The Fleets
In 1932, due to the depression and widespread unemployment of Italian ships, the major Italian shipping companies were combined into one state controlled syndicate under the name Società Italia Flotte Reuniti NGI - Lloyd Sabaudo - Cosulich. By 1937 this concern had made rapid recovery and repaid the Government bonds which had supported it. It was then changed into a Limited Company under the name Italia Società Anonima di Navigazione. Lloyd Triestino was incorporated into the new company.
- ADRIATICA: based in Trieste to serve the Adriatic and comprised Adriatica di Nav., Fiumana and Lloyd Triestino's local services.
- TIRRENIA: based in Naples served the Tyrrhenian Sea and comprised Adria, Tirrenia and Sarda.
- LLOYD TRIESTINO: based Genoa which covered Africa and the Far East. Comprised Lloyd Triestino, Libera Triestina, Italia Flotte Reuniti's non North and South American routes plus Veneziana.
- ITALIA: to cover North and South America and comprised Italia Flotte Reuniti, Cosulich, Libera Triestina and Veneziana.
In 1940 most Italian ships were taken over for military service and by 1945, few were left afloat. The fleet was gradually rebuilt but from 1960 the rising popularity of air travel signalled the gradual decline of the passenger ships and they were eventually switched to cruising. By 1977 all long distance passenger travel had ceased, although many cargo ships continued to carry a few passengers. A cruising company was set up (Italia Crociere Internazionali) to employ the remaining passenger vessels but ceased trading in 1980. Italia continued as a freighting company, mostly with second hand or chartered container ships and still operates, but in private ownership.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | 1971 | ex- Atlantica Genova, 1976 purchased from Villain & Fassio, Genoa renamed Acadia, 1986 sold to Mediterranean Shipping Co, Geneva renamed Aurora Cyprus. | 13,130 |
| Alberta | 1922 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1940 interned at New York, 1941 seized by USA renamed Ballot and operated by Lykes Bros under the Panamanian flag. | 6,131 |
| Alcione | 1942 | ex- Fort Gibraltar, 1948 purchased from MOWT renamed Alcione, 1950 sold to Fratelli d'Amico, Rome. | 6,967 |
| Alessandro Volta | 1954 | ex- Clement Ader, 1956 purchased from Chargeurs Reunis renamed Alessandro Volta, 1979 scrapped. | 11,439 |
| Americana | 1974 | 1989 chartered to Medditerranean Shipping Co., Geneva renamed MSC Sabrina, 1991 transferred to Panama flag, 1998 scrapped. | 22,245 |
| Amerigo Vespucci (1) | see Giuseppe Majorana. | ||
| Amerigo Vespucci (2) | 1989 | 1999 chartered to Zim Line, Israel renamed Zim Hamburg. | 32,630 |
| Andrea Doria | 1952 | 1956 sunk in collision with s/s STOCKHOLM off New England; loss of 45 lives. | 29,083 |
| Anna C | 1915 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1937 sold to Achille Lauro renamed Gianicolo. | 7,195 |
| Antonio Pacinotti | 1951 | ex- Edouard Branly, 1956 purchased from Chargeurs Reunis renamed Antonio Pacinotti, 1979 scrapped. | 11,344 |
| Antonio Zotti | 1944 | 1944 sunk at Monfalcone, 1946 salvaged, 1955 sold to Etna Soc. di Nav., Palermo. | 6,200 |
| Antoniotto Usodimare | see Vittorio Moccagatta. | ||
| Aquitania | 1986 | 1991 chartered from Cyprus, 1993 purchased from Cyprus, 2001 still in service. | 13,315 |
| Arsa | 1921 | 1936 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1940 interned at New York, 1941 seized by USA renamed North Rock, operated by Waterman SS Co. under Panamanian flag, 1942 torpedoed and sunk off Ireland. | 5,441 |
| Atlanta | 1908 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1943 seized by Germans, 1945 sunk in air attack off Egersund. | 4,897 |
| Atlanta | see Atlanta II. | ||
| Atlanta II | 1942 | ex- Fort Simpson, 1948 purchased from MOWT renamed Atlanta II, 1948 renamed Atlanta, 1950 sold to Fratelli d'Amico, Rome. | 6,971 |
