Φρύνη [Worthing, Brigader, Worthing, Phryne]

[Nicholas Peppas]

As you can guess, I am trying to complete "stories" for all the 1945-70 passenger ships. From time to time, I discover one important ship that is missing such as Latsis' Phryne (Φρύνη) which is presented here. Note this ship is also spelled in foreign literature also as Phryni, Fryni and (believe it or not) Phyrni (!) in one site... She graced the Greek waters from 1955 to roughly 1960, although officially she was not scrapped until 1965. Now, why a nice passenger ship of 22 knots (!) and more than 2,000 tins was scrapped at the age of 37, while others such as Moschanthi or Glaros or Kyknos lived longer, I do not know. Perhaps those closer to Piraeus will have the answer. But she was an extremely fast ship with her 22 knots...

Phryne was built as Worthing in June 1928 by William Denny and Bros shipyards in Dumbarton, Scotland. She had 93.7 m length, 11.8 m width and very impressive tonnage and speed, 2,288 tons and 22 knots, respectively.

On August 30, 1928, she started a very famous route for her owners, the Southern Railways Co of Southampton, England, the Newhaven to Dieppe route where she "worked" for 12 years.

There are numerous wonderful photographs and postcards from that period, that I would like to present here.

Worthing 1928.jpg

It is clear from all the above that Phryne/Worthing was one of these great British passenger ships that served the various lines from England to France, Belgium or the Netherlands before the World War II, ships like the great prewar Ierax and numerous postwar ships including Philippos... Phryne was in the same group!

Here she is again in two great photographs

Worthing3.jpg

Worthing 2.jpg

Here are her characteristics from Miramar

PHRYNE

IDNo: 5527750 Year: 1928
Name: WORTHING Launch Date: 3.5.28
Type: Passenger ship Date of completion: 8.28
Flag: GBR Keel:
Tons: 2288 Link: 1576
DWT: Yard No: 1203
Length overall: Ship Design:
LPP: 90.7 Country of build: GBR
Beam: 11.8 Builder: Denny, W.
Material of build: Location of yard: Dumbarton
Number of screws/Mchy/ Speed(kn): 2ST-22
Naval or paramilitary marking :
Subsequent History: 40 BRIGADIER - 46 WORTHING - 55 PHRYNI
Disposal Data: BU Greece 1964

Name Tons Change Registered Owner
WORTHING 2288 1928 Southern Railway
BRIGADIER 2288 1940 British Navy
PHRYNE 2288 1955 J.S. Latsis

One more postcard

Worthing7.jpg