Light and Dark Shades of Rust!
The new decade did not start well for the “Green Goddess”. The 1959 annual overhaul undertaken at Liverpool had not gone according to plan. It was disrupted from 27 November by over 150 painters walking out on strike in a pay and conditions dispute.
This left the Caronia with only her starboard side repainted. During most overhauls, her hull would be cleaned by sandblasting, and various areas touched up with red-lead paint before being given a fresh coat of her trademark green.
On this occasion, I'm told by Len Danson, the port side of Caronia was left almost devoid of paint, other than some patches of red-lead. Nevertheless, the Caronia left Liverpool on schedule for Southampton on 22 December 1959. Ahead was a transatlantic “Sterling Cruise” followed by a Caribbean Cruise and then her Great World Cruise.
[Left:]
Chris Freeman descends a rope ladder to a hanging pontoon plank used by painters in 1965
[Photo: © Roger Birch 1965]
Until her 02 January 1960 departure from Southampton, the ship would be berthed with her starboard side adjacent to shore, and again whilst in ports of the Sterling Cruise. The repainting of the port side was given to Caronia's deck crew to do, whenever weather conditions allowed.
Captain Watts wanted his ship to be pristine in readiness for the 1960 Great World Cruise, so floodlighting was used at night. It wasn't until Caronia had left Kingston, Jamaica on 28 January that the huge task was completed. See more about painting Caronia's bow.
If you can contribute any information, do please get in touch…
Great World 
