Published April, 2003. All images and text copyright Peter Knego 2001, 2003, 2004 (unless otherwise noted).

Page One:

Owners: Louis Cruise Lines, Cyprus
Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire
Yard no: D17
Rebuilt at Genoa in 1970, Extensively refitted at Marseilles in 1984
14,1734 gt
527 feet by 65 feet / 162.01 x 19.75 meters
22 feet 9 inches / 6.83 meter draft
Burmeister and Wain - Bauwerft diesels; Twin screw; 10,600 BHP; 17 knots
Passengers: 750

SERENADE at Limassol on 2 October 2001. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2001.

Louis Cruise Line's SERENADE is not only a spotless and wonderfully appointed cruise ship, but one of the few active and viable survivors of the ocean liner era.

JEAN MERMOZ in a vintage post card view. Peter Knego collection.

She was built in 1957 as the JEAN MERMOZ for Compagnie de Navigation Fraissinet et Cyprien Fabre (often referred to as Fabre Line) for service from Marseilles to West Africa via Casablanca, Dakar, Conakry, Monrovia, Abidjan, Tema, Lome, Cotonou, Lagos, Duala, Libreville, Port Gentil, and Pointe Noire. JEAN MERMOZ was the final passenger ship built from plans drawn at the end of World War Two for the fleet reconstruction program.

GENERAL MANGIN in a vintage post card view. Peter Knego collection.

The blueprints for JEAN MERMOZ were largely based on those of a very similar vessel, the GENERAL MANGIN, which was built for Fabre Line in 1953. The MANGIN was the first post-war French ship constructed without state funding. She was 4 feet longer than the JEAN MERMOZ with an overall length of 531 feet and measured 12,457 gross tons as built. The GENERAL MANGIN and JEAN MERMOZ parted company in 1968 when the former was sold to Philippine President Lines and renamed PRESIDENT for service between Manila and Japan. In 1972, she was sold to Abeto Line and sailed between Fremantle and Indonesia as the EASTERN QUEEN. In 1977, she went to Bangladesh for service as the HIZBUL BAHR, operating between Chittagong and Dubai. In 1981, she went to the Bangladesh Navy for trooping and later stationary barracks service as the SHAHEED SALAHUDDIN. She was reportedly scrapped sometime in the late 1980s.

 

The JEAN MERMOZ builder's plate (photo and copyright Peter Knego 2003) and a drawing of the ship's namesake from a Fabre Line booklet (Peter Knego collection).

JEAN MERMOZ was named for the well-known French aviator and was built at the now legendary Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard. Her keel was laid in December of 1955.

The JEAN MERMOZ one month after construction began, on 23 January 1956. Peter Knego collection.

By February 16, the early framework began to take form. Peter Knego collection.

Shown on October 26, 1956, a shapely ocean-going hull has its stern lettering applied. Peter Knego collection.

Immediately prior to launch on 17 November 1956. Peter Knego collection.

Workmen prepare the slip on launching day. Peter Knego collection.

JEAN MERMOZ meets her element. Peter Knego collection.

On 8 Mars 1957, the fitting out process is capped off with a fine French funnel. Peter Knego collection.

JEAN MERMOZ was built to carry 144 first class, 140 second class, 110 third class, 24 fourth class and 446 steerage passengers. 196 crew served a mix of French vacationers, local interport West Africans, and military personnel. The ship also had 6138 cubic meters of holds and tween deck cargo space as well as 617 cubic meters of refrigerated cargo space. The 12,460 gt vessel was rather modern and understated when compared with some of her French contemporaries, including the Messageries Maritimes combiliners that served the Far East and South Pacific (see ATALANTE and STELLA SOLARIS).

Please click for page two: JEAN MERMOZ, Continued

[SERENADE page two]   [SERENADE page three]   [SERENADE page four]   [SERENADE page five]   [SERENADE page six]   [SERENADE page seven]

---

[Home]   [Table of Contents]   [Shipping Mall]   [Index of ships]