SS Florida was an Italian ocean liner, built in 1905 for Lloyd Italiano, which operated between Italy and both North and South America. In 1909 she collided with, and sank, White Star Line's Republic off the American coast. Later, as Cavour with Transatlantica Italiana, she was sunk by collision with the Italian auxiliary cruiserCaprera off the Spanish Mediterranean coast on 12 December 1917, without loss of life.[1]
SS Florida after colliding with RMS Republic in 1909.
Florida was launched for Lloyd Italiano of Genoa, Italy at the Società Esercizio Bacini shipyard in Riva Trigoso, near Genoa, on 22 June 1905, and completed in September of that year. The ship was 116.1 metres (380 ft 11 in) long and had a beam of 14.3 metres (46 ft 11 in). She was assessed at 5,018 GRT and had a pair of triple expansion engines driving twin screw propellers. The ship could reach a maximum speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) and had two masts and two funnels. As built, she had the capacity to carry 25 1st-class and 1,600 steerage passengers.[2] She had a sister ship, Virginia.
Early careerEdit
For her maiden voyage she sailed from Genoa on 18 September 1905, calling also at Naples, en route to Buenos Aires. Florida's next voyage was to inaugurate Lloyd Italiano's Genoa–Palermo–New York route, which she served until 1911.[3]
In January 1909, Florida was on her usual route from Genoa and Palermo to New York, carrying 13 first class and 826 steerage passengers alongside her crew, under the command of 29-year-old Captain Angelo Ruspini. On the morning of 23 January, Florida entered a thick fog bank while 50 miles (80 km) off the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and consequently reduced her speed. At 5.47 am the British outbound RMS Republic of White Star Line suddenly emerged from the fog, in the path of Florida. Both ships took evasive action, but collision could not be averted. Florida's bow struck Republic amidships on her port side at about a right angle, level with her engine room.[1]Florida's bow was crushed in at least 10 metres (32 ft 10 in), back to her collision bulkhead, killing three of her crew. Two of Republic's passengers were killed by the impact, and two more died later from their injuries.[1][4]
Illustration of the damaged bow of Florida
The ships separated and, due to her forward collision bulkhead being intact, Florida was in no danger of sinking and remained controllable. The ship stayed alongside the damaged Republic, which sent out a CQDdistress signal with her newly installed Marconi wireless telegraph system, one of the first to do so. Together with the first rescue ship to arrive, United States revenue cutterGresham, Florida took on nearly all of Republic's passengers, becoming dangerously overloaded. That evening the White Star liner Baltic arrived, having responded to the radio distress signal. All the surviving passengers, from both ships, were transferred to Baltic, while the crew of Florida covered the damaged bow with a sail and followed Baltic to New York.[2]Republic, on the other hand, could not be saved, and sank on 24 January without further loss of life. Florida was eventually assisted by two tugboats and arrived in New York on the morning of 26 January. Repairs were completed in just 24 days.[5]
RMS Republic sinking by her stern.
Later years and sinkingEdit
Florida completed her final voyage to New York on 20 April 1911 and was sold later that year, with her sister-ship Virginia, to Società di Navigazione la Ligure Brasiliana and renamed Cavour.[3] Her new schedule brought her back to South America, first departing from Genoa on 15 January 1912 for Naples and Buenos Aires. In 1913 Hamburg America Line bought the Ligure Brasiliana business, including Cavour and Garibaldi (the former Virginia), and the following July changed its name to Transatlantica Italiana Società Anonima di Navigazione.[6]
After the outbreak of World War I, Cavour left Buenos Aires for the last time in October 1914. When Italy entered the war in May 1915, the Italian chairman of Transatlantica Italiana was able to acquire almost all of Hamburg-Amerika's shares and in 1916 resold them to a member of the Ansaldo group. It was under their service that on 12 December 1917, Cavour collided with the Italian auxiliary cruiserCaprera 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) off L'Ametlla de Mar, Catalonia, Spain. Cavour was lost in the incident, but all on board survived.[3][7][8]
WreckEdit
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, but is believed to lie 52 m (171 ft) deep.[7]
ReferencesEdit
^ abc"Columbus". theyard.info. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
^ ab"Florida". titanicinquiry.org. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
^ abcBonsor, Noel R. P. (1983). South Atlantic Seaway. St. Brelade, Jersey: Brookside Publications. pp. 369–372. ISBN0-905824-06-7.
^"RMS Republic (II) (+1909)". The Wrecksite. Affligem, Belgium: Adelante EBVBA. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
^"SS Florida / SS Republic Collision (TBT)". martinottaway.com. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
^Bonsor, Noel R. P. (1983). South Atlantic Seaway. St. Brelade, Jersey: Brookside Publications. pp. 340–343. ISBN0-905824-06-7.
