SS Viet Nam

SS ''Viet-Nam'' was an Ocean Liner built in Dunkirk in 1953. ''Viet-Nam'' was built along with two sister ships, the SS Cambodge and SS Laos (all three were nicknamed 'les blancs'/the 'whites' by their crews, because of their colour). She mainly provided passenger service between France, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

The ''Viet-Nam'' was renamed ''Pacifique'' in 1967, and was sold to Malaysian owners in 1970 for use as a pilgrim ship to Mecca. The ''Pacifique'' (renamed several times since 1970) was destroyed by fire and capsized in Singapore in 1974, and was broken up in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1976.

Construction

The French shipping company Messageries Maritimes ordered three identical ships to be built around the late 1940s to provide passenger and mixed-freight service on a route between Marseilles and Yokohama ''via'' ports in South Asia. The first to be completed was ''Viet-Nam'' in 1952, which was built by Société des Ateliers & Chantiers in Dunkirk, in northern France. The name was derived from Vietnam. She was launched on 14 October 1951, then completed and delivered to Messageries Maritimes in July 1953. The second and third ships of the class, and , were completed in 1953 and 1954.

''Viet-Nam'' and her sisters were mid-sized liners. The ship was , long with a beam of . She was powered by twin Parsons geared turbines, which gave her a cruising speed of . ''Viet-Nam'' could carry 279 passengers on 7 decks — 117 in first class, 110 in second (tourist) class, and 52 in third (steerage or cabin) class.

Career

''Viet-Nam'' departed on her maiden voyage on 17 July 1953. Her route linked Marseilles with various ports along the Suez Canal, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and western Pacific Ocean. From Marseilles, she sailed across the Mediterranean Sea and through the Suez Canal and Red Sea to Port Said and Suez in Egypt, Aden in Yemen; Djibouti; across the Indian Ocean to Bombay, India; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and the island of Singapore; through the South China Sea to Saigon, Vietnam; Manila, Philippines; Hong Kong, and along the Pacific coast of Asia to finally reach Kobe and Yokohama in Japan. In 1961, ''Viet-Nam'' was refit, increasing the space of the vessels third class cabin space, and increasing her tonnage to 13,473. In 1966, the ''Viet-Nam'' was chartered to Club Mediterranée for use as a Cruise Ship, but was unsuccessful due to financial issues. ''Viet-Nam'' served just three cruises under charter before the Six-Day War closed the Suez Canal, putting an end to the charter.Lanfant, commandant. (1997). ''Histoire de la flotte des Messageries maritimes.'' Cholet: Hérault. Bois, Paul. (1992). ''Le grand siècle des Messageries Maritimes.'' Marseille.

On 29 September 1967, ''Viet-Nam'' was renamed ''Pacifique'', and continued regular passenger service until 1970, when ''Viet-Nam'' and her sister ship ''Laos'' were sold to Abeto SA. Renamed ''Princess Abeto'', the vessel was rebuilt to carry over 1,600 Muslim pilgrims to Mecca. The ''Viet-Nam''s other sister ship, ''Cambodge'', was bought by Sun Lines, a Greek cruise line, converted into a cruise ship, and ultimately scrapped at Alang, India in 2003. The ''Princess Abeto'' was renamed ''Malaysia Baru'' in 1971, and ''Malaysia Kita'' in 1972.

Fate

On 12 May 1974, ''Malaysia Kita'' caught fire and capsized while anchored under repairs in Singapore harbor. There were no casualties, and the wreck of the ''Malaysia Kita'' was refloated in June 1975, and sold for scrap at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, arriving in May 1976 to be broken up.Lanfant, commandant. (1997). ''Histoire de la flotte des Messageries maritimes.'' Cholet: Hérault. Bois, Paul. (1992). ''Le grand siècle des Messageries Maritimes.'' Marseille.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viet Nam
1951 ships
Cruise ships
Ocean liners
Passenger ships of France
Steamships of France