Lives of the Liners: VULCANIA – CARIBIA

A close sister to the Saturnia, the Vulcania had an even longer life – sailing for almost fifty years. Completed in 1928 for the Cosulich Line (and later used by Italian Line), it too became an International Red Cross evacuation ship in 1942, but then a US-operated troopship in 1943. Returned to the Italian Line in 1947, it later resumed Mediterranean-New York service.

Sold to the Siosa Lines (also Italian) in 1965, it was renamed Caribia and used in Southampton-Caribbean service and later Mediterranean cruising only. Its final days were somewhat complicated, however. Grounded off Nice on September 23, 1972, it was too old to repair and so sold to Spanish shipbreakers in 1973, but then resold to Taiwanese scrappers in 1974. Towed to the Far East, it sank in Kaohsiung harbor on July 20, 1974. It was later refloated and finally scrapped.