RMS Parthia (1947)
{{Short description|Passenger cargo liner}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=RMS_Parthia_RMS_Media_1947.jpg |Ship caption=RMS Parthia }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=United Kingdom |Ship flag={{Shipboxflag|United Kingdom|civil}} |Ship name=RMS Parthia |Ship owner=Cunard Line |Ship operator= |Ship registry=Liverpool, {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}. |Ship route=Liverpool – New York. |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Harland & Wolff, Belfast |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number=1331 |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=25 February 1947 |Ship completed=April 1948 |Ship christened= |Ship acquired= |Ship maiden voyage=10 April 1948 |Ship in service=1948–1961 |Ship out of service=Sold to New Zealand Shipping Company in 1961 |Ship identification= |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header=title |Ship country=United Kingdom |Ship flag={{Shipboxflag|United Kingdom|civil}} |Ship name=SS Remuera |Ship owner=New Zealand Shipping Co. |Ship operator= |Ship registry=London, {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |Ship route=London – Auckland NZ |Ship ordered= |Ship builder= |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= |Ship completed= |Ship christened= |Ship acquired=November 1961 |Ship maiden voyage=June 1962 |Ship in service=1962–1964 |Ship out of service=Sold to Eastern & Australian Steamship Company in 1964 |Ship identification= |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header=title |Ship country=Australia |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|civil}} |Ship name=SS Aramac |Ship owner=Eastern & Australian Steamship Company |Ship operator= |Ship registry= |Ship route=Melbourne-Yokohama |Ship ordered= |Ship builder= |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= |Ship completed= |Ship christened= |Ship acquired= |Ship maiden voyage=February 1965 |Ship in service=1965–1969 |Ship out of service=1969 |Ship identification= |Ship fate=Scrapped in Taiwan in 1969-70 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship type=Cargo liner |Ship tonnage= *As built |Ship displacement= |Ship length={{convert|531.4|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|70.3|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught={{convert|46|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship depth= |Ship decks=8 |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship sail plan= |Ship power={{convert|15000|shp|kW|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion= *Geared steam turbines
|Ship speed={{convert|18|kn|abbr=on}} |Ship capacity= *As built
|Ship notes= }} |
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.{{cite book | title=Passenger Liners of the World Since 1893 | publisher=Bonanza Books | author=Cairis, Nicholas T. | year=1979 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/passengerlinerso0000cair/page/47 47] | isbn=0517-28875-3 | url=https://archive.org/details/passengerlinerso0000cair/page/47 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.ssmaritime.com/RMS-Parthia-SS-Remuera.htm | title=RMS Parthia | publisher=SSMaritime.com | accessdate=4 August 2014}}
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.{{cite web | url=http://www.ssmaritime.com/RMS-Parthia-SS-Remuera.htm | title=RMS Parthia | publisher=SSMaritime.com | accessdate=4 August 2014}} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.ssmaritime.com/RMS-Parthia-SS-Remuera.htm | title=RMS Parthia | publisher=SSMaritime.com | accessdate=4 August 2014}} 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.Vernon-Gibbs, Western Ocean Passenger Lines and Liners 1934–1969
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.Cooke, Liners and Cruise Ships – 3 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.{{cite book | title=Passenger Liners of the World Since 1893 | publisher=Bonanza Books | author=Cairis, Nicholas T. | year=1979 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/passengerlinerso0000cair/page/47 47] | isbn=0517-28875-3 | url=https://archive.org/details/passengerlinerso0000cair/page/47 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.ssmaritime.com/RMS-Parthia-SS-Remuera.htm | title=RMS Parthia | publisher=SSMaritime.com | accessdate=4 August 2014}} 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.{{cite book | title=Passenger Liners of the World Since 1893 | publisher=Bonanza Books | author=Cairis, Nicholas T. | year=1979 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/passengerlinerso0000cair/page/47 47] | isbn=0517-28875-3 | url=https://archive.org/details/passengerlinerso0000cair/page/47 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.ssmaritime.com/RMS-Parthia-SS-Remuera.htm | title=RMS Parthia | publisher=SSMaritime.com | accessdate=4 August 2014}} 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.{{cite book | title=Passenger Liners of the World Since 1893 | publisher=Bonanza Books | author=Cairis, Nicholas T. | year=1979 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/passengerlinerso0000cair/page/47 47] | isbn=0517-28875-3 | url=https://archive.org/details/passengerlinerso0000cair/page/47 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.ssmaritime.com/RMS-Parthia-SS-Remuera.htm | title=RMS Parthia | publisher=SSMaritime.com | accessdate=4 August 2014}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cunard ships}}
External links
RMS Parthia on Chris' Cunard Page: https://www.chriscunard.com/history-fleet/cunard-fleet/1930-1960/parthia/
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Category:Ocean liners of the United Kingdom
Category:Cruise ships of the United Kingdom
Category:Ships of the Cunard Line
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Passenger ships of the United Kingdom
Category:Ships of the New Zealand Shipping Company