MV 'Fairsea' (1949)

This was the first passenger ship of the famous Sitmar Line and the first non-British ship employed to carry assisted emigrants (the so called Ten Pound Poms) from Britain to Australia. The Fairsea was a regular sight in Australian waters and made a total of 81 voyages to and from Australia between 1949 and 1969. 

Originally named Rio de la Plata, the migrant ship Fairsea was built for the American shipping company Moore-McCormick Line for their passenger and cargo service between New York and the east coast of South America. However, she never served on this intended route, for upon her launch in 1941 (during World War II), she was converted into an escort aircraft carrier and commissioned into the Royal Navy as the HMS Charger.

Soon after, she returned to American hands and served for four years in the Pacific as USS Charger.

After a brief post war period as a troop carrier, the Fairsea was rebuilt for migrant service in 1949, providing very basic accommodation for 1,800 passengers with the intention of transporting displaced people and refugees from Europe to Australia.

Data
Dimensions: 492 x 69 ft (150 x 21.1 m)
Registered Tonnage: 11,833 tons gross (13,432 tons after 1958)
Service Speed: 16 knots
Propulsion: Doxford geared diesels / single screw

(via Collections Museums Victoria)