Castle Felice

t.v. Castel Felice

"Castel Felice" (See PDF) was one of the most popular postwar immigrant ships in Australian service, carrying over 100,000 immigrants to Australia and New Zealand over 101 voyages between 1952 and 1970.

Engines
11,000 s.h.p. six single-reduction-geared steam turbines / twin screws

Rigging
1 tripod style communications mast (originlly 2 masts, with cargo cranes)

Surface Speed
15 knots, later 16 knots

Dimensions
150.3 x 19.6 m

Depth
7.6 m draught

Tonnage 12,150 GRT

Passengers

1400 one class - based on her final configuration.

Previous names

Kenya (1930), Hydra (1941), Keren (1941), Kenya (1949), Fairstone (1950), Kenya (1950), Keren (1951-52)

1930	Built as Kenya for British India Line, by A. Stephen & Sons, Glascow Scotland, on the Clyde. She was a vessel of 9,890grt, carrying 246 first and second class passengers, with an addition of 1,981 deck passengers between India and East Africa. Launched on 27th August.
1940	Requisitioned by British Government and converted as Landing Ship. Left Bombay and returned to the UK, where she was taken up by the Royal Navy as an infantry landing ship. She was renamed HMS Keren and, as such, served in the Madagascar and North African campaigns in 1942.
1946	British India refused to take ship back after the war. She was purchased by the Ministry of Transport. Two years later she was sold to the Alva SS Co and laid up at Holy Loch Scotland.
1949	Purchased by the Vlasov group.
	Broke Moorings and swept ashore at Graigendoran in heavy storm and had to be rescued by tugs. The original idea had been to use the ship for emigrants from Europe to Israel, but this came to nothing.
	Passed into ownership of Alva Steamship Company and renamed Kenya.
1950	Transferred to The Sitmar Line.
1951	Name changed to Keren.
	Work started on rebuilding Keren for passenger service. She was refitted for the Sitmar Line. The changes included a completely remodelled superstructure, with cabin-class accommodation for 596, while the aft holds were fitted out with dormitory style accommodation for another 944. Other changes in appearance included an extended more raked stem, a single small tripod mast (in place of the original 2 masts), two open P&O style promenade decks around the stern, and a large distinctive "V" on a remodelled funnel.
1952	after extensive refits she went into service as Castel Felice.
	6 October. Maiden voyage from Genoa.
	7 November. Arrived Melbourne.
1953	Placed on regular run to South America.
1955	Underwent another extensive overhaul at Genoa in mid 1955, including fitting full air conditioning, an external swimming pool, enlarged public rooms and the enclosing and glazing of the promenade deck forward end. Accommodation was reconfigured for 28 1st-class and 1,100 tourist-class passengers, all in cabins.
1956	Placed on Atlantic service to New York.
1958	Commenced permanent service to Australia. Voyaging out via the Suez, she returned via Auckland, Panama, the Carribean and Lisbon. Later in her career, she also undertook occasional Pacific cruises out of Sydney. During this period, she was very popular with young Australian and New Zealand tourists looking for an affordable passage to Europe.
1970	Sitmar lost the migrant contract. A decision was then made to retire her at the end of year.
	15 August. Fire broke out in accommodation while berthed at Southampton. A decision was made not to make repairs.
	26 September. Arrived in Sydney where she was destored, with all crockery and linen returned to Italy for use in there new ships Fairsea and Fairwind.
	7 October. Left Sydney for breakers in Taiwan arriving on 21 October.

I've also got a few photo's of my trip to Europe on the Castel Felice

Melbourne - Nov. 1968 --> Southampton - Jan. 1969

Fremantle

Sydney

Auckland

Papeete

Balboa

Cristobal

Curacao

La Guaria

Lisbon

Southampton

Master: Capt. Arturo Mischiati

P a s s e n g e r L i s t

Fremantle

Adelaide

Melbourne

Sydney

Auckland

PAPEETE

From Fremantle

Alexander	Mr. & Mrs. J. & children	Ganfield	Mr. & Mrs. P.
Bates	Mr. & Mrs. J. & daghter	King	Mr. & Mrs. A. & daughter
*Bates*	*Miss M. (Michelle)*	Mann	Mr. V.
Buck	Mr. & Mrs. E. & sons	Mc Coubrie	Dr. & Mrs. S.
Budden	Mr. & Mrs. R & children	Phillips	Miss D.
Edwards	Mr. & Mrs. J. & children	Stafford	Miss N.
Eley	Miss J.	Sumner	Mr. & Mrs. L. & son
Fawcett	Mrs. D.

