Canberra

This view of Canberra was taken during her short and rather sporadic or should I say eventful period when cruising out of New York in 1973, the cruises were eventually curtailed and the Canberra was laid up in the Cape Fear River in North Carolina.

Canberra had departed Southampton on the 24 January 1973 bound for New York where she was going to be based for a series of cruises but after running aground and other issues the cruises were abandoned, Canberra would be laid up until she entered service again from Southampton on the 01 June 1973.

Sean

Not sure where she grounded but it was in the West Indies, she was unsuitable for cruising in the Carribean due to her deep draft.

[COLOR="Navy"]Think this answers my own question Sean~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [/COLOR]"My first cruise was on the Canberra in July 1974 when I was 13. It was suppose to be a 10 day sailing from New York to the Southern Carribbean. On our first stop in Grenada the ship ran aground on a coral reef and was stuck for a few days. They had to take the fuel off to get her afloat again. They were flying people home or you had the option of staying until she got going again. Dad said we'll stay with the ship. The trip turned out to be about 14 days and we only missed one port Martinique because of the delay".~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sean,

Re After only one New York CANBERRA was laid up.

" Things did not look good for Canberra. After being laid up for almost three weeks, she returned to New York and completed her last nine cruises. Less than three months later, however, it was announced that at just 12 years old, Canberra was to be scrapped after her New York cruising season. She was P&O said, not suitable for 'world-wide cruising'. P&O's Richard Adams stated at a press conference that Canberra had lost £500,000 between February and September 1972."

Sean...

The grounding at Grenada was actually 14 July 1973. Question. How did your family get to NY to join CANBERRA, fly over or by ship?

Stephen

I sailed from New York in late July, 1973, aboard RAFFAELLO and snapped some photos of the rather sad-looking CANBERRA at her Manhattan pier, along with the even sadder-looking CARIBIA (ex-CARONIA).

Well the photo must have been taken when Sean was disembarking same day! Small world for sure.

I saw CARIBIA, twice a month, September 72 to January 73. My ship docked opposite at Weehawken, Port Seatrain. I was in EUROLINER. Fastest container ship in the world... 28 knots. Only FRANCE and QE2 could bear us. Mind, a few months later SEALAND MC LEAN came in. Passed off Ambrose. Heard her on the VHF. AMBROSE, AMBROSE. THIS IS SEALAND MC LEAN. WE ARE SLOWING DOWN TO THIRTY KNOTS." Grrrrrrrr!

Stephen

[COLOR="Navy"]Thirty knots? A mere triple the 'flat out' speed of my first ship ss Cambray, pictured, that I joined in '57.

She, weathered hurricane Carrie in the Bay of Biscay in September which sadly the Pamir did not. My first taste of 'a bit of rough'; nothing like a baptism of fire ~ and some brimstone to boot.[/COLOR]

https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/data/510/CAMBRAY_sailing_from_Swansea_by_Gerry_Brownell_-_Malcolm_Cranfield_collection.jpg

Graham, CAMBRAY.... fine Fort boat. Good photo too. Thanks! 10 knots.

Stephen

[COLOR="Navy"]Hi Stephen. Yes, a great photo taken by the one and only 'C' ~ take a bow 'Young (?) Man'.

She was a 'Park'. Don't know whether you're familiar with the book on their history?[/COLOR] A Great Fleet of Ships: The Canadian Forts & Parks

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7VW3AAAAIAAJ

[COLOR="Navy"]Kindest you and yours.

GGG[/COLOR]