Brasil

[john sefton]

Brasil, and her sister Argentina, were the last luxury liners to be built in the USA. They replaced two earlier ships of the same names (plus a third, the Uruguay), on Moore-McCormack's services from New York to South American ports, terminating at Buenos Aires. They were built in the deep south of the USA, by Ingalls at Pascagoula, Mississippi. Brasil was commissioned first, in September 1958, Argentina following three months later. The Portuguese spelling of Brasil was used. They cost an expensive $25 million dollars each. As built, the sisters were 14984 gross tons, 570 ft long (614 ft OA) and carried 553 First Class passengers. 120 new berths were added on a new upper deck addition in 1963, which increased tonnage to 15257 gt. The dummy funnel was originally a glass-covered solarium, but these were removed in the 1963 refits. Their exhaust was released through twin uptakes aft. The accommodation was of a very high standard, and the sisters typically ran a 31 day schedule that called at Barbados, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, and Montevideo on the way to Buenos Aires. Trinidad was substituted for Barbados in the return direction.

The sisters were not economic, due to the high cost of US flagged operation and competition from cheaper foreign flags. They were also plagued by industrial action. In the late 1960s, operations were coordinated with those of Grace Line. There were plans for new cruise itineraries being prepared when Brasil, and her sister Argentina were laid up in 1969 for three years, before sale to Holland America Lines as Volendam and Veendam. Holland America had been looking for second hand tonnage suitable for use on long distance, luxury cruises. They were bought for $10 million each, and were refitted for just 500 passengers in Bremerhaven. The sisters were very heavy on fuel, and 1973 oil crisis made them uneconomic on their planned long cruises, so they were laid up briefly in early 1974.

Volendam was chartered to Monarch Cruise Lines 1975-78 as Monarch Sun and her sister became Monarch Star in 1976. Returned to Holland America Lines in 1978, Volendam was sold to the C.Y.Tung group in 1884. After briefly being named Island Sun she was passed to American Hawaii for use as the Liberté. This was not a success, and after briefly being the Canada Star, she passed to Bermuda Star Line in 1988 as the Queen of Bermuda, rejoining sister Bermuda Star. In 1990, she passed to Commodore Cruise Line as the Enchanted Seas.

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Brazil_1958.html

Ajman SG139,148 Liberia SG1188 anama SG13.

[D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen]

1996 sold to Azure Investments Inc. Panama, renamed in UNIVERSE EXPLORER (LR 97/98)
Gt:22,162, Nt:6648, Dw:8706, pass:715, IMO.5050567.
In 2002 sold to World Explorer Cruise, Panama, 2004 laid up in Hong Kong, purchased by Rikan Shipping Inc., Monrovia as UNIVERSE, 19-11-'04 she left Hong Kong for Alang for demolition.

As American cruise liner owned and operated by Moore-McCormack Lines. She first visited on 13th April 1960. Some of the island's two dozen Roman Catholics were able to receive the ministrations of a priest of their Church who was a passenger on-board. On her, second visit on 21st February 1964 heavy seas prevented landings. However, the day before the island mail was taken on-board MV Tristania. This was then transferred to SS Brasil and mail from her was handed over to Captain Scott of MV Tristania for posting ashore when weather improved. Her last visit was on 13th February 1965. The beach was rough and only one boat made it to the ship for bartering.

(Tristan da Cunha 2020, 2 p. StG.?)
LR97/98 + Ocean Ships, Hornsby David + https://www.tristandc.com/po/stamps202013.php