Ship History

	History

RETURN TO THE HOMEPAGE S/S MONTEREY 1956
In the 1950s Matson was creating a new deluxe service from San Francisco to the South Pacific and Australia. To operate this service they acquired two C4 fast freighter ships from the US Marine Corps - Pine Tree Mariner and Free State Mariner. These were to be rebuilt as passenger / cargo liners and renamed Mariposa and Monterey respectively. As it turned out Monterey was the last passenger liner built for Matson Line. Design and Construction (1952 - 1957): The Monterey was originally built by the Bethlehem Steel shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1952 as the C4 fast freighter Free State Mariner for the US Marine Corps. Her sister ship was the Pine Tree Mariner that was to become the Mariposa. These two ships were purchased by Matson Line in 1955 for conversion into passenger / cargo liners. They were comprehensively rebuilt by Williamette Iron and Steel Corporation in Portland Oregon into attractive all first class passenger/cargo liners. Their superstructures were greatly enlarged and they were the first US ships to be given Sperry Gyro-Fin stabilisers, as well as rapid opening hydraulic hatch covers. Monterey and Mariposa accommodated 365 all first class passenger in superior grade accommodations with private facilities and all staterooms converted into sitting rooms by day. Matson Line era (1957 - 1978): The Mariposa was the first to be completed and managed a maximum of 24.6 knots during her sea trials in 1956. they were about to enter the San Francisco – Sydney service. Ports of call included: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Bora Bora (Tahiti), Rarotonga (at anchor), Auckland (New Zealand), Sydney, Noumea (New Caledonia), Suva (Fiji), Niuafo’ou (Tonga – at anchor), Pago Pago (American Samoa), Honolulu, San Francisco. She was soon followed by the Monterey. The Monterey, departed on her maiden voyage from San Francisco on the 8th January 1957 and arrived in Sydney on the 29th January 1957. For ten years these yacht like sisters were employed on the Pacific route, and also operated a number of Matson’s traditional voyages, California to Hawaii, as well as a number of world cruises in their latter years with Pacific Fear East Line. In 1978 Matson Line ceased all passenger services and the Monterey and Mariposa were laid up. The Wilderness Years (1978 - 1987): Monterey and Mariposa were laid up in San Francisco from 1978 to 1979, but were sold to World Airways Inc, San Francisco, but both remained laid up in San Francisco. Attempting to sell her, there was an unsuccessful bid by Royal Hawaiian Cruise Lines, but in 1980, Monterey was sold to the International Organisation, Masters, Mates & Pilots, but she remained laid up. Aloha Pacific Cruises era (1987 - 1989): Having been laid up since 1977, SS Monterey was purchased and towed to Portland, Oregon, USA in 1987 to be transformed into a full time cruise ship for Aloha Pacific Cruises at a cost of $40 million. However, she was registered to American Maritime Holdings. She was transferred to a Tacoma, Washington shipyard in order to commence work as required to allow her to remain under American registry. However, with the approval of the Maritime Administration, she was sent off to the Wartsila's ship yard in Turku Finland, to have most of her interior work completed. After this second rebuilding she undertook a 46-night maiden cruise from Copenhagen on the 31st July 1988 from Copenhagen to San Francisco. This was followed by a 26-night cruise from New York to San Francisco. Monterey then commenced her seven day Hawaiian cruise duties from Honolulu in September 1988. Sadly, less than one year after having commenced operations, her owners filed for bankruptcy in April 1989 and the Monterey was again laid up for the next 22 months in Honolulu. In 1989 Monterey was sold to Coral Cruises and then resold to Naviera Panocean of Panama. Star Lauro Lines / MSC Cruises era (1989 - 2006): Then the Italian cruise company, Star Lauro Lines (the successor to the famous Flotta Lauro Line), signed a long term bareboat charter of the Monterey. She was relocated to the Mediterranean and was based in Naples. She was an instant success and so Star Lauro Lines purchased her. Star Lauro Lines eventually became MSC Cruises in 1990. She soon became the company's favourite ship and helped propel Star Lauro / MSC Cruises to the top of the European cruise market. She continued to give MSC Cruises loyal service for many years until in May 2007 MSC announced that the venerable Monterey would be transferred to Durban and cruise under the Starlight Cruises banner. However before this could happen, in August 2006, Monterey suffered a boiler failure and was taken out of service and laid up in Genoa. Sadly she was soon sold to Indian shipbreakers and renamed Monte. The MSC logo was removed from her funnel. Tragically apart from her boiler, she was in immaculate condition and had been originally built to the highest degree of fireproofing so she could have easily been adapted to meet SOLAS 2010 regulations with little expense. Thus if she had been re-engined she could have sailed on for several more years. But sadly this was not to be and the little ship was beached at Alang in November 2006. A sad end after a remarkable career for this fine little ship and the last of Matson Line. Long may she be remembered.