| Augustus | 1927 | 1932 transferred from NGI, 1942 converted to aircraft carrier 1943 renamed Sparviero, seized by Germans, 1944 scuttled at Genoa, 1951 scrapped. | 32,650 |
| Augustus | 1951 | 1976 sold to Hong Kong renamed Great Sea. | 27,090 |
| Aussa | 1921 | 1937 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1940 interned at New York, 1941 seized by USA renamed Africander, Panama flag, 1942 torpedoed and sunk by German planes off Bear Island in Russia convoy. | 5,734 |
| Barbarigo | 1930 | 1937 transferred from Veneziana, 1941 torpedoed and sunk off Pantelleria by British submarine. | 5,293 |
| Belvedere | 1913 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1940 interned at Philadelphia, 1941 seized by USA renamed Audacious, managed by United States Line under the Panamanian flag, 1944 scuttled at Normandy as breakwater. | 7,166 |
| Birmania | 1930 | 1937 transferred from Veneziana, 1941 destroyed when munitions cargo exploded at Tripoli. | 5,305 |
| Calabria | 1922 | ex- Werra, 1935 purchased from North German Lloyd renamed Calabria, 1940 seized by Britain at Calcutta, torpedoed and sunk by U-Boat off Ireland; loss of 360 lives. | 9,476 |
| California | 1998 | ex- Wan Hai 201, 1992 purchased from Yi Chun Nav. Co., Monrovia renamed California, 2001 still in service. | 17,059 |
| Caprera | 1917 | 1932 transferred from NGI, 1932 scrapped after grounding near Rio de Janeiro. | 8,294 |
| Carignano | 1918 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Sabaudo, 1943 taken over by Japan renamed Teiyu Maru, 1944 sunk by US air attack at Manila. | 5,359 |
| Carolina | 1905 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich and scrapped. | 4,731 |
| Cellina | 1926 | 1937 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1940 seized by Britain at Gibraltar renamed Empire Sailor, 1942 torpedoed and sunk off Cape Race; loss of 22 lives. | 7,061 |
| Clara | 1922 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1940 interned at Savannah, 1941 seized by USA renamed Stone Street, operated by Waterman Bros under Panamanian flag, 1942 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic; loss of 13 lives. | 6,131 |
| Colombo | 1917 | 1932 transferred from NGI, 1941 scuttled at Massawa to avoid capture, 1949 scrapped. | 12,087 |
| Conte Biancamano | 1925 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Sabaudo, 1940 interned at Cristobal, Panama, 1941 seized by USA, 1942 renamed USS Hermitage, 1947 returned to owners, 1960 scrapped. | 24,416 |
| Conte di Savoia | 1932 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Sabaudo, 1939 laid up at Venice, 1943 bombed and sunk by German aircraft, 1950 scrapped. | 48,502 |
| Conte Grande | 1927 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Sabaudo, 1940 interned at Rio de Janeiro, 1941 seized by Brazil, 1942 sold to USA renamed USS Monticello, 1947 returned to Italy renamed Conte Grande, 1962 scrapped. | 25,661 |
| Conte Rosso | 1922 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Sabaudo, 1941 torpedoed and sunk by HMS UPHOLDER in Mediterranean while trooping; loss of 1,212 lives. | 17,048 |
| Conte Verde | 1923 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Sabaudo, 1940 laid up at Shanghai, 1942 chartered to Japanese Government, 1943 scuttled by Italian crew, salvaged and renamed Kotobuki Maru, 1944 sunk by US air attack near Kyoto. | 18,765 |
| Crispi | 1966 | ex- Wisconsin, 1972 purchased from DFDS, Copenhagen renamed Crispi, 1985 scrapped. | 4,508 |
| Cristoforo Colombo (1) | 1952 | 1977 sold to Venezuela as accommodation ship for steel workers at Puerto Ordaz. | 29,083 |
| Cristoforo Colombo (2) | 1989 | 1999 chartered to Zim Line, Israel renamed Zim Antwerp. | 32,630 |
| Da Mosto | 1978 | 1989 transferred to Lloyd Triestino renamed Nuova Piave. | 19,500 |
