Esquilino

Vessel name on Arrival: Empire Governor

Original Builder: Cantiere San Rocco S.A. of Trieste

Original Yard No: 58

Official Number: 168624

Vessel Type: Passenger-Liner

GRT: 8657

Year Built: 1925

Arrival Date: 17/04/1946

Breakup Started: 30/04/1946

Date First Beached: 17/04/1946

Date Breakup Completed: 06/09/1946

Draught For’d: 06' 06"

Draught Aft: 08' 10"

Name Changes:

1941  :  Renamed EMPIRE GOVERNOR

Other Information:

01-01-1923  :  Keel Laid Down                        10-01-1925  :  Launched                              23-06-1925  :  Completed

Twin-Screw passenger liner built for Lloyd Triestino Di Navigazione of Trieste for their Italy — Australia service.

Originally fitted with twin Burmeister & Wain 6-cylinder oil engines.  Along with her sister-ships these were the very first Italian vessels to have internal combustion engines installed.  In the event, they proved to be under-powered, giving the vessel a best speed of only 12 knots.  Later, before the outbreak of WWII, all the vessels were re-engined with C.R.A. – Sulzer diesel engines that gave an increased speed of 17 knots.

On 10th of June 1940, whilst on a homeward-bound passage between Australia and Italy, the large Italain liner was captured by the British whilst in the Gulf of Aden and taken as a war prize.

In 1941 she was renamed EMPIRE GOVERNOR on behalf of the MOWT and placed under tghe management of P & O Lines.

In 1946 she was sent to Dalmuir for scrapping and the hulk was sent down to Troon for final demolition.

The only photograph I have been able to find of this attractive looking liner as the ESQUILINO appears to be heavily copyrighted and therefore cannot be used at this stage – perhaps later if I obtain permission