(Shaw
Savill: 1947-1958 )
On
the 24th of May in 1947, the Monarch of Bermuda was gutted by a
fire at Hebburn-on-Tyne while being refitted for a return to the Bermuda
passenger service. She was declared a total loss and it seemed likely
that she would go for scrap. A reprieve saw her saved from the breakers
yard when the Ministry of Transport reappraised the wreck, purchased
her, and rebuilt her as an emigrant ship. She was moved under her own
power to Southampton and rebuilt by Thornycroft. Her three funnels were
replaced by a single funnel, and a peculiar trunked mast/funnel
arrangement forward of the single funnel. She was now 20,256 gross tons,
was 553.2 feet long with a beam of 76.7 feet, and was fitted to
accommodate 1600 passengers in one class. In 1949 she was renamed the
New Australia, and the Ministry of Transport contracted the
Shaw Savill Line to manage her.
E.T.W.Dennis
(Scarborough) postcard of New Australia.
(Greek
Line: 1958- )
In late 1957, following the Torres Strait
collision, the New Australia was withdrawn from service and was
destined for scrapping. In January 1958 she was saved again when the
Greek Line bought her and renamed her Arkadia. She was rebuilt
and modernized by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg. She was now 20,259 tons, her
forepeak, damaged in the collision, was extended to provide a curved
stem, and she was lengthened to 590 feet. Her foremast was replaced by
two king-posts. She was fitted out to carry 150 passengers in 1st class
and 1150 in tourist class. On 22 May 1958 the Arkadia made her
first voyage from Bremerhaven through Cherbourg, Liverpool and Greenock
to Quebec-Montreal. 17 June 1958 saw her make her first voyage,
Bremerhaven-Southampton- Cherbourg-Cobh-Quebec- Montreal. In 1961, the
Arkadia underwent further refitting by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg; She was
now 20,648 tons and fitted out to carry 50 passengers in first class and
1337 in tourist class. On 16 August 1966 the Arkadia made her last
voyage, Bremerhaven-Amsterdam-London- Havre-Cobh-Quebec-Montreal from
which she departed on 26 August. November 1966 saw her laid up in the
River Fal, Falmouth, Cornwell, and on 8 December 1966 she arrived at
Valencia, Spain, for scrapping.
Official
Greek Line card of Arkadia.