The Last Ocean Liners

Companhia Colonial

Santa Maria / Infante Dom Henrique / Patria / Imperio / Uige

 

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The Companhia Colonial de Navegacão of Portugal ordered three handsome medium-size ocean liners in the 1950s for their routes out of Lisbon. First came the Vera Cruz for South America service, but with growing turmoil in Angola, it was used mainly as a troopship after 1960. A sister ship, Santa Maria was introduced for Brazil service, but with significant competion and demand for migrant passage to Venezuela it opened a new transatlantic route to La Guaira in 1956, also calling at Ft. Lauderdale and Caribbean ports.

Santa Maria was ahead of its time in design with substantial use of aluminum allowing a higher superstructure, more in the style of modern cruise ships than of ocean liners. The well-designed interior featured decorative touches like murals, wall hangings and a variety of inlaid woods used in paneling and carvings of saints.

Santa Maria was a three class ship with 78 First class staterooms and suites with private facilities and 75 relatively large Cabin class staterooms on B and C-Decks. There were also 194 simple 2, 4 and 6-berth cabins in Third class on D, E and F-Decks. Each class aboard Santa Maria had its own lounge and smoking room with bar. First and Cabin classes each enjoyed an outdoor swimming pool and all dining rooms were on D and E-Deck.

In 1957, Companhia Colonial de Navegacão ordered Infante Dom Henrique for the colonial trade to Angola and Mozambique. It was the largest Portuguese ocean liner to date. The interior design was 1950s modern in metal and glass which was in marked contrast to the beautiful woods used in the earlier ships.

First class aboard Infante Dom Henrique occupied the Boat Deck, which included suites, staterooms and the pool area aft. A-Deck included the First class lounge and smoking room and the Tourist class smoking room and swimming pool. B-Deck had First class staterooms forward and the Tourist class lounge, gallery and bar aft. The two dining rooms were on C-Deck and Tourist class cabins on D and E-Decks.

"The comfort and luxury awaiting you are virtually indescribable... dining will be an exquisite and continuing adventure, for the artistry of our Portuguese chefs is world renowned. Once onboard, you'll exchange cares for the carefree relaxation induced by tangy salt air and the excitement of one of the most elegant, modern luxury liners afloat."

Wanting to quickly reinstate Portugal's presence in their African colonies after World War II, Compania Colonial operated three classic passenger cargo liners, which had been ordered immediately after the war. These included the Patria and Imperio, which were later joined by the similar but slightly smaller Uige. They connected Lisbon with Portuguese interests in Sao Tome, Angola and Mozambique as well as South Africa. All First class staterooms and suites had private bathrooms, while Third class included berths for 200 troops or workers. The trio lasted well into the 1970s, when they were finally withdrawn and broken up.

Santa Maria continued on the transatlantic route for Companhia Colonial de Navegacão for the remainder of its days, except for a notorious 12-day hijacking by 24 revolutionaries in 1961 who opposed the Portuguese prime minister and forced the ocean liner to follow a secret route off the coast of Brazil. Infante Dom Henrique was retired upon independence of the Portuguese African colonies, eventually becoming a cruise ship for new owners.

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Sample minimum one-way fares from Ft. Lauderdale to Lisbon: First class $420; Cabin class $308; Third class $246; from Lisbon to Luanda: First class $262; Cabin class $208; Tourist class $113; from Lisbon to Lourenco Marques: First class $418; Cabin class $322; Tourist class $209; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.

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Go to Companhia Colonial sailing schedules or select schedules by ship below:

Santa Maria Companhia Colonial Built: 1953 by Cockerill, Hoboken, Belgium Gross tons: 20906 Length: 610ft (186m) Width: 75ft (23m) Draft: 27ft (8m) Speed: 20kn Power: 22500 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 156 First 200 Cabin 680 Third End of service: Scrapped 1973 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Infante Dom Henrique Companhia Colonial Built: 1961 by Cockerill, Hoboken, Belgium Gross tons: 23306 Length: 641ft (195m) Width: 80ft (24m) Draft: 27ft (8m) Speed: 21kn Power: 22000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 156 First 862 Tourist End of service: Laid up 1976; sold 1977 as Vasco Da Gama then Seawind Crown; scrapped 2004 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Patria Companhia Colonial Built: 1948 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Gross tons: 13196 Length: 531ft (162m) Width: 68ft (21m) Draft: 27ft (8m) Speed: 17kn Power: 15000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 114 First 156 Tourist 320 Third End of service: Scrapped 1973 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Imperio Companhia Colonial Built: 1948 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank, Scotland Gross tons: 13186 Length: 531ft (162m) Width: 68ft (21m) Draft: 27ft (8m) Speed: 17kn Power: 15000 shp Propulsion: Steam turbines twin screw Passengers: 114 First 156 Tourist 320 Third End of service: Scrapped 1974 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.

Uige Companhia Colonial Built: 1954 by Cockerill, Hoboken, Belgium Gross tons: 10001 Length: 477ft (145m) Width: 63ft (19m) Draft: 26ft (8m) Speed: 16kn Power: 6850 bhp Propulsion: Diesel single screw Passengers: 78 First 493 Third End of service: Laid up 1976; scrapped 1978 Go to sailing schedules for this ship.