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Sitmar Line

 

 

This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the passenger ships of Sitmar Line. An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table is a Fleet List in chronological order.

 

The Sitmar Line (Sitmar = Società Italiana Trasporti Marittimi) was formed by Russian émigré Alexandre Vlasov. Sitmar ships all carried a "V" for Vlasov on their funnels. Vlasov operated cargo ships under various flags (including Greek, Italian and British) before and during the war. After the war, numerous American wartime standard ships were available for purchase, and Vlasov bought the Wooster Victory and Vassar Victory. These were suitable for emigrant carriers since both had been troopships in the war. He chartered them to the IRO (International Refugee Organisation - run by the UN). The Vassar Victory was renamed Castelbianco, under the Italian flag, whereas Wooster Victory initially operated under her original name, before becoming the Castelverde when she also became Italian flagged. the By 1952, the IRO charters were coming to an end, and Castel Bianco and Castel Verde (as their names were later rendered), were put into service as emigrant carriers between Genoa and Central America. Before starting this service, both ships were substantially rebuilt. Sitmar withdrew the Central American service in 1957, and the two ships were sold to the Spanish Line.

 

Vlasov also bought two American C3 ships, and rebuilt one as the 1800 passenger Fairsea (1). She was Panamanian-flagged, and initiated the naming style for future Sitmar ships. Fairsea (1) initially operated IRO charters, and was then put on the Australian run. She also made a few North Atlantic crossings. In 1955, Fairsea (1) was given a long-term contract by Australia to carry emigrants from Southampton. The other C3 ship became the Fairsky (1) in 1957, under the Liberian flag, and also joining the Australian service. Also joining the Australian service were the Castel Felice, originally the BI Line's Kenya, and Fairstar, previously the Bibby Line troopship Oxfordshire. These four ships maintained this service until 1970, when the contract passed to Chandris Lines. An attempt to regain the Australian contract was made when Vlasov acquired the Cunarders Carinthia and Sylvania in 1968. The plans came to nothing, and they remained laid up at Southampton for a number of years as the Fairland and Fairsea (2). The loss of their regular contracts forced Sitmar to change direction, and they devoted their activities towards becoming a major cruise company. Fairsea (1) had already been scrapped in 1969, following a fire in the engine room, and Castel Felice was scrapped in 1970 at the end of the Australian contract. The ex-Cunarders Fairland and Fairsea (2) received substantial conversions into cruise ships. Although an appropriate name for an emigrant liner, Fairland was deemed unsuitable for a cruise ship, and she was renamed Fairwind before entering service in 1971. These two fine conversions joined the Fairsky (1) and Fairstar in building an excellent reputation for Sitmar as a cruise line in the American market. The Fairsky (1) was sold for scrap in 1977. A third large ship was sought to replace her, initial interest in the Queen Anna Maria being thwarted when she was bought by Carnival. Finally, the Portuguese liner Principe Perfeito was bought to replace her in 1979, being renamed Fairsky (2). She was due to be converted in a Spanish yard, for completion in 1981, but it was eventually decided that the project was uneconomic, and she was sold to John Latsis in 1982. In her place, the new Fairsky (3) was delivered in 1984.

 

 

Ships on This Page:-

Castelbianco (1947-52)

Castel Bianco (1952-57)

Castel Felice (1952-70)

Castel Forte (1950-60)

Castelverde (1950-53)

Castel Verde (1953-57)

Fairland (1968-71)

Fairsea (1) (1949-69)

Fairsea (2) (1971-88)

Fairsky (1) (1958-77)

Fairsky (2) (1979-82)

Fairsky (3) (1984-88)

Fairstar (1964-88)

Fairwind (1971-88)

Sitmar FairMajesty (1988)

Sitmar Fairwind (1988)

Vassar Victory (1947)

Wooster Victory (1947-50)

 

Associated Pages:-

Ferry Postcards

Cruise Ship Postcards

Ocean Liner Postcards

Simplon Postcards Home Page

 

References:-

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Table of Ship Histories

Name	Other names	Built
Fairland	Carinthia, Fairland, Fair Princess, China Sea Discovery	1956
Fairsea (2)	Carinthia, Fairland, Fair Princess, China Sea Discovery	1956
Fairsky (3)	Sky Princess, Pacific Sky	1984
Fairwind	Sylvania, Sitmar Fairwind, Dawn Princess, Albatros	1957
Sitmar Fairwind	Sylvania, Fairwind, Dawn Princess, Albatros	1957
Sitmar FairMajesty	Star Princess, Arcadia, Ocean Village	1989

 

 

 

 

 

Sitmar Line Fleet List

 

 

Castelbianco (Sitmar: 1947-1952)

Castel Bianco (Sitmar: 1952-1957)

 

 

Castel Bianco was built as the Vassar Victory in 1945, a standard American "Victory" class fast steam turbine troop ship. Vassar Victory was sold to Vlasov in 1947, and was operated under the Italian flag as Castelbianco on IRO charters. She was rebuilt with extra accommodation in 1952, returning to service as the Castel Bianco, with tonnage increased from 7604 to 10139 gross tons. Mostly used on the Central American service, she was sold to the Spanish Line in 1957 as the Begoña, and was scrapped in 1974.

