The Caronia Runs Aground

During the Spring Mediterranean Cruise, the Caronia found herself aground again whilst she was anchored at Messina. This was the second grounding in her career, however this time it took a few hours before she could be refloated with the aid of local tugs and ferry-boats.

The local currents had probably turned her round whilst at anchor. This was nothing unusual, although it was always a bit of a surprise to return to the ship by tender and find her at a different angle to the shore from when we left. On this occasion it was a question of waiting for high-tide to refloat the ship.

[Left:]
An aerial view of Caronia aground at Messina, the wash top right shows the struggle to stop the ship swinging around toward the shore.

[Photo: Courtesy of Margaret Bell]

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At Sea
Steaming S.East Acapulco to Balboa 1,430 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 13.43N | 94.13W
Travelled: 382 miles
Light variable breezes, rippled sea, cloudy

At Sea

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 09.48N | 86.55W
Travelled: 491 miles
Moderate Easterly breeze, slight to mod sea, low E. swell, cloudy, clear

Arrive Balboa 3.12pm

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 07.49N | 79.46W
Travelled: 491 miles
Light N.N.Easterly breeze, slight sea, cloudy and clear
66 nmi to Balboa
At: 3.12pm (LT) Balboa arrival
Passage: 2 days, 21 hours, 42 mins.
Voyage Distance: 1,430 miles
Average Speed: 20.52 knots

Panama 1959

Panama 1963

Depart Balboa 6.30am
Transit Panama Canal - 44 miles - 35 nautical miles recorded

photo-strip 

slide show {JS}

Arrive Colón / Cristóbal 4.00pm - Depart 4.42pm

Log Abstract…
At: 6.30am (LT) Balboa departure
At: 4pm (LT) Cristóbal arrival
Passage: 9 hours, 30 mins.
Voyage Distance: 35 miles
Average Speed: 7.11 knots
At: 4.42pm (LT) Cristóbal departure

At Sea
Steaming North Cristóbal to New York 1,957 miles

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 15.09N | 76.50W
Travelled: 391 miles
Strong N.Easterly breeze, rough sea, moderate E. swell, cloudy, clear

Clocks advanced 1 hour at Midnight

At Sea

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 22.22N | 74.26W
Travelled: 480 miles
Fresh Easterly breeze, moderate sea, moderate E. swell, cloudy, clear

Sunday At Sea

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 30.39N | 74.00W
Travelled: 498 miles
Gentle Easterly breeze, slight sea, low E. swell, cloudy and clear

Arrive New York 6.20pm with 375 passengers
End of 1956 Great World Cruise

Log Abstract…
At: 12 Noon Position: 38.55N | 73.41W
Travelled: 496 miles
Moderate S.Westerly breeze, moderate sea, low S. swell, cloudy, clear
92 nmi to New York
At: 4.21pm (LT) Ambrose C.L.V. abeam, N.Y.arrival
Passage: 3 days, 22 hours, 39 mins.
Voyage Distance: 1,957 miles
Average Speed: 20.68 knots

At Sea
Start of 1956 Spring Mediterranean Cruise

Mediterranean Cruise Movie

• Spring Mediterranean Cruise Passenger List transcript

Arrive Funchal AM - Depart PM

Funchal 1954

Funchal 1959

Funchal 1961

Funchal 1964

Funchal, 1966

Arrive Gibraltar AM - Depart Noon
Steam to Tangier 30 miles

Arrive Tangier PM

Gibraltar and Tangier

Gibraltar 1959

Gibraltar, 1966

Tangier 1959

Tangier 1961

Tangier 1964

Sunday Depart Tangier early AM
At Sea
Steaming Tangier to Málaga 90 miles

Arrive Málaga AM - Depart PM

Málaga 1954

Málaga 1959

Málaga 1961

Arrive Valletta, Malta G.C., AM - Depart PM

Malta G.C. 1954

Malta G.C. 1959

Malta G.C. 1961

Arrive Piraeus, Athens AM - Depart PM

Athens 1954

Athens 1961

Athens, 1966

Sunday Arrive Dubrovnik - Depart PM
Steaming North Dubrovnik to Venice 330 miles

Dubrovnik 1959

Dubrovnik, 1962

At Venice

slide show {JS}

Depart Venice PM

Catania 1959

Catania 1961

Catania

Steam Catania to Messina 48 miles

Arrive Messina PM

Ran hard aground at Messina, refloated at high tide by 5 tugs and a ferryboat called Schilla.