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SS MAHROUSSA (1865)
Vintage Passenger Ship Roundup by Peter Knego
Passenger vessels still afloat in the 21st Century
SS MAHROUSSA at Alexandria, Egypt, September 29, 1994.
Photo by and copyright Kevin M. AnthoneySS MAHROUSSA
The graceful 478 by 43 foot, 3,762 gt iron hulled SS MAHROUSSA was built in England for the King of Egypt and was the royal yacht until the monarchy was overthrown. At that time she was renamed EL HORRIA (AL HORREYYA) and has since served as a naval training ship and, off and on, as the presidential yacht. She is considered to be an historical shrine by the Egyptian Navy at Alexandria.
She was rebuilt in 1905/6 in Italy and became one of the earliest ships of any size to be fitted with steam turbines. Her greatest claim to historical fame is that, as the Egyptian royal yacht, she was the first ship leading the procession through the brand new Suez Canal in 1869. Sometime in the latter 19th century, she was cut in two and had approx. 40' added to her length. She was recently reboilered in Alexandria.
In 1976, at the age of 111 years, she steamed to New York to take part in the U.S. bicentennial celebration. The ship's condition is immaculate, and duty in her is considered a great honor in the Egyptian Naval Forces. EL HORRIA goes to sea about three times a year, usually just for the day.
