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QUEEN FREDERICA ocean liner
SS Queen Frederica was an
ocean liner which was originally built as SS Malolo in
1926 by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia for the
Matson Navigation Company. Designed by William Francis
Gibbs, she was the first of a number of ships which will
affectionately become known as "The White
Ships" which did much to develop tourism in the Hawaiian
Islands.
The SS Malolo entered service in 1927 as Matson's
largest ship yet. The SS Malolo was commissioned for first-class luxury
service between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and
Honolulu. She provided superb public rooms, spacious
cabins, an indoor swimming pool, and gymnasium, as well
as a well-trained staff that included hairdressers to
provide a high standard of unsurpassed service.
In 1937,
Matson docked Malolo for a major refit. The lifeboats
were moved two decks higher and the deck they vacated
was enclosed to create additional berths including new
"Lanai Suites." Existing cabins were greatly upgraded;
the ship changed from a combination of 457 first class
and 163 cabin class accommodations to 693 first class
only. The transformed ship was rechristened Matsonia.
From early 1942 through April 1946 Matsonia was operated
as a troop ship. In 1946, she returned to commercial
duties between San Francisco and Honolulu. She made her
final trip for the Matson Line in April 1948. When she
arrived in Los Angeles Harbor from Hawaii 238 passengers
disembarked, with 126 arriving at her final port of call
in San Francisco on April 20.
With the SS Matsonia
now owned by the Mediterranean Line, she was renamed
“Atlantic.” She was sent to the Ansaldo shipyards in
Genoa where she received a comprehensive refit. On December 23, 1954
the Atlantic was transferred to the recently formed
“National Hellenic American Line,” being another
subsidiary of Home Lines and she was renamed SS
Vasilissa Friederiki, being Greek for Queen
Frederica. However, only the English version of the
name was ever used on her bow; however the Greek
lettering did appear on her stern.
Although always known
as the “Queen Frederica” she was now registered
at Piraeus under the name “Vasilissa Friederiki”.
She departed Piraeus on January 29, 1955 for bound
for Naples, Palermo, Halifax and New York.
Towards the end of
1960, National Hellenic American Line decided to
give this fine ship another extensive refit, which
saw her lower glazed-in Promenade Deck fully plated
in by steel, which added further space for a good
number of additional cabins. In addition her
superstructure was extended slightly further aft.
Upon completion she became a two class ship
accommodating 174 First Class and 1,005 Tourist
Class passengers.
After fifty years of
service for several different companies, the great
ship was sold to Greek breakers in 1977. In February
1978 while her interiors were being demolished she
was gutted by fire and work was temporarily halted.
Three years later her remaining hull sections could
still be seen among other ships at the breakers'
yard.
This primarily wood model of the SS Queen Frederica
ocean liner depicts the ship at 1958, sailing for New York from Naples, Italy.
If you'd like it at a different time or as Malolo,
Atltanic, Matsonia, just let us know.
We build this model in
two sizes: 35" long (1/200 scale) and 48" long
(1/144 scale). Email us for quotes.
Model is built per commission only. We require only a
small deposit (not full amount, not even half) to start
the process. The
remaining balance won't be due until the boat is
completed.
Click
here for
more details as well as the lead time.
Learn more
about the here:
http://ssmaritime.com/malolo-queen-frederica.htm
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