Providence

[shipstamps]

The Republic of Turkey was deprived of her rights to coastal navigation after the First World War, but by the Treaty of Cabotage in 1926 these were restored to her. The 25th anniversary of this treaty was commemorated by four stamps, two of which, the 15 kurus and 20 kurus, are illustrated; the other two denominations 30 kurus and 1 lira showing respectively a diver with his crew and a lighthouse. The stamp of 15 kurus represents the old salvage ship Hora towing the French liner Providence, which had gone aground on March 25, 1932, off Cape Niger on the Isle of Imroz in the Aegean Sea. The salvage vessel Hora (ex-Lanina,ex-Lyons, ex-Lyon, ex-Lyons) was built by J. Elder and Company at Glasgow in 1885.
The Providence, of the Messageries Maritimes, was built by Forges et Ch. de Ia Medit., at La Seyne in 1914. She has accommodation for 222 first-, 194 second and 284 third-class passengers. Her gross tonnage is 11,996, net 6,693 and she has a speed of 151/2 knots. She is 511ft. Bins. in length, 57ft. 9in. wide and has a depth of 43ft. 5in.
SG1457 Sea Breezes 7/52

[aukepalmhof]

Built under yard no 1066 by Forges & Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne, for Cie Française de Navigation á Vapeur (Cyp. Fabre & Cie.) Marseille.
04 Aug. 1914, launched under the name PROVIDENCE.
Tonnage 11.966 gross 6.694 net. Dim. 511.8 x 59.7 x 43.5ft.
Two triple expansion steam engines, 9.500 ihp., speed 17 knots, twin screws. Nine Prudhon Capus coal fired boilers.
Passenger accommodation for 140 first, 250 second and 1.850 third class. She had 7 decks.
Cargo capacity 5.665 tons in 4 holds, which were served by 8 steam winches and 10 derricks of 3 to 5 tons capacity.
During the First World War, work on her was very slow, and not until 1920 she was completed.

During her trials in May 1920 she reached a speed of 23 knots.
03 June 1920, maiden voyage from Marseilles via Lisbon, Azores to Providence and New York.
During the following years she plied between New York and a range of Mediterranean ports.
During the depression she was withdrawn from service in 1931, and transferred to Cie Génerale de Nav. Á Vapeur (Fabre Line), Marseille.
Jan 1932 , chartered by Messageries Maritimes for their service between Marseilles to Egypt and the Levant. The hull of the vessels was painted white, but during the charter period painted black as seen on the stamp.
Jan. 1940 Sold to Soc. Des services Contractuels des Messageries Maritimes, Marseille.
During the Second World War laid up at Berre, during a gale she had dragged her anchors and run ashore.
She was then in a bad condition and ignored by the German forces. At least in December 1944 refloated and reconditioned.
Passenger capacity for 222 first, 294 second and 284 third-class passengers.
1948 Transferred to Cie des Messageries Maritimes, Marseille.
Used again in the Marseille-Levant service from 1949. During the Mohammedan Holy season used in the pilgrim trade from Dakar and Casablanca to Jeddah.
October 1951 after her pilgrim voyages that season sold to a shipbreaker, and she was broken up in the first quarter 1952 at La Spezia.

Source: North Atlantic Seaways. Register of Merchant Ships Completed in 1915. Merchant Ships of the world in color 1910-1929. Navicula.