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Castel Bianco.

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Castel Bianco.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wooster Victory (Sitmar: 1947-1950)

Castelverde (Sitmar: 1950-1953)

Castel Verde (Sitmar: 1953-1957)

 

Castel Verde was built as the Wooster Victory in 1945, a standard American "Victory" class fast steam turbine troop ship. Wooster Victory was sold to Vlasov in 1947, and was operated under that name on IRO charters (under the Argentinean and Panamanian flags) until 1950. when she was renamed Castelverde under the Italian flag. In 1953 she was rebuilt with extra passenger accommodation, increasing in size from 7607 gross tons to 9006 gross tons. She was one deck lower than the rebuilt Castel Bianco, rebuilt the previous year. Now named Castel Verde, she operated on the Central American service from Genoa until 1957, when she was sold to the Spanish Line and renamed Monserrat. She was not scrapped until 1973.

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Castel Verde.

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Castel Verde.]

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Castel Verde.

 

 

 

Photograph of Castel Verde.

Photo: © Captain G. de Luyk - Scan: © Sergio de Luyk

Sergio de Luyk writes:- From 1951 to 1956 my father worked for "Sitmar Lines", starting as a 1st officer on "Castel Verde", ending

as a Master on "Castel Bianco", sailing all the passenger ships ("Castel Felice", "Castel Nevoso", "Fairsea") of the fleet in those

years. He loved photograpy and used a " Leica III f " camera on all occasions permitted by his job and his duty on board. He used

to photograph other ships, when they were passing by.

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

 

 

Castel Felice

(Sitmar: 1952-70)

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Castel Felice.

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Castel Felice.

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Castel Felice (colour variation on the card above).

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Castel Felice (colour variation on the cards above).

 

 

 

J.Arthur Dixon postcard SS.1147 of Castel Felice.

 

 

 

Photograph of Castel Felice

Photo: © Captain G. de Luyk - Scan: © Sergio de Luyk

Sergio de Luyk writes:- From 1951 to 1956 my father worked for "Sitmar Lines", starting as a 1st officer on "Castel Verde", ending

as a Master on "Castel Bianco", sailing all the passenger ships ("Castel Felice", "Castel Nevoso", "Fairsea") of the fleet in those

years. He loved photograpy and used a " Leica III f " camera on all occasions permitted by his job and his duty on board. He used

to photograph other ships, when they were passing by.

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairsea (1)

(Sitmar: 1949-1969)

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Fairsea (1) as originally converted in 1950.

 

 

 

German postcard of Fairsea (1) as originally converted.

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Fairsea (1), as rebuilt in 1958.

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Fairsea (1) (colour variation on card above).

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Fairsea (1).

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of the"sundeckbar" on Fairsea (1).

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of the"fore-bar" on Fairsea (1).

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of the"ladies room" on Fairsea (1).

 

 

 

A.Duncan photographic postcard of Fairsea (1).

 

 

 

Photograph of Fairsea (1).

Photo: © Skyfotos.

 

 

 

Photographic postcard of Fairsea (1).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Castel Forte (Sitmar: 1950-1960)

Fairsky (1) (Sitmar: 1960-1977)

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Fairsky (1).

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Fairsky (1) (colour variation on the card above).

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Fairsky (1) (colour variation on the card above).

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Fairsky (1).

 

 

 

Photograph of Fairsky (1).

Photo: © Skyfotos.

 

 

 

Photograph of Fairsky (1).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairstar

(Sitmar: 1964-1988)

 

In 1988, P&O acquired Sitmar Cruises, consisting of the ex-Cunarders Fairwind and Fairsea, the ex-Bibby Fairstar, the 1984-built Fairsky and three new ships under construction. The Fairstar had been serving the Australian market for some years, where she had built up a dedicated following. She was the only Sitmar ship to retain her original name, and was operated by a separate office in Sydney. She carried the new Sitmar blue funnel colours, with a white swan symbol, which was to have replaced the famous yellow funnel and 'V'-symbol (for Vlasov) throughout the whole Sitmar fleet. The card below is in this condition, and as the card-back indicates, she was marketed as P&O-Sitmar Cruises at this time. She later had the funnel colours reversed - blue swan on white background - and later still the swan was replaced with a dolphin symbol. Fairstar was scrapped in 1997, following numerous engine and boiler problems.