From Adelaide

Ashworth	Mr. & Mrs. G. & daughter	Leach	Mr. & Mrs. G. & son.
Beecher	Mr. J.	Leach	Miss S.
Bestwick	Mr. & Mrs. P. & children	Leipnik	Mr. & Mrs. R. & son
Bett	Mr. A.	Meinel	Miss H.
Chapman	Mrs. L.	Mellor	Mr. & Mrs. C & daughter.
Costello	Mr. & Mrs. G. & children	Miller	Mr. & Mrs. J. & son
Cowling	Mr. R.	Mohr	Mr. & Mrs. R.
Daykin	Mr. & Mrs. A. & daughter	Morris	Mr. & Mrs. G. & children
Deacon	Mr. & Mrs. R. & daughter	Mussell	Mr. & Mrs. W. & children
Dee	Mr. & Mrs. M. & son	Mussell	Miss B.
Easdon	Mr. & Mrs. G. & daughter	Preston	Mr. T.
Feasey	Mr. & Mrs. R.	*Robb*	*Mr. I. (Ian)*
Fogden	Mrs. M.	Swan	Mr. J.
Fogden	Miss B.	Tandy	Mrs. N
Greig	Mr. & Mrs. J. & son.	Templer	Miss J.
Hunt	Mr. & Mrs. W. & son.	Thompson	Mr. B.
Jarosy	Mr. M.	Tovey	Mr & Mrs. R.
Keane	Mrs. M	Tyler	Miss H.
Keane	Miss M.	Walsh	Miss M.
Keane	Miss S.	Weston	Mr. D.
Kirkpatrick	Mr. F.	Wilson	Mr. T.

From Melbourne

*Addicks*	*Mrs. P (Nell)*	Hunter	Mr. & Mrs. L.
Adler	Mr. N.	Hyatt	Mr. & Mrs. C.
Allen	Mrs. P & children	Jackson	Mr. P.
Anderson	Mr. & Mrs. R. & children	Johnson	Mr. & Mrs. W.& children
Armstrong	Mr. & Mrs. H. & daughters	Kennedy	Mr. & Mrs. R.& children
*Atkins*	*Mr. W. (Tom)*	Kimbling	Miss K.
Barfoot	Mr. & Mrs. H. & sons	Kitchenn	Mr. W.
Baxter	Mrs. M.	Kneale	Mr. & Mrs. J. & sons
Biever	Mr. & Mrs. P.	Leape	Mr. & Mrs. J. & children
Biever	Mr. P.	Lee	Mr. J.
Blades	Mr. & Mrs. F. & daughter	Luznik	Mr. O.
*Blades*	*Miss E. (Elaine)*	Madden	Mr. A.
*Blades*	*Mr. I. (Ian)*	Malone	Mr. G.
Boyd	Mr. M.	Mapplebeck	Miss R.
Bright	Mr. B.	Marsh	Mr. & Mrs. S. & children
Brown	Mr. & Mrs. R. & sons	Melville	Mr. & Mrs. M. & children
Chauncy	Mrs. N.	Michaels	Mr. & Mrs. M. & daughters
Cree	Mr. J.	Moy	Mrs. L
Cruise	Mr. & Mrs. G.	*Mc Alister*	*Mr. J. (John)*
Cruise	Mr. R.	Nadeniczek	Mr. & Mrs. H.
Dunn	Mr. M.	Nyhuis	Miss A. (Angela)
Easton	Mrs. L.	Nyhuis	Mr. W. (Bill)
Easton	Miss G.	Paton	Miss M.
Eberhard	Mr. & Mrs. P.	Payne	Miss M.
Edwards	Mr. & Mrs. K.	Pearson	Mr. P.
Farrell	Miss K.	Peat	Mr. A.
Ford	Mrs. M. & son	Pinkney	Mr. G.
Gardner	Mrs. O.	Roth	Mr. & Mrs. G.
Gays	Mr. C. (Charlie)	Smith	Mr. E.
Gleave	Miss K.	Sparks	Miss H.
Griffiths	Mr. & Mrs. G.	Stacey	Mrs. L.
Grimshaw	Mr & Mrs. W.	Stein	Mr. G.
Harvey	Mr. & Mrs. L. & sons	Thain	Mr. & Mrs. C.
Hodges	Mrs. N. & children	Westbrook	Mr. & Mrs. F.
Hollis	Father J.	White	Mr. V
Honer	Mr. & Mrs. A. & son	Wickes	Miss M.
Hopkins	Mr. & Mrs. R.	Wiseman	Mr. P.
Hopper	Mr. R.	Woods	Mr & Mrs. V. & children
Howard	Mrs. E. & children	Young	Mr. & Mrs. S & son
Hunter	Mr. & Mrs. K.

