Provence

(SGTM: 1951-65)

 

The Provence was built on the River Tyne in 1951 for the Marseilles-based Soc.Gen.Transports Maritimes (SGTM) for their services to South America.

 

The postcard below is an official SGTM release of Provence.

 

Gebruder Spanjersberg (Rotterdam) postcard of Provence on her maiden appearance in New York.

 

The card below shows Provence in SGTM colours, although it was actually published by Costa, to whom she was chartered from 1962.

 

 

 

 

 

Enrico C

(Costa: 1965-87)

 

The Provence sailed for Costa from 1962 under charter, but was purchased in 1965 and renamed Enrico C. She sailed from Genoa to Buenos Aires. From 1972 she was used for cruising only. Two official Costa cards are shown below.

 

 

 

A Costa art card of Enrico C, from the Costa Liners set using paintings by Stephen J.Card.

Enlarged images of the complete set are shown on this link.

 

 

 

 

Enrico Costa

(Costa: 1987-94)

 

 

The Enrico C was renamed Enrico Costa in 1987, being extensively refitted in 1989, as shown in the lower of the two official Costa cards below.

 

 

 

This commercial card of Enrico Costa , published by Proud Productions, shows her in Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta.

 

Ultrafoto commercial postcard GEN414 of Eugenio C and Enrico C at Genova, with an enlargement of the ships shown below.

 

 

 

A Pieter Oost postcard of EnricoCosta (no serial number).

Copies of this card are available direct from the publishers at:- http://www.p-oostcards.nl/

 

Simplon Postcards issue sc2052, released November 1994, of EnricoCosta.

Location: Rouen, 1993

Photographer: Clive Harvey

 

Simplon Postcards issue sc2097, released June 1997, of EnricoCosta.

Location: Bergen, June 2nd 1993

Photographer: Jenny Williamson

 

Photograph of EnricoCosta in the North Sea Canal.

Photo: Wil Moojen, 3rd July 1993.

 

Photograph of EnricoCosta in the North Sea Canal.

Photo: Wil Moojen, 24th July 1994.

 

 

 

 

 

Symphony

(StarLauro: 1994-95)

 

 

The Enrico Costa was sold to Starlauro in 1994, being renamed Symphony, as shown in the official card below.

 

Starlight Cruises postcard of Symphony.

Scan of postcard supplied by Dimas Almada.

 

Simplon Postcards issue sc2098, released June 1997, of Symphony.

Location: Cape Town, January 10th 1995

Photographer: Errol M.Cornish

 

 

 

 

 

Symphony

(MSC: 1995-2000)

 

 

Starlauro later restyled themselves as Mediterranean Shipping Cruises (MSC), as shown in the official card below.

 

Simplon Postcards issue sc2099, released June 1997, of Symphony.

Location: Palma, August 1996

Photographer: Michael V.Ralph

 

 

 

 

 

Aegean Spirit

(Golden Sun: 2000-2001)

 

 

In 2000, Symphony was under charter to Golden Sun Cruises, and was renamed Aegean Spirit (earlier reports suggested Aegean II, though I do not know if this was ever carried).

 

 

This postcard of Aegean Spirit, showing correct colours, has been issued by Nelson de Barros Pereira. It shows Aegean Spirit at Patmos, Greece, on 12th July 2000, using a photograph by the publisher.

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean Glory 1

(2001)

 

In 2001, Symphony began operating as the Ocean Glory 1. She was prevented from sailing from Dover on 3rd July 2001, having failed safety and hygiene inspections. I am not aware of any postcards issued as Ocean Glory 1. The photograph below of Ocean Glory 1 was taken by Mike Tedstone in Piraeus on Monday 18th June 2001, shortly before her problems in Dover. She was still owned by an MSC subsidiary at this time.

 

The photographs below were taken by Ian Boyle in Dover on Friday 10th August 2001. Ocean Glory 1 had been moved to the Eastern Breakwater. There were reports in the newspapers that the crew were still on board, unpaid, and running out of food.