The highpoint of German maritime deliveries to Israel under the terms of the reparations agreement has been reached this week with the launching of three vessels on three successive days for Israel.
The first of these ships, the 7,000-ton fruit freighter-passenger vessel Tappuz, was launched here today. Her sister ship, the Judea, will be sent down the ways at Luebeck Thursday. Tomorrow, the fishing trawler Nave Yam will be launched at the fishing port of Elmshorn. The Dagan, third sister ship of the Tappuz and Judea, was launched several months ago and will be taken on a shakedown cruise by its Israeli crew within the next few days.
Meanwhile, reparations orders for additional shipping will be placed by Israel. On the list already are three more freighters and a diesel powered dredge.
The Tappuz and Judea are primarily freighters with four cargo holds and refrigerated storerooms for citrus fruit. Each also has 12 passenger cabins. They are both 385 feet long with a top speed of 14 knots. The fishing trawler, fourth of a line, will join her sister ships in supplying food for Israel’s tables. They will operate off the Mediterranean coast and out of Elath, on the Gulf of Akaba.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.