Completed in a South Korean yard in 1988, Ivaran Lines' MV AMERICANA introduced a brand-new concept into the passenger trade, a ship that could fit into the venerable company's USA-South America cargo container business, and carrying more than 50 passengers, would qualify as a passenger ship to receive preferential treatment for berthing.

The author at the funnel of Americana

Ivaran Lines, a Norwegian-owned company, had been a cross trader (that is not calling in the country of registry) since the mid-1920s and had a reputation as a highly reliable firm. The original intent was to build a fleet of similar ships but this idea never came to pass, and the Americana sailed in rotation with other Ivaran-owned or chartered ships carrying either 12 passengers or no passengers at all.

Americana docked in Brooklyn in 1988.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Initially, she traded between Brooklyn and the East Coast of South America to and from several Brazilian ports and Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina, then transferred her berth to Port Newark. Soon it was evident that her container capacity was too small for the trade and she moved to New Orleans making a Caribbean circuit as a feeder ship. Ivaran Lines was bought by CP Ships and eventually the company took a full interest in the Americana. However, she was not successful and made her last passenger sailing from New Orleans on May 21, 1999. She has since been chartered for various trades as a container carrier only and presently carries the name Golden Trade, owned by a South Korean firm, flying the Bahamian flag and chartered to Safmarine.

Americana outbound from New York.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The bulk of the outside cabins would be called suites today in modern cruise-ship parlance, and they consisted of a bedroom section and large sitting area, with a curtain divider and a huge amount of storage space. Four cabins had balconies, these being large and rather Spartan covered deck spaces facing aft.

Dining was at one open sitting and the space had very large windows looking to starboard and aft with the lounge and bar on the opposite side on the same deck. A card room and library rounded out the indoor public spaces. The Sun Deck had a swimming pool and whirlpool at the very aft end and plenty of open space for lounging or enjoying a grill-style lunch at tables set under umbrellas. The ship was equipped with a small gym and offered a few slot machines and casino gambling on selected nights. Carrying more than 12 passengers, a Scandinavian doctor and nurse were in attendance, and the cruise director handled the entertainment, most being local folkloric groups in ports, and the shore excursions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
While there was no circular promenade, passengers were permitted to walk forward to the bow along a side passage next to the stacked containers. At the forepeak, it was entirely private and peaceful as the containers normally blocked the view of the bridge.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Passengers were mostly retired North Americans, though it was not unusual to have Australians and South Americans on board. The captain and officers were Norwegian and most of the crew from the South American countries she traded to, plus Chile. Service was excellent as was the food.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The ship never made it as a successful passenger carrier, and a typical load was 25 to 40. What a great pity, as I thoroughly enjoyed my own two voyages, northbound from B.A. April15-May 11, 1989 and August 4-27, 1992. While the Brazilian ports were of great interest, especially Itajai and the trip inland to Blumenau, Santos for Sao Paulo, and Fortaleza, it was the days at sea, from a week to nine days after Fortaleza, that I enjoyed most. The rhythmic life on this wonderful ship could have gone on forever