SS Pasteur

SS Pasteur was a French steam-turbine ocean liner constructed for Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique as a replacement for the company's fire-damaged flagship L'Atlantique. Built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, the ship was launched on 15 February 1938 and named after the French scientist Louis Pasteur. A fitting-out fire in March 1939 delayed completion until August of that year, by which time the outbreak of the Second World War prevented her planned commercial maiden voyage from Bordeaux to Buenos Aires. The vessel was designed for South Atlantic passenger and freight service, with extensive cargo capacity and a planned complement of 751 passengers. She measured approximately 29,253 gross register tons, was 212.4 metres long, and used four propellers driven by steam turbines. Her design speed was about 26 knots, although normal service speed was lower. She was intended to compete with prominent German and British liners serving routes between Europe and South America. Instead of entering civilian service, Pasteur was laid up at Saint-Nazaire and then taken into British government service after the fall of France. Managed by Cunard-White Star, she operated as a fast troop transport and military hospital ship under the designation HMTS Pasteur. Her speed generally allowed her to travel independently rather than in convoys. During the war she carried troops, wounded personnel, prisoners of war, and military staff between Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and South America. Sources associated with the ship record roughly 220,000 troops, 30,000 wounded personnel, and more than 370,000 miles of wartime travel, although published accounts vary in the way they calculate totals. After 1945, Pasteur repatriated American and Canadian service members before being returned to her French owners. She subsequently continued in French military service, transporting troops during the First Indochina War and the Algerian conflict. She also carried Dutch troops from Indonesia to the Netherlands and was reactivated during the Suez crisis. Her wartime and military service earned her the Croix de Guerre. In 1957, after periods of lay-up at Toulon and Brest, the ship was sold to Norddeutscher Lloyd for 30 million Deutsche Marks. Renamed TS Bremen, she underwent a major reconstruction at Bremer Vulkan. The refit increased her tonnage to approximately 32,336 gross register tons, modernized her boilers and turbines, added stabilizers, increased cargo capacity, and replaced the original funnel with a distinctive streamlined design. In July 1959 she entered scheduled transatlantic service between Bremerhaven, Southampton, Cherbourg, and New York. She also operated cruises to the Caribbean and South America, carrying approximately 28,000 passengers across the Atlantic in 1960. A bulbous bow was added during a 1965–1966 refit. Following the 1970 merger that created Hapag-Lloyd, Bremen made her final Hapag-Lloyd voyage from Bremen to New York in September 1971. She was then sold to Chandris Cruises and renamed Regina. After another refit, she served as the company's flagship on Mediterranean cruises, including calls at Limassol and ports in Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Italy. Rising fuel prices and the decline of migration charter traffic to Australia led to her being laid up at Piraeus in 1974. The ship was sold again in 1977, renamed Saudiphil I, and sent to Jeddah as accommodation for Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia. In 1980 she changed hands once more and became Filipinas Saudi I. On 8 June 1980, while being towed by the Panamanian tug Sumatra toward ship breakers in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, she rolled onto her port side and sank stern-first. Her 41-year career had involved four principal names and service under the flags of six countries. The vessel also has a small place in popular culture because Siegfried and Roy reportedly met aboard Bremen in 1960 and first performed tog…

Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique ordered Pasteur after its flagship L'Atlantique was gutted by fire in 1933. The replacement was planned as a smaller but faster liner for the company's South Atlantic passenger and freight network. Chantiers de l'Atlantique began construction at Saint-Nazaire in 1938. The ship was launched on 15 February 1938, but a fitting-out fire the following year delayed completion until August 1939. The Second World War prevented Pasteur's intended commercial inauguration. Initially laid up at Saint-Nazaire, she was used in 1940 to move French gold reserves from Brest to Halifax. After France fell, the British government requisitioned the vessel and placed her under Cunard-White Star management. Her speed made her suitable for independent long-distance voyages. She transported British, American, Canadian, French, Australian, South African, and other Allied personnel, as well as prisoners of war and wounded troops. Her wartime itinerary included the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Middle Eastern theatres. Accounts credit her with carrying approximately 220,000 troops and 30,000 wounded personnel during the war. After the war, Pasteur helped repatriate North American troops and was returned to her French owners in October 1945. From 1946 she remained active as a French military transport. She carried French forces connected with the First Indochina War and later the Algerian conflict. In 1950 she transported approximately 4,000 Dutch troops from Indonesia to the Netherlands. During the Suez crisis she was recommissioned as a troopship and served as a floating headquarters for French forces at Port Said. France awarded her the Croix de Guerre for her military record. The ship was laid up at Toulon in 1956 and Brest in 1957 before being sold to Norddeutscher Lloyd. The German company renamed her Bremen and undertook an extensive modernization at Bremer Vulkan. The reconstruction replaced major machinery, enlarged the vessel, improved passenger comfort with stabilizers, and gave her a new streamlined funnel. She returned to service in July 1959 on the North Atlantic route between Bremerhaven, Southampton, Cherbourg, and New York. Bremen also operated cruises to the Caribbean and South America. A bulbous bow was fitted during a later refit in 1965–1966. In 1970 Norddeutscher Lloyd merged with Hamburg America Line to form Hapag-Lloyd. Bremen made her last Hapag-Lloyd voyage in September 1971 after 175 Atlantic crossings and 117 cruises under the German operator. Chandris Cruises purchased her and renamed her Regina. The refitted ship became a Mediterranean cruise flagship, with regular calls at Limassol and other eastern Mediterranean ports. Economic pressures, especially fuel costs and the decline of Australian migration charters, caused her to be laid up at Piraeus in 1974. Her final phase began with a 1977 sale to Philippine Singapore Ports Corporation of Saudi Arabia. As Saudiphil I, she was sent to Jeddah for use as an accommodation ship for Filipino workers. Sold again in 1980 and renamed Filipinas Saudi I, she was being towed to Kaohsiung for scrapping when she capsized and sank on 8 June. Across 41 years, the ship operated under several names, owners, and national flags, moving between commercial, military, and support roles.

1. 1980Sinking during a tow to the breakers

   As Filipinas Saudi I, the ship capsized and sank on 8 June while being towed toward Kaohsiung.

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2. 1977Conversion to an accommodation ship

   Renamed Saudiphil I, the former liner was sent to Jeddah to house Filipino workers.

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3. 1974Regina is laid up

   Rising fuel costs and weaker migration-charter demand led to the ship's lay-up at Piraeus.

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4. 1971Final Hapag-Lloyd voyage and transfer to Chandris

   Bremen completed her final Hapag-Lloyd voyage and was subsequently renamed Regina for Mediterranean cruising.

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5. 1965Bulbous bow added during modernization

   The ship received a bulbous bow during the 1965–1966 refit.

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6. 1959Bremen returns to commercial service

   The reconstructed liner entered the Bremerhaven–New York route on 9 July.

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7. 1957Sale and reconstruction as Bremen

   Norddeutscher Lloyd purchased the ship and began a major modernization at Bremer Vulkan.

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8. 1945Pasteur is returned to French ownership

   After repatriation work, the ship was returned to its owners in October.

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9. 1940The ship becomes a British-controlled troop transport

   Pasteur was taken into British government service and managed by Cunard-White Star.

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10. 1939Construction is completed amid the outbreak of war

    A fitting-out fire delayed completion until August, shortly before the Second World War began.

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11. 1938Pasteur is launched

    Chantiers de l'Atlantique launched the ship at Saint-Nazaire on 15 February.

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12. 1933L'Atlantique is destroyed by fire

    The fire damage to Sud-Atlantique's flagship ultimately led to the commissioning of a replacement liner.

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A high-speed, multipurpose ocean liner positioned first as a modern South Atlantic passenger-and-freight flagship, and later adapted for military transport, scheduled transatlantic travel, cruising, and offshore accommodation.

