Built as a cargo-passenger vessel under yard No 748 by Stabilimento Tecnico, Trieste for Lloyd Triestino, Trieste, Italia.
30 June 1925 keel laid down.
29 May 1926 launched under the name ROMOLO, She was named after one of the founders of the city of Rome. Romolo and his brother Remo, legend tells that when they were babies they were abandoned and adopted by a female wolf, the wolf did give his milk to the two babies. Romolo was the first king of Rome, and the wolf is the symbol of the city of Rome.
Tonnage 9.870 gross, 11.073 dwt., dim. 506.5 x 62.2 x 26.2ft.
Powered by two diesel engines, hp?, speed 12 knots. Twin screws.
Passenger accommodation for 70 first and 330 third class passengers.
November 1926 delivered to owners.
She was built for the Far East service.
1931 Chartered by Navigazione Generale Italiana (N.G.I) of Genoa, for there Australian service.
01 Jan 1932 transferred to “Italia” (Flotte Riunite Cosulich-Lloyd Sabaudo-Nav. Gen. Trieste/Genoa.
Used in the service from Genova via Naples, Messina, Port Said to Aden, Colombo, Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, together with her sistership ESQUILINO.
01 Jan 1937 transferred to Lloyd Triestino Soc. Anon. Di Nav., Genova., but kept in the service between Genoa and Australia.
A few days before war was declared between Italia and the U.K the ROMOLO sailed from Sydney and she tried to reach Japan before the war started, but the auxiliary merchant cruiser HMAS MANOORA intercepted her when war was declared.
12 June 1940 she was put on fire and scuttled by her own crew in a position 02 30S 165 30E to avoid capture.
She is in the margin of the MS issued by Nauru 2005 $5 which include also the MANOORA.
Source: North Star to Southern Cross by John M Maber. Register of Merchant ships completed in 1926.
Info received from Mr. Alex Borgogno.