Saturday, February 14, 2004

RMS Windsor Castle

This post is copied as seen on ssmaritime.com for RMS Windsor Castle (5 pages), the website SSMaritime is private and the author elderly so one doesn't know how long the domain will remain active. I give all credit to the author Dr. Reuben Goossens, who has compiled the pictures and written the text. 

This to honor the history of the vessel I was involved in saving after the storm in 12th Feb 2004. (JL)

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RMS Windsor Castle

Later: SS Margarita L / Rita

Ship of sheer beauty! (Author’s collection)
RMS Windsor Castle 1960 - 1977

Friday, February 13, 2004

Grounding of Margarita L

Back in 2003 I was in Greece working for SETE yachts converting Columbus Caravelle to mega yacht Turama and we were alongside in Lamda shipyards where I had a good view of the laid up vessels in the sheltered Elefsis Bay, one of the interesting vessels out there was Margarita L, her imposing silhouette brought into my mind a lot questions of what is this ship doing here, where has she come from and what is she doing here. Little did I know that she was the property of the Latsis family.

After some research I learned that she was originally launched as Windsor Castle and sailed for the Union Castle lines from UK to South Africa. She was the last cruise ship ever built by Cammell Laird shipyard. Eventually after the advent of air travel cruising was no longer popular and she changed hands and became property of Mr John Latsis who used her mostly in Saudi Arabia where he had business interests. After that she was laid up in Elefsina Bay.

Then one night in the middle of the winter in 2004, Feb 12th she broke her anchor chain during a winter storm.
m/s Margarita L on Salamina

Monday, February 03, 2003

Columbus Caravelle sold

30.01.2003 - 03.02.2003
Owner's representative/ Captain
m/v Columbus Caravelle

Columbus Caravelle alongside Gaoyanglu wharf, Shanghai
(photo collage)

Tuesday, January 07, 2003

Columbus Caravelle

04.03.2000 - 31.05.2000 Chief Officer
01.06.2000 - 07.08.2000 Captain
02.10.2000 - 01.11.2000 Chief Officer
02.11.2000 - 04.02.2001 Captain
05.04.2001 - 04.06.2001 Chief Officer
05.06.2001 - 10.08.2001 Captain
09.10.2001 - 09.12.2001 Chief Officer
10.12.2001 - 26.04.2002 Captain
24.06.2002 - 07.01.2003 Captain
M/v Columbus Caravelle

M/v Columbus Caravelle in Jeju Is., S. Korea

Wednesday, February 16, 2000

Friday, January 07, 2000

Wednesday, September 22, 1999

Columbus Caravelle

07.04.1999 - 22.09.1999
Captain
m/v Columbus Caravelle

LOA: 117m, GT 7560, Passengers: ~200

Columbus Caravelle in Port Klang

Wednesday, March 10, 1999

Wednesday, December 23, 1998

Wednesday, September 16, 1998

Superstar Sagittarius

16.06.1998 - 16.09.1998
2nd officer
m/v Superstar Sagittarius

Superstar Sagittarius at Pulau Pangkor, Malaysia

Sunday, June 07, 1998

Friday, April 17, 1998

Monday, December 15, 1997

Monday, July 07, 1997

Columbus Caravelle

02.06.1996 - 10.09.1996 Chief Officer
10.09.1996 - 04.11.1996 1st Officer (Safety)
03.12.1996 - 07.07.1997 Chief Officer
M/v Columbus Caravelle

M/v Columbus Caravelle

Friday, May 31, 1996

Master unlimited

Having been at it for 10 years in total I had finally completed my studies, at least for now. The universal day in Finland was that on the last day of May all schools closed for summer and students got their end of semester reports. I had been doing my Captains ticket for past 2 years now but the overall "process" started in 1984 when I joined Ă…bo Navigations Institut's general ratings course.

We all gathered at the Ă…bo Navigations Institut (Aboa Mare today) up on the "hill" and gathered in the big center lobby with all classes mingling together. There all Classes were divided up after the opening speech by the headmaster. Then certificates were given to each and everyone that had earned them (there was a few that had dropped out or needed more experience to get their competence), I was among our class one of the few that had the requisite experience to get the Master's COC on this very day!

Aboa Mare

The mood was very festive and also some stipends were given out. I was the 2nd student of my class deemed to be conscientious so I got a small monetary stipend to that effort. If I recall correctly it was 500 Finnish marks which works out to about a 100 euros, not much today, back in 1996 it would amount to a night out, still, a nice sign of appreciation. After having dispensed all formalities we got a glass of champagne for having graduated as Master Mariners and our headmaster told us "any ship, any trade" applies. Yes, today one might need a few additional certs for the sort of the ship (tanker, passenger vessel).

It was time to leave so we got our certificates and left the school, it was a sunny day and the birch trees had broken out fresh leaves, the air smelled fresh of the coming summer and life felt good. Few of us decided to go for a few celebratory drinks at the now defunct "Börs terrace" or familiarly called the "bush" because the terrace was in a back enclosure of the hotel and had a few trees growing up there among the tables. I recall we all sat there among the university graduates in their white hats and us with our fresh Captains tickets, sun was shining down from a clear sky through the branches. Couldn't stay for long as I needed to get home to my parents to give them the good news.

At home I was gifted the "American Practical Navigator" by Nathaniel Bowditch as well as another glass of champagne. Big tomes to read when I'll get retired. It was time to celebrate and pack my luggage as in few days I was off to Hong Kong  to sign on the Columbus Caravelle as Chief officer. My new chapter in life had began.


Tuesday, August 08, 1995

Wednesday, January 18, 1995

Sunday, September 04, 1994

Atlanta Forest

03.03.1994 - 04.09.1994
08.01.1993 - 02.08.1993
1st Officer
m/s Atlanta Forest

As Kent Forest (unknown photographer)

Thursday, February 17, 1994

Monday, December 20, 1993

Thursday, October 21, 1993

Monday, August 02, 1993

Atlanta Forest

08.01.1993 - 02.08.1993
03.03.1994 - 04.09.1994
2nd Officer
Atlanta Forest

Here still under Finnlines as m/s Atlanta

Wednesday, August 19, 1992