Page 320 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2024

MARITIME HISTORY

The feature concluded with an important
question: Quo Vademus? Despite the dire con-
sequences of the Great Depression, which had
begun in 1929, most major nations involved in
transatlantic passenger shipping were subsidising
the construction of new, state-of-the-art ocean
liners, which would bring prestige and hopefully
attract international passengers. The magazine’s
concerns were mainly focused on the fact that
the multitude of existing ocean liners from all
countries involved in the North American Line
would create numerous issues as soon as all the
under-construction vessels began their journeys.
Brand new, luxurious, and high-speed ocean lin-
ers would start their voyages, creating increased
competition for existing vessels. Another issue
raised by Naftika Chronika was the high value of
the newbuildings and the state subsidies given The Italian ocean liner “Rex” also German “Europa”. In the same year, the “Rex”
to almost all companies, which heavily affected under construction in Genova brought the Blue Riband to the Italian flag. In 1935,
nations’ economies. (15 August 1931 issue of it was the turn of the French maritime community
Naftika Chronika)
We will never know whether the magazine’s con- to rejoice since the “Normandie” recorded a speed
cerns were justified. The eruption of World War of 29.98 knots. Throughout those years, as stated
II saw many of the ships mentioned above req- above, the "Queen Mary", the much-awaited "New
uisitioned and used as troop carriers throughout Cunarder", kept British hopes alive. After many
the war. However, the 1930s was the decade in A shipyard worker photographed attempts, all recorded in the bi-monthly features
which the intense international competition for next to one of the “Rex’s” of Naftika Chronika, in August 1936, the "Queen
the Blue Riband was most prominent. With the anchors. The 15 August 1931 Mary" crossed the Atlantic at a speed of 30.14
issue of Naftika Chronika
exception of the US, all countries mentioned had showcased the colossal size knots, bringing the Blue Riband back into British
at least one claimant to the Blue Riband. In 1933, of the ocean liners designed hands after years away from the spotlight. The
the “Bremen” reclaimed the accolade from the and built during the Interwar record only lasted for about a year, with the “Nor-
period.
mandie” reclaiming the prestigious accolade in July
1936 (30.58 knots). In August 1938, the "Queen
Mary" won once again the Blue Riband with an
average speed of 30.99, a record only broken post-
war by the "United States" in 1952, which achieved
an impressive 34.51 knots.
In a decade that saw a series of global political,
social, and economic challenges lead to the erup-
tion of the biggest war humankind has ever seen,
the competition between ocean liners might not
seem pertinent to the modern reader. However,
the government subsidies granted during that
period have helped to paint a broader picture of
one of the most important and coveted modes of
transportation in the world at the time. The state
of transatlantic shipping at that particular time
becomes even more evident in the last paragraph
of the 1931 Naftika Chronika article:
And yet all nations turn to the sea! “Sea behe-
moths” are, for them, the most beautiful manifes-
tation of their maritime might. Their upkeep is not
a mere calculation of shares or profits. As nations
develop, they feel the need to demonstrate their
strenuous efforts towards progress by displaying
their proud “floating cities”as a reflection of the
dizzying advancements in engineering and ship-
building.

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