Cunard’s Last Great Gambit: RMS Caronia - The Green Goddess

Big Old Boats・2 minutes read

Sir Percy Bates played a crucial role in steering Cunard through the Great Depression by merging with White Star Line and overseeing the construction of groundbreaking super liners, but his visionary new liner, Coronia, faced a tragic fate with mechanical failures and a fatal engine room explosion, ultimately being scrapped in 1975.

Insights

  • Sir Percy Ellie Bates played a pivotal role in the success of Cunard by negotiating a merger with White Star Line and overseeing the construction of the iconic RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth, which proved crucial during World War II.
  • The innovative liner, Coronia, launched in 1947 with luxurious features and accommodations, symbolized a missed opportunity for Cunard as it faced a series of setbacks post-Bates' leadership, culminating in its eventual scrapping in 1975 after a failed attempt at revival and a tumultuous journey that ended in wreckage near Guam.

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  • What were the names of the two super liners envisioned by Sir Percy Bates?

    RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth

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Summary

00:00

"Coronia: Luxury Liner of the Elite"

  • The ship was named Coronia by a 31-year-old son of a shipping magnate from Liverpool in 1910.
  • Sir Percy Ellie Bates, a decisive leader with strong connections, negotiated a merger with White Star Line to save Cunard during the Great Depression.
  • Bates envisioned and oversaw the construction of two super liners, RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth, to dominate the transatlantic service.
  • The RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth proved vital during World War II, earning massive profits for Cunard.
  • Bates initiated the construction of a new Dual Purpose liner post-war to adapt to the changing transportation landscape.
  • Sir Percy Bates passed away before his visionary new liner, Coronia, was completed, leaving Cunard without his leadership.
  • Coronia was launched in 1947, with Princess Elizabeth christening the ship before her marriage to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.
  • Coronia's maiden voyage from Southampton to New York occurred on January 4, 1949, with a two-class configuration for passengers.
  • Coronia was designed for wealthy passengers on world cruises, featuring spacious cabins with full bathrooms and showers.
  • Coronia's interiors were luxurious, with unique veneers, an observation lounge, grand staircase, and distinctive dining rooms, catering to an exclusive class of travelers.

16:13

Missed Opportunity: The Tragic Fate of Essex

  • The ship, originally named the Essex, was rebranded as the Essex Columbia and then the Caribbea, receiving an all-white paint scheme before being sent to New York in 1969 for budget cruises to the Caribbean. However, it faced mechanical failures, including a fatal engine room explosion during its second cruise, leading to a loss of power for 20 hours before limping back to New York, marking its final commercial voyage.
  • After failed attempts at revival, the ship was sold for scrapping in Taiwan in 1974. Towed from New York by the German tug Hamburg, it nearly capsized on the way to Honolulu and eventually wrecked near Guam during a typhoon, necessitating its immediate removal due to obstructing the vital harbor entrance. The innovative liner, representing the potential of the Cunard line, was dismantled by the end of 1975, highlighting a missed opportunity for the company in the cruise industry.
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