

I do not have postcards of Egitto Express in HML colours (if carried).

If you can assist with postcards or scans, please email:- simplon@simplon.co.uk

 

 

 

Egnatia III (2002- )

 

Egnatia III was built as the Stena Scandinavica in 1973 by Brodogradiliste Jozo Lozovina Mosor, Trogir, Yugoslavia, for Stena Line's Göteborg-Kiel, Kiel-Korsör and Göteborg-Frederikshavn services. Her sisterships were Stena Olympica, Stena Danica and Stena Jutlandica. In 1978 Stena Scandinavica was sold to Irish Continental Line, serving on routes Rosslare/Cork to Cherbourg/Le Havre as the St Killian. In 1981 St Killian was lengthened (unlike her sisters which received an extra vehicle deck to increase capacity), reappearing as the St Killian II. St Killian II was replaced with the Normandy, and was laid up in 1997, being sold the following year to Greek owners, who renamed her Medina Star. In 2002 she was chartered to Hellenic Mediterranean Lines and renamed Egnatia III.

 

Aerial photographs of Egnatia III by George Giannakis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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