〽️RHMS Patris - CHANDRIS LINE (Videoclip)

The MV Bloemfontein Castle was a passenger liner. She was launched at Harland & Wolff's yard at Belfast on 25 August 1949 by Mrs Leif Egeland, wife of the High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa in London. She was completed on 25 March 1950. Built for Union-Castle Line's Intermediate service to South and East Africa, she was their first one-class ship. She took her name after the town of Bloemfontein, capital of the Orange Free State.

Bloemfontein Castle was sold to the Greek Chandris Lines in 1959, after a short life of only nine years with Union-Castle. Renamed Patris and refitted in just three weeks for Chandris' service between Europe and Australia, the ship was the first large liner in the Chandris fleet. After Darwin was almost destroyed by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day in 1974, the Patris anchored in Darwin Harbour for nine months to provide emergency accommodation for those left homeless. In December 1975 Patris was refitted as car ferry for the Adriatic service. She was operated under the Chandris brand from 1976 until 1979, connecting Venice and Ancona to Patras. In 1979 Chandris sold Patris to Karageorgis Lines, who first renamed her Mediterranean Island then Mediterranean Star in 1981. She was used as a ferry until sold to Pakistani breakers in 1987.

[dimratti]

My family of 8 migrated on the Castel Felice from Piraeus to Melbourne in 1958. Dad Pantelis had already migrated two years earlier and was expecting us. We then traveled back to Greece in 1964 and spent a year there before heading back to Australia in 1966. Mum wanted to move back to Greece but Dad preferred to stay in Australia. I Dimitri Papadimitropoulos traveled back to Greece in 1969 at the age of 17 to stay in Greece for a operation on my right eardrum. I had a cabin all to myself and it was on the lowest deck on the ship. During heavy seas my porthole stayed underwater a lot. I was always looking out for sharks!!..hahaha. I made friends of my age on the ship most notably George Vrettakis and his family with whom I have remained best of friends all these years. We had a great time fooling around like kids do and played lot of ping pong. I actually self taught myself how to swim on the Patris.

[dimratti]

The absolutely best video of the Patris ever uploaded. 
Very much appreciated. Brings back a lot of beautiful memories and 
also helps us relive the time we spent on her. Magical. Thank You..

[AnnaArvanitis]

My parents came to Australia from Greece in the 60’s 🥺 Thank you

[nickkostakis]

Thank you very much for wonderful memories. I still remember all that I was one of them in the ship thank you.from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺 😊

[georgekemkas]

My parents met on Patris. They were both in the crew on the Piraeus to Sydney route.

[breezeblows]

hey can you upload mts oceanos videos?