MS Vulcania
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | MS Vulcania |
| Owner: | Cosulich Line |
| Port of registry: |
 Italy, Trieste
|
| Route: | Trieste - Naples - New York City - Trieste |
| Builder: | Cantiere Navale Triestino, Monfalcone, Italy |
| Yard number: | 161 |
| Laid down: | 30 January 1926 |
| Launched: | 19 December 1926 |
| Completed: | 2 December 1928 |
| In service: | 1929-1974 |
| Out of service: | 1974 |
| Fate: | Sank 1974 |
| Status: | Wreck |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Ocean liner |
| Length: | 192.92m |
| Beam: | 24.3m |
| Propulsion: | 25,000 HP diesel engine |
| Sail plan: | Two masts |
| Speed: | 19 kn (35 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 1760 passengers |
The MS Vulcania was an Italian ocean liner built by Cantiere Navale Triestino, Monfalcone, northern Italy in 1926 for the Italian company, Cosulich Line.
The Vulcania is considered one of the most successful passenger ships ever built. During her career she carried more passengers than any other Italian-flag ship. Like her twin sister MS Saturnia, she was designed by Niccolò Costanzi, the director of the Cantieri Navale Triestino, and represented a great novelty in the conservative field of naval architecture.
She was a 23,970 gross ton , with an overall length of 192,92m and a breadth of 24.23m She had one funnel, two masts, twin screw and could reach a maximum speed of 19 knots. There was accommodation for 310 First, 460 Second, 310 intermediate and 700 3rd class passengers. In 1930 her accommodation was altered to 1st, 2nd, tourist and 3rd class, and in 1962 to 1st, tourist and 3rd class only. In 1930 she was fitted with 2 new Burmeister & Wain diesel engines which gave her a speed of 19.4/ 21 knots. Later she was rebuilt to a tonnage of 24,469 tons.
Although there had been various ships which offered private verandahs and promenades for the suites, both the Vulcania and the Saturnia were the first liners to offer a large number of cabins with private balconies. Casa Artistica was responsible for designing the interior of the ship, in conservative classical style, with contributions from Austrian and British design firms. with works of art like Le Sirene, a 1934 woodden bas-relief by renowned artist , displayed in the Tourist-class bar.
Launched on 18 December 1926, she sailed from Trieste on her maiden voyage to Patras, Naples and New York City on 19 December of the same year. On 01 January 1932, Vulcania was acquired by the newly formed Italia Flotte Reunite, founded through a merger encouraged by the Italian government of the Genoa-based Navigazione Generale Italiana (NGI), the Turin-based Lloyd Sabaudo, and the Trieste-based Cosulich STN lines.
In September 1933 she transported the body of the Italian aviator Francesco de Pinedo to Italy from New York City after his death in a plane crash. In the inter-Wars years, the Vulcania made many transatlantic routes between the Adriatic and Mediterranean ports and the Americas. In 1933, she stopped many times in Haifa and Palestine. Commandeered by the Italian government, Vulcania’s wartime service began with special trooping duties during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1935. As from 18 February, she made eight voyages Naples – Massawa - Mogadishu carrying troops and colonists. On May 12 , she was given new engines and renovated at the shipyard in Monfalcone to soon resume her transatlantic sailings until Italy entered World War II on 10 June 1940.
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