From Sydney

Alexander	Mr. & Mrs. F.	Kerry	Mr . & Mrs. J. & children
Allcot	Mr. B.	Kestler	Mr. G.
Aurousseau	Mr. S.	King	Mr . & Mrs. G. & children
Ball	Mr. & Mrs. N.	Lake	Mrs. P.
Barenklau	Mr. & Mrs. L.	Leite	Miss I.
Barnell	Mr. & Mrs. R.& daughters	Leuci	Mr. R.
Baxter	Mr. & Mrs. R.	Lorimer	Miss S. (Susan)
*Baxter*	*Miss. C. (Kriss)*	Ludvik	Mr. E.
Baxter	Mr. R.	*Lusk*	*Mr. A. (Bert)*
Biess	Mr. B.	Mackay	Miss M.
Bill	Mr. P.	Maxwell	Mr. R.
Bingham	Mr. & Mrs. E & children	Mohr	Mr . & Mrs. S. & daughter
Bondor	Mr. S.	Monticone	Mr. A.
Boneham	Mr. & Mrs. E.	Moran	Miss M.
Bouwens	Mr. & Mrs. A.	Moran	Miss C.
Bradley	Mr. & Mrs. J.	Moran	Mr. & Mrs. R.
Britton	Mr. & Mrs. K.	Mount	Mr. & Mrs. J.
Brown	Mrs. E.	Mc Cann	Mr. J.
Calvert	Mr. J.	Mc Kelvie	Mr. B.
Clark	Mr. F.	Mc Kenna	Mr. S.
Cochrane	Mrs. E. & son	Naylor	Mrs. J. & son
Cooney	Mr. & Mrs. T. & sons	Nicol	Mr. P.
Cooney	Miss A.	Noble	Mr. R.
Culliford	Miss S.	Notton	Miss L.
Dabreo	Mr. & Mrs. H. & children	Notton	Mr. L.
De Azevedo	Mr. J.	O' Neill	Mr. & Mrs. C.
De Kroon	Mr. & Mrs. J. & daughter	Paine	Mr. & Mrs. F.
Diaz Tomas	Mr. J.	Phillips	Mrs. M.
Dixon	Mrs. V & children	*Phillips*	*Miss P. (Pat)*
Dixon	Mr. & Mrs. B.	Poole	Miss J.
Dollman	Mr. J.	Pratt	Mr. M.
Doran	Mrs. R.	Pueblas	Mr. H.
Douglas	Mr. N.	Quelle	Mr . & Mrs. R. & son
Dresser	Mr. & Mrs. W.	Sandrussi	Mr. J.
Driesch	Miss J.	San Giovanni	Mr. A.
Duva	Mr. R.	Savage	Mr . & Mrs. S. & children
Engelsman	Mr. & Mrs. K.	Schultz	Miss R.
*Engelsman*	*Miss K. (Kate)*	Sharp	Mrs. C.
Finley	Mr. L.	Schmidt-Harms	Miss E.
Foots	Mr. J.	Schmidt-Harms	Mr. C.
Furk	Mr. & Mrs. W. & children	Schoenmaker	Mr . & Mrs. W. & children
Gilchrist	Miss. M.	Scott	Mrs. J.
Goffi-Urgnani	Mr. E.	Silvano	Mr . & Mrs. E. & son
Goggins	Mr. & Mrs. J. & son	Simmons	Mrs. I.
Grasso	Mr. & Mrs. G. & sons	Smith	Mr . & Mrs. G. & children
Greengrass	Mr. & Mrs. H.	Speed	Mrs. D. & daughter
Griffith	Miss E.	Stark	Dr . & Mrs. D. & sons
Griffiths	Mrs. D.	Stiff	Mrs. J. & daughters
Griffiths	Mr. P.	Szabo	Mr. I.
Griffiths	Mr. E.	Taguelmint	Mr. P. (Pier�)
Hackett	Mr. B.	Thomas	Miss M.
Hair	Miss L.	Thomas	Mr. & Mrs. I.
Hammond	Mrs. V.	Thrift	Mr. P.
Hammond	Miss M.	Tomlin	Mr. L.
Hammond	Miss S.	Tuckey	Mrs. J. & children
Hammond	Mr. & Mrs. S. & children	Turner	Mr. L.
Hampson	Mr. W.	Van Loon	Mr . & Mrs. F. & children
Harris	Miss D.	Ward	Mr. & Mrs. J.
Hassel	Mr. & Mrs. C. & son	Ward	Mr. & Mrs. M/
Heness	Miss W.	Webber	Mr . & Mrs. K. & children
Higgins	Miss K.	Wesslink	Miss P.
Hill	Mrs. R. & daughters	Whitehouse	Mr . & Mrs. J. & daughters
Hoffman	Mr. & Mrs. G. & daughter	Williams	Mr . & Mrs. A. & daughter
Hunger	Mr. R.	Williamson	Mr . & Mrs. J. & children
Ingram	Mr. C.	Williamson	Miss L.
Jarayssi	Mr. N.	Williamson	Mr. G.
Jones	Mr. & Mrs. G. & daughter	Wilson	Mr . & Mrs. J. & daughters
Jones	Mr. L.	Wilson	Miss M.
Jones	Mr. & Mrs. W. & children	Wilson	Mr. R>
Kaufmann	Mr. E.	Wittering	Mr . & Mrs. R. & daughters
Kelly	Miss N.	Woodhouse	Mr. G.