| Da Noli | 1965 | ex- Benledi, 1972 purchased from Ben Line renamed Da Noli, 1980 sold to Panama renamed Tina B. | 11,898 |
| Da Recco | 1966 | ex- Benwyvis, 1972 purchased from Ben Line renamed Da Recco, 1979 scrapped after fire damage at Spezia. | 11,958 |
| Da Verrazano | 1967 | ex- Benalbach, 1972 purchased from Ben Line renamed Da Verrazano, 1979 sold to Liberia renamed Rea B. | 11,466 |
| D'Albertis (1) | 1978 | 1987 transferred to Mediterranean Shipping Co., Geneva renamed MSC Rosa M. | 19,500 |
| D'Albertis (2) | 1971 | ex- Cielo di Venezia, 1989 purchased from d'Amico Soc. di Nav, Rome renamed D'Albertis, 1992 sold to Cyprus renamed Akti. | 22,160 |
| D'Azeglio | 1966 | ex- Nebraska, 1972 purchased from DFDS, Copenhagen renamed D'Azeglio, 1984 sold to Grimaldi, Genoa. | 4,505 |
| Delmas Korou | see Egizia. | ||
| Donizetti | 1951 | ex- Australia, 1963 transferred from Lloyd Triestino renamed Donizetti, 1977 scrapped. | 12,839 |
| Dora C | 1922 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1940 taken over by Italian Navy, 1945 returned to Italia, 1950 scrapped. | 5,858 |
| Duilio | 1923 | 1932 transferred from NGI, 1942 chartered to International Red Cross then laid up at Trieste, 1944 sunk by Allied air attack, 1948 scrapped. | 24,281 |
| Egizia | 1980 | 1984 purchased from Adriatica di Nav., Venice, 1986 renamed Orinoco, 1995 chartered to Delmas Freres renamed Delmas Korou, 1996 reverted to Orinoco, 2000 still in service. | 9,235 |
| Esquilino | 1925 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Triestino, 1940 seized by Britain renamed Empire Governor, 1946 scrapped. | 8,657 |
| Etna | 1944 | ex- Juan Pablo Duarte, 1947 purchased from US War Shipping Admin., renamed Etna, 1962 sold to Soc. Santa Rosalia, Palermo. | 7,183 |
| Fella | 1926 | 1937 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1940 interned at Costa Rica, 1941 burnt by crew to avoid capture. | 7,061 |
| Feltre | 1927 | 1937 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1937 rammed by s/s EDWARD LUCKENBACH in Columbia River, abandoned to insurers, renamed Clevedon 1942 destroyed when cargo exploded at Yakutat, Alaska. | 7,057 |
| Galileo Ferraris | 1952 | ex- Henri Poincare, 1956 purchased from Chargeurs Reunis renamed Galileo Ferraris, 1979 scrapped. | 11,349 |
| Giulia | 1925 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1940 taken over by Italian Navy, 1943 scuttled after being mined by frogmen at Brindisi, 1949 sold to Achille Lauro after repair. | 5,921 |
| Giulio Cesare | 1921 | 1932 transferred from NGI, 1942 chartered to International Red Cross then laid up at Trieste, 1944 sunk by Allied air attack, 1949 scrapped. | 21,657 |
| Giulio Cesare | 1951 | 1973 scrapped. | 27,078 |
| Giuseppe Majorana | 1942 | 1944 scuttled by Germans at Genoa, 1947 salvaged and renamed Amerigo Vespucci, 1979 scrapped. | 9,744 |
| Guglielmo Marconi | 1963 | 1977 transferred to cruising, 1983 transferred to Costa Armatori renamed Costa Riviera. | 27,905 |
| Ida | 1922 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1943 seized by Germans, 1944 renamed Aalen, sank after striking wreck off Jutland. | 6,131 |
| Isarco | 1924 | 1936 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1942 sunk by air attack off Pantelleria. | 5,915 |
| Istria | 1921 | 1937 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1942 attacked by aircraft in Mediterranean and cargo exploded; loss of 45 lives. | 5,441 |
| Italica | 1974 | 1988 chartered to Mediterranean Shipping Co., Geneva renamed MSC Chiara, 1991 transferred to Panama flag, 1994 renamed Pol American, 1994 reverted to MSC Chiara, 1999 scrapped. | 22,245 |
| Laura C | 1923 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1941 torpedoed and sunk by HMS UPHOLDER off Italy. | 6,181 |
