RMS Parthia (1947)

RMS Parthia was the second of two all first class transatlantic passenger cargo liners built for the Cunard Line. She later served on the London to Auckland route for the New Zealand Shipping Company under the name Remuera, and still later as a Pacific cruise ship under the name Aramac. She was scrapped in 1969–70.

RMS Parthia
History
United Kingdom
Name	RMS Parthia
Owner	Cunard Line
Port of registry	Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Route	Liverpool - New York.
Builder	Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number	1331
Launched	25 February 1947
Completed	April 1948
Maiden voyage	10 April 1948
In service	1948–1961
Out of service	Sold to New Zealand Shipping Company in 1961
United Kingdom
Name	SS Remuera
Owner	New Zealand Shipping Co.
Port of registry	London, United Kingdom
Route	London - Auckland NZ
Acquired	November 1961
Maiden voyage	June 1962
In service	1962–1964
Out of service	Sold to Eastern & Australian Steamship Company in 1964
Australia
Name	SS Aramac
Owner	Eastern & Australian Steamship Company
Route	Melbourne-Yokohama
Maiden voyage	February 1965
In service	1965–1969
Out of service	1969
Fate	Scrapped in Taiwan in 1969-70
General characteristics
Type	Cargo liner
Tonnage	As built 13,362 GRT, 7,393 NRT 1962 13,619 GRT
Length	531.4 ft (162.0 m)
Beam	70.3 ft (21.4 m)
Draught	46 ft (14 m)
Decks	8
Installed power	15,000 shp (11,000 kW)
Propulsion	Geared steam turbines Twin propellers
Speed	18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity	As built 251 1st class 1962 350 one class.

History

Originally conceived as cargo ships for the Cunard Line subsidiary - Brocklebank Line, RMS Parthia and her sister RMS Media were completed as transatlantic passenger cargo ships that served the Cunard Line on its Liverpool to New York route from 1948 until 1961. Smaller and somewhat slower than the great express liners, Parthia acquired a reputation for informal elegance and comfort that made her a favourite with many of the travelling public. Among the celebrities who frequently sailed with the ship or her sister ship RMS Media, was the film star Katharine Hepburn. As originally constructed the ship had four passenger decks and included all of the normal amenities expected by her 251 all first class passengers, including stylish lounges, a cocktail bar, library, and spacious staterooms. The limited number of passengers also meant more shipboard space for promenading and other activities which in turn contributed to a more relaxed ambiance. Unfortunately, Parthia and Media were poor sea boats and were eventually fitted with Denny-Brown stabilisers, Media in 1952 and Parthia in 1954, the first transatlantic liners to be so fitted

With the arrival of the 1960s however, commercial jet planes began to dominate the transatlantic passenger trade and steamship companies increasingly found it difficult to compete. On 16 October 1961 Parthia was withdrawn from service after her final arrival at Liverpool. She was purchased for £705,000 by the P&O group, largely it was thought to prevent her falling into the hands of a competitor as had happened to the Media. P&O allocated the ship to its New Zealand Shipping Company subsidiary which employed the ship, renamed SS Remuera, on the London to Auckland New Zealand route. The ship was refitted at the Alexander Stephen shipyard on the Clyde as a one class ship for 350 passengers, replacing the 33-year-old Rangitiki and Rangitata. Again however, the ship was a financial millstone to her owners, being a steamship in a fleet of motor ships. In 1964 P&O transferred her to another subsidiary, the Eastern and Australian Steamship Company. Renamed Aramac the ship was converted for cruising and served in this capacity until 1969 when she was definitively withdrawn from service and sold for scrap which was completed in Taiwan in 1970.

External links

RMS Parthia on Chris' Cunard Page: https://www.chriscunard.com/history-fleet/cunard-fleet/1930-1960/parthia/