From Auckland

Adams	Mr. & Mrs. D. & children	Hirst	Mr. R.
Andersen	Miss Z.	Home	Mr. P.
Anderson	Dr. M.	Howell	Miss S.
Asquith	Mr. & Mrs. J.	Johnstone	Mr. S.
Asquith	Miss J.	Kelly	Mr. & Mrs. D.
Asquith	Miss E.	Kenneford	Mr.F
Asquith	Miss C.	Kenneford	Miss J.
Bagnall	Miss D.	Kinnes	Mr. J.
Baillie	Mr. B.	Kristensen	Mrs. C.
Betts	Mr. & Mrs. B.	Leeman	Mrs. N. & children
Bolstad	Mr. & Mrs. C. & children	Lennon	Mr. I.
Boyd	Mr. & Mrs. B. & children	Maguire	Mrs. S. & daughter
Brown	Mr. & Mrs. M. & children	Martin	Mr. A.
Cameron	Mrs. T.	Marwick	Mr. & Mrs. R. & son
Challis	Mr. & Mrs. H. & children	Millar	Mr. S
Chesterfield	Mr. & Mrs. J. & son	Mitchell	Mr. & Mrs. D.
Clemson	Mr. & Mrs. D. & children	Moss	Mr. S.
Cockburn	Mr. A.	Mulligan	Miss E.
Couper	Miss C.	Mc. Farland	Miss M.
Cox	Mr. W.	O' Sullivan	Miss M
Crux	Mr. & Mrs. L. & son	Reid	Miss K.
Crux	Miss L.	Reid	Miss M.
Curry	Mr. & Mrs. R. & children	Saville	Miss M.
Davies	Mr. B.	Schkrohowsky	Mr. G.
Davies	Rev. & Mrs. I.	Siegel	Mr. J.
Davies	Rev. & Mrs. A. & children	Stone	Mr. & Mrs. L.
Duncan	Mr. D.	Stulen	Mr. & Mrs. J. & children
Dymond	Mr. T.	Tomlin	Mrs. M.
Falloon	Miss L.	Town	Mr. & Mrs. D. & sons
Ferguson	Miss J.	Town	Mr. K.
Gill	Mr. R.	Van Bokhoven	Mrs. J.
Halliday	Miss M.	Wells	Mr. & Mrs. R.
Hamilton	Mr. & Mrs. P.	Wells	Miss L.
Hanley	Mr. & Mrs. J. & children	Whittingham	Miss P.
Hanley	Miss C.	Wilson	Mrs. S.
Hanley	Mr. K.	Wright	Mr. & Mrs. J. & children
Hardie	Mrs. J.	Yates	Mr. H.

From Papeete

Dzialas	Mr. & Mrs. R.		Sutty	Mr. P.
Tuckey	Mr. R.