THE MID-1900s saw ship design and architecture following familiar patterns, and innovative changes only gradually developing. The most noticeable variation was funnel layout, from four tall stacks to two wider funnels and then mostly to a single large funnel, which became a distinguishing feature from a distance. In May 1946 John Marsh captured the unusual profile of the French-built passenger ship Felix Roussel as she entered Cape Town harbour, proudly displaying two large, surprisingly squat and entirely square funnels. One wonders how successful such a change was – how for instance would engine emissions have been directed away from passenger decks. On that day the French ship, serving as a troop carrier, was in transit to her home port of Aden with Senegalese troops on board. Built by A et Ch de la Loire, St. Nazaire for Messageries Maritimes, Marseilles, this ship and her twin, Georges Philippar, caused quite a sensation when they joined the fleet in 1932, because of their unusual appearance. The first voyage of each resulted in much comment at each port of call. After her trooping duties were completed in 1947, the ship was returned to her owners and was completely modernised at Dunkirk – now with only one large, single funnel, gone was the funky look. In 1955 Felix Roussel was sold to Arosa Line, Panama, and renamed Arosa Sun, sailing until 1959 when, after financial difficulties leading to impounding at Bremerhaven, she was auctioned and resold. Her demise came in 1974 when this once proud vessel with a distinguished service record was passed on to Spanish breakers at Bilbao for demolition. Fortunately photographs in our collections record the ship’s unusual profile for future generations of maritime history lovers.
