Casgliadau Arlein

Port broadside view of M.V. CILICIA at Cardiff Docks.

CILICIA. Built 1937 as by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Govan, for the Indian service of Anchor Line Ltd., Glasgow, making her maiden voyage on 14 May 1938. She could carry 300 first-class passengers and 80 steerage. 1939 – Requisitioned as an armed merchant cruiser from the outbreak of war. She collided with the Cunarder CARINTHIA in 1940 during a complete blackout with no radar, which required her to limp back to Belfast for repairs. The serious damage caused (No.2 hold had been sliced almost to the centreline) left CARINTHIA’s jackstaff aboard CILICIA – a “prize” which was displayed in the wardroom until the end of the war. 1944 – Overhauled and converted to a troopship at Mobile, USA. In this guise, she carried 2400 troops and prisoners of war at a time, making four trooping voyages by the end of the hostilities – a total of over 16,000 passengers. 1946 – Returned to Anchor Line and completely refitted by Fairfield Shipbuilding, Govan. She resumed her Indian passenger service in June 1947. 1965 – Sold to the port of Rotterdam, renamed JAN BACKX, and used as a floating hostel for trainee stevedores. 1980 – Reverted back to CILICIA (and still in Anchor Line livery) for her final voyage when she was towed to Bilbao for breaking up.