| Leme | 1925 | 1937 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1940 interned at Portland, Ore., 1941 seized by USA renamed Lowlander, 1948 returned to Italia renamed Leme, 1961 scrapped. | 8,124 |
| Leonardo da Vinci | 1960 | 1977 transferred to cruising, 1978 laid up, 1980 scuttled after catching fire, 1982 scrapped. | 33,340 |
| Liguria | 1914 | ex- Melita, 1935 purchased from shipbreakers after being sold by Canadian Pacific renamed Liguria, 1941 set on fire by British aircraft at Tobruk, 1950 scrapped. | 13,967 |
| Livenza | 1922 | 1937 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1943 captured by Germans renamed Lisa, 1944 sunk off Crete by British air attack. | 5,828 |
| Lombardia | 1920 | ex- Resolute, 1935 purchased from Hamburg America Line renamed Lombardia, 1943 bombed and sunk at Naples, 1946 scrapped. | 20,200 |
| Lucia C | 1921 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1940 interned at Vigo, 1944 handed to new Italian Government, 1945 scrapped after munitions cargo exploded at Bari. | 6,126 |
| Marco Polo | see Niccolo Giani. | ||
| Maria | 1926 | 1937 transferred from Cosulich, 1941 shelled and sunk by Royal Navy off Bengazi. | 6,339 |
| Mario Roselli | 1942 | 1942 seized by Germans, bombed and sunk at Corfu, 1951 salvaged and repaired, 1952 sold to Italnavi, Genoa renamed Alpe. | 6,893 |
| Martha Washington | 1908 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1933 renamed Tel Aviv, 1934 scrapped. | 8,312 |
| Mazzini | 1966 | ex- Alberta, 1972 purchased from DFDS, Copenhagen renamed Mazzini, 1984 scrapped. | 4,507 |
| Michelangelo | 1965 | 1975 laid up, 1976 sold to Iranian Navy for use as barracks ship at Bandar Abbas. | 45,911 |
| Moncalieri | 1918 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Sabaudo, 1941 scuttled at Massawa to avoid capture. | 5,267 |
| Neptunia | 1932 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich on completion, 1941 torpedoed and sunk by HMS UPHOLDER while trooping. | 19,475 |
| Nereide | 1943 | ex- Norman Hapgood, 1947 purchased from US War Shipping Admin., renamed Nereide, 1973 scrapped. | 7,180 |
| Niccolo Giani | 1942 | 1944 scuttled at Genoa, 1947 salvaged renamed Marco Polo, 1978 scrapped. | 8,949 |
| Oceania | 1933 | 1941 torpedoed and sunk by HMS UPHOLDER while trooping. | 19,507 |
| Orazio | 1927 | 1932 transferred from NGI, 1940 caught fire and sank off Toulon; loss of 106 lives. | 11,669 |
| Orinoco | see Egizia. | ||
| Pancaldo | 1978 | 1988 transferred to Lloyd Triestino renamed Nuova Rosandro. | 19,500 |
| Paolo Toscanelli | 1947 | 1973 scrapped. | 9,004 |
| Pegaso | 1942 | ex- Fort McMurray, 1948 purchased from MOWT renamed Pegaso, 1950 sold to Achille Lauro, Naples. | 6,968 |
| Piemonte | 1917 | ex- Minnedosa, 1935 purchased from shipbreakers after being sold by Canadian Pacific renamed Piemonte, 1943 bombed and sunk at Messina, 1949 scrapped. | 13,973 |
| Principessa Giovanna | 1923 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Sabaudo, 1943 converted to Hospital ship, 1944 taken over by Britain, 1946 returned to owners, 1947 renamed San Giorgio, 1952 transferred to Lloyd Triestino,1953 scrapped. | 8,585 |
| Principessa Maria | 1923 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Sabaudo, 1940 interned at Buenos Aires, 1941 sold to Argentina renamed Rio de la Plata, 1944 wrecked at Acapulco. | 8,539 |
| Pronta | 1913 | 1937 transferred from Cosulich, 1942 torpedoed and sunk by HMS UMBRA. | 182 |
| Raffaele | 1963 | 1975 laid up, 1976 sold to Iranian Navy for use as barracks ship at Bandar Abbas. | 45,933 |
| Recca | 1921 | 1937 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1940 interned at Havana, 1941 seized by Cuba renamed Libertad, 1944 torpedoed and sunk in Caribbean; loss of 25 lives. | 5,441 |
| Remo | 1927 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Triestino, 1940 seized by Australia at Fremantle renamed Reynella, 1949 sold back to Italy renamed Remo, 1951 sold to SITMAR, Trieste. | 9,780 |
