Passengers of S.s. Israel Re -booked After Collision, in N. Y. Harbor

Gottlieb Hammer, president of the American Israel Shipping Company, the representative of the Zim Israel Navigation Line, today announced that alternative travel has been arranged for all passengers of the Zim passenger liner “Israel” which was in a collision in New York harbor with the American freighter “American Press.” Some passengers, Mr. Hammer said, were re-booked and sailed for Italy on the Christoforo Colombo and others departed on El Al planes. Still other passengers, mostly Israelis, were quartered by the line in several New York hotels.

“The S.S. Israel which left her Brooklyn pier Thursday evening for Gibraltar, Piraeus and Haifa with 269 passengers and 146 crew aboard was rammed on the port side by the ‘American Press’ of the United States lines off Liberty Island at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, ” Mr. Hammer said. “The S.S. Israel was under pilotage when the collision occurred. Immediately after the impact Capt. Jacob Por put the ship in shoal waters off the Statue of Liberty in order to safeguard the passengers against any further possible danger. Fortunately, no passenger injuries other than a few minor scratches and bruises were reported. However, one Israel seaman, Chaim Benites of Haifa, was missing.

“The extent of the damage was not immediately determined, ” Mr. Hammer stated. “A preliminary examination disclosed a 35-foot gash in the port side of the Israel from below the water line to the promenade deck. The ship proceeded under her own power to dry dock in Brooklyn and necessary repairs will be made as quickly as possible Passengers remained calm throughout the whole incident and went to bed at the usual hour Thursday evening. They were informed at breakfast on Friday morning of the cancellation of the voyage and the American-Israeli Shipping Company, Zim’s representatives in the United States, made an all-out effort to assist the passengers in effecting alternative travel plans.”

A Coast Guard hearing took place last Friday, when Capt. George Vickers, of the “American Press,” testified. The hearings will continue tomorrow, when the pilots of both ships will also be heard. Capt. Por, of the S. S. Israel, will also be a witness at a later date.

The S.S. Israel is one of the Zim Lines modern combination passenger-cargo liners built in 1955 and in regular service since then on the New York-Haifa run. Together with her sister ship, the S.S. Zion, they have maintained a fixed schedule of sailings every three weeks from New York harbor. Mr. Hammer expressed confidence that with the exception of the current voyage, which had to be cancelled because of the collision the schedule will be maintained. This incident will not affect the cruise schedule of the S.S. Jerusalem which will inaugurate the 1959-60 season with a cruise beginning November 11, he emphasized.