Monday, March 02, 2009

SPANISH MAILSHIPS



Two photos of the TRASMEDITERRANEA mailship CIUDAD DE BADAJOZ arriving at Palma de Mallorca on 10 June 1991, still in the company's original livery. Note the signals mast above the bridge showing the influence from the design of the mast of QUEEN ELIZABETH 2.
Spanish passenger ships were very interesting and those classed as mailships had a special national ensign with the letters C M meaning Correo Maritimo - Sea Mail. This flag is still in use.
The history and fate of this particular ship, built in Valencia in 1979 can be seen here. She was broken up in 2008 but her demise passed almost unnoticed.
Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

1 comment:

Johann Visagie said...

Very interesting! As a 5-year-old I saw either her, or one of her sisters, either while Travelling to Europe on Lloyd Triestino's Europa, or on the way back on the Galileo Galilei. I think it was at Tenerife, but of course a child that age has a limited grasp of such details.

At any rate, the unique funnel design impressed me, and in later years I've often wondered what this mysterious ship was that I saw as a child. Thanks for solving this minor mystery for me!