Published November 15, 2002. All images and text copyright Peter Knego

Page One:

INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE to VASCO DA GAMA to SEAWIND CROWN:

Another lonely day dawns for the SEAWIND CROWN, as seen at Barcelona on 27 October, 2002. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

Once a Portuguese national flagship and later a deluxe globe-trotting cruise ship, the now forgotten SEAWIND CROWN sits alongside a jetty in the outer harbor of Barcelona awaiting her fate. Under the control of the Barcelona Port Authority, the still rakish-looking and well preserved vessel is slated for auction in the very near future. The following pages are dedicated to her history and offer a tour of her as built, in recent happier times, and as she is today.

Currently held by the Barcelona Port Authority
Built by N.V. Cockerill-Ougree, Hoboken, Belgium
Yard no: 814
Rebuilt at Perama in 1986/7
23,145 gt
641 feet, 8 inches by 84 feet, 5 inches/ 195.59 by 24.5 meters
27 foot draft
Two Westinghouse type D.R. geared turbines; Twin screw; 22,000 SHP 20 knots
Passengers: 728

The INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE in a popular company issued post card view. Peter Knego collection.

The largest passenger ship built for the Portuguese merchant marine and largest passenger ship ordered from the prestigious Cockerill Shipyard at Hoboken, Belgium, the INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE was laid down on 23 March 1959. Externally, she resembled some of the finest Italian (CRISTOFORO COLOMBO) and Scandinavian (OSLOFJORD, BERGENSFJORD) liners of the day with her sharply raked bow, curved and layered superstructure, modern radio mast, streamlined centrally placed funnel, terraced afterdecks and sculpted cruiser spoon stern. Her funnel was a modified version of the Lascroux type with its forward and aft open venting (CRISTOFORO COLOMBO and the Cockerill-built BADOUINVILLE and JADOTVILLE sported similar designs).

The INFANTE's Cockerill builder's plate was mounted on her forward superstructure beneath the wheelhouse windows, as seen in this view from the author's visit to the SEAWIND CROWN in 1992. Photo and copyright Peter Knego '92.

In direct competition with the Companhia Nacional de Navegacao (CNN) newbuilding flagship PRINCIPE PERFEITO (which was simultaneously under construction at Swan Hunter, Wigham, Richardson's Neptune Works Yard at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne), Companhia Colonial de Navegacao's (CCN) INFANTE was slightly larger and perhaps more innovative. A good amount of aluminum alloys were incorporated into her upper decks and her long, low superstructure extended well over half the ship's length. She was fitted with stabilizers and had separate pools, spacious lidos, and separate fully encircling promenades for each of her two classes. In first class all of her cabins had private facilities, while in tourist A and tourist B, most did not. She was fully airconditioned, a feature that was not taken for granted on her mostly tropical service.

The INFANTE's original routing is shown in this excerpt from one of her early brochures. Peter Knego collection.

Both CCN and CNN served the Lisbon -- Africa run, connecting Portugal with its west and east coast colonies. INFANTE sailed from Lisbon via Funchal, Luanda, Lobito, Cape Town and Lourenco Marques to Beira and back. She was launched by Maria Theresa Soares da Fonseca, the wife of the president of administration of CCN on 29 April 1960 and commenced her sea trials the following year. Initial vibration problems had to be corrected before she began her maiden voyage on 21 September 1961.

An alternate post card view of the imposingly modern INFANTE. Peter Knego collection.

The INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE carried a total of 1,018 passengers: 156 in first class (with eight in deluxe suites), 384 in tourist class A and 478 in tourist class B. Her crew numbered 318 and she also had four holds with a combined capacity of 10, 504 cubic meters of general and refrigerated cargo. Her amenities and appointments were superior and modern for the time.

The ship's Lascroux funnel was a more streamlined version of that seen aboard earlier liners such as CRISTOFORO COLOMBO and BADOUINVILLE. The open venting fore and aft was designed to help propel exhaust clear of the decks. Peter Knego collection.

Our tour of the ship during her years as CCN's flagship will begin from top to bottom.

The above photo's allure speaks for itself, but in the softly focused background, one can see the INFANTE's long and generous first class sports deck which overlooked her bow. Peter Knego collection.

The INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE had seven passenger levels, the uppermost being the Sports Deck. Overlooking the bow from just above the bridge, it stretched back past the funnel and a narrow deckhouse almost to the end of the superstructure.

The next lowest level, Boat Deck, began with the wheelhouse and contained officers' accommodation and common spaces. It was flanked by narrow promenades stretching aft from the wings to a small terrace overlooking the stern.

Shuffleboard on the aft/starboard portion of Promenade Deck. Peter Knego collection.

The first class pool as seen facing forward/port from aft Promenade Deck. Copyright Luis Miguel Correia.

Promenade Deck began with an open terrace that stretched aft underneath a canopy of lifeboats on either side to the first class pool and lido.

A forward facing view of one of the bedrooms of a luxury cabin. Copyright Luis Miguel Correia.

Internally, Promenade Deck was fronted by the ship's four deluxe suites (which were wedged around a hall surrounding the first class chapel) and continued aft via a large vestibule to companionways leading to thirty six first class cabins: odd numbered on the port side and even numbered starboard.

The first class lounge facing forward/port. Peter Knego collection.

A Deck began with an observation deck surrounding hold number two. Wide promenades stretched aft, sheltered by a windscreen forward and a narrow span of full length windows before opening up to the elements and continuing sternward to the tourist class lido and pool.

If there were external comparisons drawn to the Italians and Scandinavians, internally, the INFANTE was almost on par with and seemingly inspired by the day's great Italian designers such as Pulitzer and Zoncada. One of many salons designed by Jose Manuel Barreto, the first class lounge began with a panorama of windows overlooking the bow and the promenades. It was starkly modern with backlit ceiling recesses and a circular dancefloor. Movies could be shown on a folding screen in the center of the forward bulkhead.

The first class hall as seen facing aft/starboard and a close up view of Alvaro de Bree's statue of Infante Dom Henrique (Prince Henry). Copyright Luis Miguel Correia.

A study in dazzling linoleum, glass, and clean surfaces, the first class vestibule on A Deck followed aft of the lounge. Its forward center portion led dramatically down to the purser's office via a two deck grand staircase. On a platform in the aft center portion of the room, a striking bronze plated statue of Prince Henry (Infante Dom Henrique) by Alvaro de Bree was the focal point. On either side, doors led to the sheltered promenades.

Facing forward in the first class writing room. Copyright Luis Miguel Correia.

On the aft/port edge of the first class hall, glass doors led to the chicly modern first class writing room with its spindly furniture and large windows. A reading room occupied the corresponding space on the starboard side.

Facing aft along the starboard portion of the Smoking Room. Peter Knego collection.

The U-shaped first class smoking room would conclude the first class section of A Deck. Beginning with galleries on either side of the funnel casing (the starboard being flanked in zig zag wood paneling) it was illuminated by natural light via full length windows.

Facing starboard in the aft portion of the first class Smoking Room. Copyright Luis Miguel Correia.

The aft portion of the room contained dramatic murals, more recessed ceiling lighting, spindly furniture, and linoleum decking. There was no denying INFANTE's stature as a trend-setting modern liner both in and out.

Please click for page two: INFANTE tour, continued to VASCO DA GAMA and SEAWIND CROWN