 

 

Official Sitmar Line postcard of Fairstar.

 

 

 

Official Sitmar Cruises postcard of Fairstar.

 

 

 

J.Arthur Dixon postcard SS.2511 of Fairstar.

 

 

 

Colour View postcard BI 411 of Fairstar at Opua, New Zealand.

 

 

 

Salmon postcard 1-58-03-06/5968 of Fairstar.

 

 

 

Postcard of Fairstar in Australia.

Scan: John E Hoskin.

 

 

 

CT Publishing postcard 020 of Fairstar (issued 1993) off Mystery Island, Vanuatu.

Photo: © Brian E.Cole, July 12th, 1984.

 

 

 

Chantry Classics postcard CC/S33 of Fairstar off Isle of Pines, New Caledonia.

Photo: © Ellen Butland.

 

 

 

P&O-Sitmar Line postcard of Fairstar.

 

 

 

Card back from the P&O-Sitmar Line postcard of Fairstar above.

 

 

 

David Messent postcard 478 of Fairstar at Sydney.

 

 

 

David Messent postcard 478 of Fairstar at Sydney.

Enlarged image from the card above, with QE2 in the background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairland (Sitmar: 1968-1971)

Fairsea (2) (Sitmar: 1971-1988)

 

A complete history of Fairsea is available on this link.

 

 

Sitmar Cruises official postcard of Fairsea.

 

 

 

Sitmar Cruises oversized official postcard of Fairsea in Alaska.

 

 

 

Enlarged image from the oversized official postcard of Fairsea above.

 

 

 

Sitmar Cruises oversized official postcard of Fairsea.

 

 

 

Commercial postcard of either Fairsea. or Fairwind at Cabo San Lucas (Mexico).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairwind (Sitmar: 1971-1988)

Sitmar Fairwind (Sitmar: 1988)

 

 

A complete history of Fairwind is available on this link.

 

 

Fairwind and Fairland at Southampton.

Enlarged imege from J.Arthur Dixon L1/8860/Hants.

 

 

 

Sitmar Cruises official postcard of Fairwind.

 

 

 

Chantry Classics postcard CC/S96 of Fairwind.

Photo: Frank Kalinowsky.

 

 

 

Commercial postcard of either Fairsea. or Fairwind at Cabo San Lucas (Mexico).

Photo: © F.Aramburo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairsky (2)

(Sitmar: 1979-1982)

 

The Fairsky (1) was sold for scrap in 1977. A large ship was sought to replace her, initial interest in the Queen Anna Maria being thwarted when she was bought by Carnival. The Portuguese liner Principe Perfeito of Companhia Nacional de Navegacao was then bought in 1979, being renamed Fairsky (2). She was due to be converted in a Spanish yard, for completion in 1981, but it was eventually decided that the project was uneconomic, and she was sold to John Latsis in 1982. In her place, the new Fairsky (3) was delivered in 1984.

 

 

Official Nacional postcard of Fairsky (2) as Principe Perfeito, in Portuguese service.

 

 

 

Postcard of Fairsky (2) as Principe Perfeito, in Portuguese service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairsky (3)

(Sitmar: 1984-1988)

 

Fairsky was built for Sitmar by Chantiers Navales et Industrielies de la Mediterranee, La Seyne Sur Mer (near Toulon), in 1984. She was yard number 1436. Unusually for a ship this new, she has steam turbine machinery, the last large turbine passenger ship built. She became the Sky Princess in the Princess fleet. She replaced Fair Princess in the Australian market in 2001, renamed the Pacific Sky.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

An additional selection of photographs are available on this link.

 

 

Sitmar Line official postcard of Fairsky.

 

 

 

Sitmar Line oversized official postcard of Fairsky.

 

 

 

Sitmar Line official postcard of Fairsky.

 

 

 

Sitmar Line oversized official postcard of Fairsky.

 

 

 

Sitmar Line oversized official postcard of Fairsky.

 

 

 

Simplon Postcards release sc2021, issued July 1992, of Fairsky at Glacier Bay, Alaska, on 19th July 1986.
Photo: © Wil Moojen.

 

 

 

Chantry Classics release CC/S37, of Fairsky at Capetown.
Photo: © Errol M Cornish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sitmar FairMajesty

 

Star Princess, built 1989, was near completion in France for Sitmar Cruises, as their Sitmar FairMajesty, when the company was taken over by P&O Princess.

 

A complete history of this ship is shown on this link.

 

 

This advance postcard of her proposed appearance had already been issued.

Scan of postcard supplied by Dimas Almada.

 

 

 

The Sitmar postcard above was modified for Princess pre-release.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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