• PasteurSteam-turbine ocean liner1938

  The ship's original configuration was a fast French passenger-and-freight liner for the South Atlantic. It had approximately 29,253 gross register tons, four propellers, extensive cargo spaces, and planned accommodation for 751 passengers. Although designed for commercial service, the vessel entered service first as a wartime transport.

• HMTS PasteurMilitary troop and hospital transport1940

  Under British government control during the Second World War, Pasteur transported troops, wounded personnel, prisoners of war, and military staff across the Atlantic and between Allied theatres. Her speed enabled many voyages to be made without convoy escort.

• BremenTransatlantic liner and cruise ship1959

  After the 1957 acquisition by Norddeutscher Lloyd, the ship was extensively rebuilt and renamed Bremen. The refit enlarged the vessel, replaced machinery, improved stability and passenger comfort, and prepared her for scheduled North Atlantic crossings as well as Caribbean and South American cruises.

• ReginaMediterranean cruise ship1972

  Chandris Cruises refitted the former Bremen and made her Regina, using her as a flagship for Mediterranean itineraries. Her routes linked Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean with ports in Lebanon, Israel, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Italy.

• Saudiphil I / Filipinas Saudi IAccommodation and support vessel1977

  In her final commercial role, the former liner was converted into accommodation for Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia. She operated from Jeddah before being sold for demolition and sinking while under tow.

• 1971Shift from transatlantic service to Mediterranean cruisingStrategy

  After 175 Atlantic crossings and 117 cruises under Norddeutscher Lloyd, the ship's commercial role was affected by changing passenger-ship economics.

  What changed. Following the Hapag-Lloyd period, Chandris Cruises purchased the vessel, renamed her Regina, and deployed her on Mediterranean cruises.

  Aftermath. The ship became a popular Mediterranean cruise vessel before being laid up in 1974 because of fuel costs and weaker migration-charter demand.

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• 1957Norddeutscher Lloyd acquires and rebuilds the shipM&A

  After periods of lay-up, the French military transport was available for sale as postwar passenger shipping demand developed.

  What changed. Norddeutscher Lloyd bought the vessel for 30 million Deutsche Marks, renamed her Bremen, and invested in a comprehensive reconstruction.

  Aftermath. The rebuilt liner returned to scheduled North Atlantic service and later operated cruises.

  Acquisition price. 30 million Deutsche Marks (1957)

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• 1938Commissioning of a faster South Atlantic replacement linerStrategy

  Sud-Atlantique needed a replacement for L'Atlantique after the earlier flagship was destroyed by fire and declared beyond economical repair.

  What changed. The company ordered Pasteur as a smaller but faster passenger-and-freight ship intended to compete with German and British liners.

  Aftermath. The Second World War prevented the planned commercial inauguration and redirected the ship into military service.

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• 1980The former Pasteur sinks while under tow

  Renamed Filipinas Saudi I, the vessel rolled onto her port side and sank stern-first on 8 June while being towed toward Taiwanese ship breakers.

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• 1971Bremen is sold to Chandris Cruises and renamed Regina

  After her final Hapag-Lloyd transatlantic voyage, the vessel was sold to Chandris Cruises and shifted toward Mediterranean cruising.

  M&A
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• 1959Bremen begins postwar transatlantic service

  Following reconstruction, the liner entered the Bremerhaven–Southampton–Cherbourg–New York route on 9 July.

  Product launch
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• 1957Pasteur is sold to Norddeutscher Lloyd and renamed Bremen

  The ship was sold for 30 million Deutsche Marks and transferred to Bremerhaven for a major reconstruction and return to commercial passenger service.

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• 1940Pasteur enters British wartime transport service

  After the fall of France, the ship was taken over by the British government and operated under Cunard-White Star management as a troop and hospital transport.

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• 1938Pasteur is launched at Saint-Nazaire

  The new French liner was launched on 15 February and named Pasteur after Louis Pasteur. A subsequent fitting-out fire delayed completion.

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1. SS Pasteur