1 Air Division

SS Neptunia - Assorted Sources

SS Neptunia


This ship was built by Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Amsterdam and launched on 2nd May 1919 for the Netherlands Steamship Co as the Johan de Witt with two funnels and two masts and accommodation for 197-1st, 120-2nd and 36-3rd class passengers.

Her maiden voyage started 27th July 1920 when she left Amsterdam for Southampton, Suez and the Dutch East Indies. The ship was laid up in December 1930, re-entered service in November 1932, was refitted in 1933 and in 1940 was fitted out at Sydney as a troopship. During the war she sailed under Orient Line management. The ship returned to Nederland Line in 1945.

It was sold to Compania Maritima del Este, Panama on 15th December 1948. She was rebuilt with only one funnel and renamed Neptunia with accommodation for 251-1st and 563-tourist class passengers. In May 1949 she started her first voyage from Genoa to Lisbon, New York, Naples, Piraeus and Haifa. Her last sailing for these owners commenced 9th April 1951 from New York to Boston, Cherbourg, Southampton and Bremen.

The Neptunia was sold to the Neptunia Shipping Co, Panama in 1954 and the ship sailed between Bremen and New York or Quebec/Montreal with intermediate calls. On 2nd November 1957 she struck Daunts Rock at Cobh harbour in Eire and was beached in sinking condition. Refloated in March 1958, she was towed to Holland where she was scrapped. (Great Passenger Ships of the World by Arnold Kludas, volume 2, ISBN 0-85059-242-9 contains four photos of the ship.)


Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. Photo of the SS Neptunia at Le Havre - October 1955.
    Courtesy Frank "Buzz" Moran.

  2. Unidentified airman standing on the deck en route to Canada - October 1955.
    Courtesy Frank "Buzz" Moran.

  3. Passengers (all bundled up) on the deck en route to Canada - October 1955.
    Courtesy Frank "Buzz" Moran.

  4. Passengers (all bundled up) on the deck - October 1955.
    Courtesy Frank "Buzz" Moran.

  5. Time for a party - October 1955.
    Courtesy Frank "Buzz" Moran.

  6. Unidentified passengers. Unidentified champagne - October 1955.
    Courtesy Frank "Buzz" Moran.

  7. And the party drags on - October 1955.
    Courtesy Frank "Buzz" Moran.

  8. Unidentified military personnel on the Neptunia - October 1955.
    Courtesy Frank "Buzz" Moran.

  9. Where's my luggage? - October 1955.
    Courtesy Frank "Buzz" Moran.

  10. Fire drill on the SS Neptunia - 1 May 1955.
    Courtesy Jerry Cairns.

  11. Fire drill on the SS Neptunia - April 1955.
    Courtesy Evelyn Prettie (now Carpen).

  12. RCAF personnel in the dining room on the SS Neptunia - April 1955.
    Courtesy Evelyn Prettie (now Carpen).

  13. RCAF personnel in the dining room on the SS Neptunia - April 1955.
    Courtesy Evelyn Prettie (now Carpen).

  14. Getting on a train in Halifax - 26 March 1955.
    We were heading towards Toronto and Hamilton at the time.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  15. Some of the young travellers - 25 March 1955.
    We were talking about an unknown future that awaited us in Canada.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  16. Having some fun on the deck of the ship -24 March 1955.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  17. On the deck on a foggy day - 23 March 1955.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  18. The harbour of Cob, in Ireland - 22 March 1955.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  19. Ireland in the background - 22 March 1955.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  20. Arrival on Southampton Harbour - 20 March 1955.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  21. Southampton Harbour - 20 March 1955.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  22. Minutes before boarding the vessel in Bremerhafen, Germany - 16 March 1955.
    I'm the one with the hat.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  23. Postcard photo of the SS Neptunia - 16 March 1955.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  24. Three days before our departure - 13 March 1955.
    I was 19 years of age at the time.
    Courtesy Peter Kapps.

  25. Postcard photo of the SS Neptunia - 1954.
    Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.


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Updated: June 18, 2005