The photo is in excellent condition.
It weighs 15g and measures 25.3 x 20.2cm.
HISTORY MINUTE
Built in 1935, Safina-E-Hujjaj (originally
Potsdam) had a diverse career as a German ocean liner,
a British
troopship (Empire Fowey) and a Pakistani pilgrim vessel before
being scrapped at Gadani Beach in 1976.
The ship's history unfolded in
four distinct eras across its 41-year lifespan:
1. German Ocean Liner (Potsdam)
• 1935–1945
- Construction: Built by Blohm & Voss
in Hamburg for the Hamburg-America Line (later transferred to
Norddeutscher Lloyd).
- Early Service: Operated as a
prestigious, high-speed luxury ocean liner on the Far East route.
World War II: Requisitioned by the
German Kriegsmarine in 1939. Initially used as an
accommodation and troop ship,
she was slated for an auxiliary aircraft
carrier conversion before ultimately serving as a barracks and evacuation
ship.
2. British Troopship (Empire
Jewel / Empire Fowey) • 1945–1960
- War Prize: Seized by the Allies in
Flensburg in 1945 and renamed Empire Jewel.
Refit & Rebuild: Handed over to the
British Ministry of Transport in 1946, renamed Empire Fowey, and
managed by P&O.
Trooping Service: From 1947 to 1950,
she underwent extensive rebuilding to fix troublesome
high-pressure boilers.
Re-emerging at 19,121 gross tons with an 18-knot
speed, she transported thousands of British military personnel and
their
families across the globe until 1960.
3. Pakistani Pilgrim Ship (Safina-E-Hujjaj)
• 1960–1976
- Acquisition: Purchased in May 1960 by
the Pan-Islamic Steamship Company of Karachi.
Pilgrim Trade: Reconfigured to carry
over 2,600 passengers, she became a vital sea bridge. She operated
primarily between
Karachi and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, facilitating journeys
for Muslim pilgrims before air travel became widely accessible.
- Other Routes: Occasionally utilized on
services to Hong Kong and East Africa
4. End of Service • 1976