Serie Monasterios

Vessels of the serie Monasterios and similars

The serie Monasterios, ordered by Empresa Nacional Elcano, included six vessels which finally where bought by two different shipping companies: Naviera Aznar y Trasatlántica.
Although the Monasterios vessels were sister ships with the same external size their distribution was different, depending on their main use: passenger or cargo, as can be observed in their particular specifications.
Later was built a smaller ship, which I include here because she had the same engine, and two more with similar specifications to the original serie.
All of them were combinated passenger and cargo ships.

The Monasterios main specifications were:
Length: 148.5 mtr Beam: 18.92 mtr Depth: 12.1 mtr Draft: 7.91 mtr
Propulsion: Diesel engine Sulzer SD - 7,300 HP - 10 Cylinders x 720 mm bore x 1,250 mm stroke
Daily consumption: 25 MT gasoil Bunker capacity: 1,250 MT
Speed: 17.5 knots

Monte Udala

Built in year:	1948	Passengers:	392
Shipyard:	Naval de Sestao	GRT:	10,170
Owner:	Naviera Aznar, S.A.	NRT:	7,233
Home port:	Bilbao	DWT:	8,557
Registry number:	589	Cargo:	8,750
		Displacement:	14,750

She sank off Santos (Brasil) on 10 September 1971 due to a hold in the hull.

Monte Urbasa

Built in year:	1948	Passengers:	390
Shipyard:	Naval de Sestao	GRT:	10,142
Original name:	El Escorial	NRT:	7,205
Owner:	Naviera Aznar, S.A.	DWT:	8,557
Home port:	Bilbao	Cargo:	8,750
Registry number:	591	Displacement:	14,750

In the early 70's was bought by Ybarra and renamed "Cabo Santa Paula".
In 1977 was sold to Greek owners.

Monte Urquiola

Built in year:	1949	Passengers:	74
Shipyard:	Naval de Sestao	GRT:	7,723
Original name:	Guadalupe	NRT:	4,519
Owner:	Naviera Aznar, S.A.	DWT:	8,971
Home port:	Bilbao	Cargo:	9,115
Registry number:	599	Displacement:	14,630

Monte Ulia

Built in year:	1952	Passengers:	74
Shipyard:	Naval de Sestao	GRT:	10,123
Original name:	Monasterio del Escorial	NRT:	7,708
Owner:	Naviera Aznar, S.A.	DWT:	8,864
Home port:	Bilbao	Cargo:	8,803
Registry number:	608	Displacement:	14,800

Guadalupe

Built in year:	1952	Passengers:	90
Shipyard:	Naval de Sestao	GRT:	10,226
Original name:	Monasterio de Guadalupe	NRT:	8,023
Owner:	Cía. Trasatlántica Española S.A.	DWT:
Home port:	Barcelona	Cargo:	8,500
Registry number:	397	Displacement:	14,800

Covadonga

Built in year:	1953	Passengers:	90
Shipyard:	Euskalduna	GRT:	10,226
Original name:	Monasterio de la Rábida	NRT:	8,023
Owner:	Cía. Trasatlántica Española S.A.	DWT:
Home port:	Barcelona	Cargo:	8,500
Registry number:	400	Displacement:	14,800

I included the next ship in this list because though rather smaller she had the same main engine.
After several years in the line Canarias-United Kingdom with fruit and passengers was converted to reefer, fitting three extra auxiliary engines and three new compressors in the hold n.4 lower tweendeck, which was linked to the Engine Room.

Monte Arucas

Built in year:	1956	Passengers:	36
Shipyard:	Euskalduna	GRT:	4,691
Owner:	Naviera Aznar, S.A.	NRT:	2,644
Home port:	Bilbao	DWT:
Registry number:		Cargo:	3,800
Eslora:	113.8 mtr	Displacement:	7.200
Manga:	16.08 mtr	Velocidad:	19
Puntal:	9.3 mtr

     In 1976 was sold and renamed "Nissos Kerkyra". In 1980 was renamed as "Atlantic Reefer" and in 1981 as "Bardini Reefer".
     It seems that the hull was holed or suffered an structural failure in heavy weather and after abandoned by the crew sank in 18º28' N 125º10' E on 2 December 1981.

The other two vessels were very similar in size to the original serie as can be observed in their main specifications:
Length: 146.0 mtr      Beam: 18.92 mtr      Depth: 12.1 mtr     Draft 7.53 mtr
Propulsion: Diesel engine Sulzer SD - 7,300 HP - 10 Cylinders x 720 mm bore x 1,250 mm stroke
Speed: 17.5 knots

Ciudad de Toledo

Built in year:	1956	Passengers:	52
Shipyard:	Euskalduna	GRT:	9,835
Owner:	Cía Transmediterranea	NRT:	6,715
Home port:		DWT:	7,390
Registry number:		Cargo:	8,625
		Displacement:	14,550

This vessel was converted in a floating exbition to show the Spanish products around the world. She visited 16 countries berthing in 33 ports.
She was scrapped in 1978.

Monte Umbe

Built in year:	1959	Passengers:	580
Shipyard:	Euskalduna	GRT:	9,971
Owner:	Naviera Aznar, S.A.	NRT:	6,488
Home port:	Bilbao	DWT:	8,400
Registry number:	654	Cargo:	7,390
		Displacement:	13,746

     With her original confifuration the 580 passengers were in three classes: 4 in First, 84 in Tourist and 492 in Third, and she was in the line Bilbao - La Coruña - Vigo - Tenerife - Rio de Janeiro - Santos - Montevideo - Buenos Aires.
     In 1968 was reformed in Euskalduna and converted in a single class vessel with 360 passengers. With this configuration sailed in the line Tenerife- United Kingdom, mainly Liverpool.
     In 1975 was sold to Lebanese owners.