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