THE FUNCHAL 45 YEARS AGO

The black & white photograph depicted below on the Portuguese version of this post was taken in Lisbon exactly 45 years ago, at 11.00 AM on 19th October 1961 and shows the first arrival of the brand-new passenger liner FUNCHAL, on her delivery voyage from the shipbuilders in Elsinore, Denmark. The was a happy mood in the Tagus river and the veteran liner LIMA can be seen alongside the Santos Terminal dressed overall.

The FUNCHAL is manoeuvring to enter the Alcantara Dock stern first. At 11.30 AM she was berthed at the entrance of the dock. Aboard the new ship under the command of Captain Manuel António Bio, there was Mr. Vasco Bensaude her proud owner and about 50 Insulana guests. At the dock, the Marine Minister, Admiral Fernando Quintanilha, and a large group of VIPs waited the ship and paid a visit onboard the FUNCHAL. Constructed by the Elsinore shipyard in 1960-1961, the FUNCHAL was designed for a regular service from Lisbon to Madeira and either the Canaries or the Azores. She had been just delivered at 14.30 on 12th October 1961 off Elsinore, while undergoing acceptance trials. The ship left her builders port on 15th October for Lisbon.
45 years later, it is still possible to observe the FUNCHAL from the same spot the photo was taken, for she returned to Lisbon - still her base port - on 15 October for a refit and dry-dock by the Navalrocha yard. The old girl is still a beautiful ship. Converted for cruising in 1973, she has cruised all over the world and is still a very popular ship. She is owned by the Great Warwick Co. Inc., since 1985 and managed by Mr. George Potamianos, an expert in classic cruising very dedicated to the FUNCHAL and the number one responsible for this veteran Portuguese passenger ship long and successful career.

B&W photo: The FUNCHAL arriving in Lisbon from the shipyard on 19 October 1961. Colour photos: FUNCHAL returning to Lisbon after another season of European cruises on 15 October 2006, still looking a pretty girl.
Luís Miguel Correia - 2006