| Rex | 1932 | 1932 transferred from NGI on completion, 1933 took the Blue Riband, 1944 bombed and sunk by British aircraft off Capo d'Istria, 1947 scrapped. | 51,062 |
| Rialto | 1926 | 1937 transferred from Navigazione Libera Triestina, 1941 torpedoed and sunk by British aircraft off Libya. | 7,098 |
| Roma | 1926 | 1932 transferred from NGI, 1940 converted to aircraft carrier renamed Aquila, 1943 seized by Germans, 1945 sunk at Genoa by Italian two-men torpedoes. | 32,583 |
| Romolo | 1926 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Triestino, 1940 scuttled to avoid capture off Ponape. | 9,780 |
| Rossini | 1951 | ex- Neptunia, 1963 transferred from Lloyd Triestino renamed Rossini, 1977 scrapped. | 12,838 |
| S. Caboto | 1991 | 2001 still in service. | 15,783 |
| Sabaudia | 1941 | 1943 seized by Germans, 1944 bombed and sunk at Trieste, 1947 scrapped. | 29,307 |
| San Giorgio | see Principessa Giovanna. | ||
| Sangro | 1925 | 1941 torpedoed and sunk by U-Boat in Atlantic. | 6,466 |
| Sannio | 1920 | ex- General Mitre, 1935 purchased from Hugo Stinnes, Hamburg renamed Sannio, 1941 scuttled by crew at Assab, Eritrea, 1951 scrapped. | 9,891 |
| Santa Cruz | 1903 | 1946 chartered from Tagus S.N. Co., Lisbon to carry displaced persons to South America, 1952 scrapped (originally Pacific Mail's Manchuria) | 13,639 |
| Sardegna | 1923 | ex- Sierra Ventana, 1935 purchased from North German Lloyd renamed Sardegna, 1940 torpedoed and sunk off Albania by Greek submarine PROTEUS. | 11,392 |
| Saturnia | 1927 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1940 interned at New York, 1942 chartered to Red Cross, 1943 Allied troopship, 1945 became US Hospital ship renamed Frances Y. Slanger, 1946 returned to owners, renamed Saturnia, 1965 scrapped. | 23,940 |
| Sebastiano Caboto | 1946 | 1979 scrapped. | 7,889 |
| Sicilia | 1923 | ex- Coblenz, 1935 purchased from North German Lloyd renamed Sicilia, 1941 converted to Hospital ship, 1943 bombed and sunk at Naples. | 9,646 |
| Stromboli | 1944 | ex- Norman Robertson, 1947 purchased from US War Shipping Admin., renamed Stromboli, 1973 scrapped. | 7,154 |
| Teresa | 1922 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1941 sold to Brazil, 1942 renamed Goiasloide (Goiazloide). | 6,131 |
| Toscana | 1923 | ex- Saarbrucken, 1935 purchased from North German Lloyd renamed Toscana, 1940 converted to Hospital ship, 1946 reverted to owners, 1962 scrapped. | 9,442 |
| Tritone | 1944 | ex- Alexander Majors, 1947 purchased from US War Shipping Admin., renamed Tritone, 1973 scrapped. | 7,164 |
| Ugolino Vivaldi | 1945 | 1979 scrapped. | 8,914 |
| Umbria | 1912 | ex- Bahia Blanca, 1935 purchased from Argentina renamed Umbria, 1940 scuttled by crew at Port Sudan and scrapped. | 9,349 |
| Vega | 1942 | ex- Fort Hudsons Hope, 1948 purchased from MOWT renamed Vega, 1950 sold to Italnavi, Genoa. | 6,930 |
| Verdi | 1950 | ex- Oceania, 1963 transferred from Lloyd Triestino renamed Verdi, 1977 scrapped. | 12,839 |
| Vesuvio | 1944 | ex- William P. Duval, 1947 purchased from US War Shipping Admin., renamed Vesuvio, 1973 scrapped. | 7,170 |
| Viminale | 1925 | 1932 transferred from Lloyd Triestino,1943 sunk by British warships off Cape Vaticano. | 8,657 |
| Virgilio | 1928 | 1932 transferred from NGI, 1941 converted to hospital ship, 1943 seized by Germans and 1944 scuttled at Toulon. | 11,718 |
| Vittorio Moccagatta | 1942 | 1944 seized by Germans, bombed and sunk at Spezia, 1946 salvaged renamed Antoniotto Usodimare, 1979 scrapped. | 9,751 |
| Vulcania | 1928 | 1932 transferred from Cosulich, 1942 chartered to Red Cross, 1943 laid up, 1945 taken over by USA as US Army transport, 1946 returned to owners, 1965 sold to Sicula Oceanica (Fratelli Grimaldi) renamed Caribia. | 23,940 |