Portuguese liners "SANTA MARIA" and "VERA CRUZ"

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My real passion for ships and particularity passenger liners started when I was five years old and saw "SANTA MARIA" for the first time in Lisbon, after that first glimpse of the ship my father took me on various occasions to the port of Lisbon to admire "SANTA MARIA" and her sister ship the 1952 built "VERA CRUZ", a member of my family went a few years later to Africa on "VERA CRUZ" to serve in what was known then as the Colonial War. "SANTA MARIA" was built in Belgium by JOHN COCKERILL and delivered to COLONIAL NAVIGATION COMPANY in 1953, she was 21.357 GRT and had a top speed of 23 knots, the vessel became world news when in 1961 was abducted by members of a group known as DRIL which was opposition to the Antonio Salazar government, this episode marks the first political kidnapping of an ocean liner in modern history. "SANTA MARIA" and "VERA CRUZ" ended their days prematurely in 1973 when they were scrapped, a sad ending for two wonderful ships with such a great potential to be converted for cruising.

Photos used in this post copyright Luis Miguel Correia

Comments

  1. A MIND WITH A VIEWFebruary 2, 2012 at 3:47 PM

    Thanks for the info on the Vera Cruz. I have a small postcard left by my parents and did not know much about it. It is a picture of the Vera Cruz... that must be the ship that took them from Portugal to Brazil!? Maybe.

    ReplyDelete
  2. VMFFebruary 3, 2012 at 12:29 AM

    Thank you for your comment and for following my blog. The sisters VERA CRUZ and SANTA MARIA operated from 1953 to 1973, they were still young ships when they went to the breakers, if you send me more details about your parents trip I might be able to identify the ship

    Best Regards

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 12, 2013 at 9:23 AM

    Hello
    Are ther any books about these two cruise liners?

    ReplyDelete
  4. VMFAugust 12, 2013 at 10:47 AM

    As far as I know the only book dedicated to these ships is by Maritime Historian, author Luis Miguel Correia, it's called "PAQUETES PORTUGUESES" but unfortunately is sold out, sorry and thank you for the comment above.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 2, 2022 at 5:30 AM

    Thank you so much for the information. I have been browsing your web-site and many others in the hope that I can find some information that relates to my nearly 90 year old father. He departed from the Port of Kingston, Jamaica -1957 to Southampton - England. The passenger ship was SS Santa Maria

    I have searched immigration records on line and cannot find a passenger list.

    Would you be able to offer some advice as to the most efficient route for obtaining any records. My plan is to present him a passenger list, route itinery and other memorabilia in August when he will be 90 years old.

    ReplyDelete

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