^ ab"Florida SS (1905~1912)". wrecksite.eu. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
^"SS Cavour (+1917)". The Wrecksite. Affligem, Belgium: Adelante EBVBA. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
August 29, 2023
florida, 1905, florida, italian, ocean, liner, built, 1905, lloyd, italiano, which, operated, between, italy, both, north, south, america, 1909, collided, with, sank, white, star, line, republic, american, coast, later, cavour, with, transatlantica, italiana, . SS Florida was an Italian ocean liner built in 1905 for Lloyd Italiano which operated between Italy and both North and South America In 1909 she collided with and sank White Star Line s Republic off the American coast Later as Cavour with Transatlantica Italiana she was sunk by collision with the Italian auxiliary cruiser Caprera off the Spanish Mediterranean coast on 12 December 1917 without loss of life 1 SS Florida after colliding with RMS Republic in 1909 HistoryItalyNameFlorida 1905 1912 Cavour 1912 1917 NamesakeFlorida Count of CavourOwnerLloyd Italiano 1905 1912 Ligure Brasiliana 1912 1915 Transatlantica Italiana 1915 1917 Port of registry Kingdom of Italy GenoaBuilderSocieta Esercizio BaciniYard number35Laid down1905Launched22 June 1905Maiden voyage18 September 1905Out of service12 December 1917IdentificationItalian O N 23 Signal letters MAVFateSank after colliding with SS Caprera on 12 December 1917General characteristicsTypePassenger shipTonnage5 018 GRTLength116 1 metres 380 ft 11 in Beam14 3 metres 46 ft 11 in Installed powerTwin triple expansion enginesPropulsion2 screw propellersSpeed14 knots 26 km h 16 mph Capacity1 625 Passengers 25 1st class amp 1 600 steerage NotesTwo masts amp two funnels Contents 1 Construction 2 Early career 3 RMS Republic collision 4 Later years and sinking 5 Wreck 6 ReferencesConstruction EditFlorida was launched for Lloyd Italiano of Genoa Italy at the Societa Esercizio Bacini shipyard in Riva Trigoso near Genoa on 22 June 1905 and completed in September of that year The ship was 116 1 metres 380 ft 11 in long and had a beam of 14 3 metres 46 ft 11 in She was assessed at 5 018 GRT and had a pair of triple expansion engines driving twin screw propellers The ship could reach a maximum speed of 14 knots 26 km h 16 mph and had two masts and two funnels As built she had the capacity to carry 25 1st class and 1 600 steerage passengers 2 She had a sister ship Virginia Early career EditFor her maiden voyage she sailed from Genoa on 18 September 1905 calling also at Naples en route to Buenos Aires Florida s next voyage was to inaugurate Lloyd Italiano s Genoa Palermo New York route which she served until 1911 3 RMS Republic collision EditFurther information RMS Republic 1903 Collision with SS Florida RMS Republic In January 1909 Florida was on her usual route from Genoa and Palermo to New York carrying 13 first class and 826 steerage passengers alongside her crew under the command of 29 year old Captain Angelo Ruspini On the morning of 23 January Florida entered a thick fog bank while 50 miles 80 km off the island of Nantucket Massachusetts and consequently reduced her speed At 5 47 am the British outbound RMS Republic of White Star Line suddenly emerged from the fog in the path of Florida Both ships took evasive action but collision could not be averted Florida s bow struck Republic amidships on her port side at about a right angle level with her engine room 1 Florida s bow was crushed in at least 10 metres 32 ft 10 in back to her collision bulkhead killing three of her crew Two of Republic s passengers were killed by the impact and two more died later from their injuries 1 4 Illustration of the damaged bow of FloridaThe ships separated and due to her forward collision bulkhead being intact Florida was in no danger of sinking and remained controllable The ship stayed alongside the damaged Republic which sent out a CQD distress signal with her newly installed Marconi wireless telegraph system one of the first to do so Together with the first rescue ship to arrive United States revenue cutter Gresham Florida took on nearly all of Republic s passengers becoming dangerously overloaded That evening the White Star liner Baltic arrived having responded to the radio distress signal All the surviving passengers from both ships were transferred to Baltic while the crew of Florida covered the damaged bow with a sail and followed Baltic to New York 2 Republic on the other hand could not be saved and sank on 24 January without further loss of life Florida was eventually assisted by two tugboats and arrived in New York on the morning of 26 January Repairs were completed in just 24 days 5 RMS Republic sinking by her stern Later years and sinking EditFlorida completed her final voyage to New York on 20 April 1911 and was sold later that year with her sister ship Virginia to Societa di Navigazione la Ligure Brasiliana and renamed Cavour 3 Her new schedule brought her back to South America first departing from Genoa on 15 January 1912 for Naples and Buenos Aires In 1913 Hamburg America Line bought the Ligure Brasiliana business including Cavour and Garibaldi the former Virginia and the following July changed its name to Transatlantica Italiana Societa Anonima di Navigazione 6 After the outbreak of World War I Cavour left Buenos Aires for the last time in October 1914 When Italy entered the war in May 1915 the Italian chairman of Transatlantica Italiana was able to acquire almost all of Hamburg Amerika s shares and in 1916 resold them to a member of the Ansaldo group It was under their service that on 12 December 1917 Cavour collided with the Italian auxiliary cruiser Caprera 2 5 nautical miles 4 6 km off L Ametlla de Mar Catalonia Spain Cavour was lost in the incident but all on board survived 3 7 8 Wreck EditThe current condition of the wreck is unknown but is believed to lie 52 m 171 ft deep 7 References Edit a b c Columbus theyard info Retrieved 15 July 2023 a b Florida titanicinquiry org Retrieved 15 July 2023 a b c Bonsor Noel R P 1983 South Atlantic Seaway St Brelade Jersey Brookside Publications pp 369 372 ISBN 0 905824 06 7 RMS Republic II 1909 The Wrecksite Affligem Belgium Adelante EBVBA Retrieved 15 July 2023 SS Florida SS Republic Collision TBT martinottaway com 13 August 2014 Retrieved 15 July 2023 Bonsor Noel R P 1983 South Atlantic Seaway St Brelade Jersey Brookside Publications pp 340 343 ISBN 0 905824 06 7 a b Florida SS 1905 1912 wrecksite eu 10 December 2010 Retrieved 15 July 2023 SS Cavour 1917 The Wrecksite Affligem Belgium Adelante EBVBA Retrieved 15 July 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SS Florida 1905 amp oldid 1171914456, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
