GRIMALDI-SIOSA LINES. NOW FROM MONTREAL AND QUEBEC

This superb liner and cruise ship, the ‘Irpinia’ was, built as the SGTM liner SS Campana in 1929 by Swan, Hunter on the River Tyne. She sailed from Marseille to the East Coast of South America, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires. After the fall of France in 1940, the Campana was laid up in Buenos Aires, but in July 1943 she was commissioned by the Argentineans, for whom she ran some voyages to New York and back, having been renamed ‘Rio Jachal.’

SS Campana is seen after she was returned to SGTM in 1946

In 1946, she was returned to SGTM, and she recommenced on her regular South Atlantic duties, until being chartered out, when she commenced voyages via the Suez to Indochina (Vietnam), until late 1954 and she was placed on the market, but still in top condition!

From SS Campana to TV Irpinia:
In March 1955, the SS Campana was obtained by the Italian brothers Grimaldi who had created the Sicula Oceanica, PalermoItaly, and the ship was renamed ‘Irpinia.”

An advance highly stylised illustration depicting the new T/v Irpinia

She was purchased to be operated on the Trans-Atlantic service. She headed for Italy where she was given an extensive refit and a partial rebuilding. This included extending her aft decks as well as nicely raked bow, whilst her forward well deck was enclosed. Internally her facilities were upgraded as she was to become a two-class liner with 187 First Class passengers and 1,034 in Tourist Class A & B, in addition two swimming pools were installed as well as all public venues being upgraded. Her six passenger Decks were designated as follows; Boat, Lido, Promenade, A, B and C De
TV Irpinia 1960 Schedules:
The Irpinia operated on a variety of services between 1956 and 1962, as she first operated as a liner, in a first and a Tourist Class A & B for the migrant service from Italy to South America. The she was placed on the Naples, Genoa, Cannes, Barcelona Tenerife, Guadeloupe, Martinique La Guaira and Trinidad service, which was followed by the Palermo, Naples, Genoa, Halifax to New York service, although on her return voyage she would omit Halifax.

Then she operated on the; Palermo, Naples, Genoa, Quebec to Montreal service, yet during her return voyages she would call at Cannes before arriving in Genoa. Just during one summer return voyage she also called in at Gibraltar.

CLASIFICACIÓN DE LOS CARTELES SEGÚN SU CONSERVACIÓN  (en negrita la correspondiente a este ejemplar):

 A+ Perfecto estado de conservación, muy raro encontrar un ejemplar en este estado impecable.

 A  Cartel en muy buen estado de conservación. Puede presentar algún desgarro inapreciable en los márgenes, no presenta ninguna falta de papel. Los colores son frescos y no se aprecian manchas.

 A- Puede presentar alguna leve marca de doblez, desgarro o pequeña falta de papel en los márgenes. Si presenta restauración, está realizada con éxito.

 B+ El cartel puede estar restaurado. Se aprecian levemente los defectos.

 B  Cartel en buen estado de conservación. Presenta desgarros, algunas manchas y algunas faltas de papel, jamás afectando al área crucial del diseño. Los colores son frescos y el cartel tiene una apariencia general muy buena.

 B- El cartel está restaurado, se aprecian algunos defectos y leve pérdida de color en las marcas de doblez.

 C+ Las restauraciones son visibles.

 C  Cartel en regular estado de conservación. Presenta desgarros, manchas, marcas de doblez y o faltas de papel que puede afectar parcialmente al área crucial del diseño, los colores pueden estar algo desvaídos y el cartel tiene una apariencia general de regular a buena.

 C- Requiere restauración.