The history of La Veloce Navigazione Italiana a Vapore

If your family emigrated from Italy to Brazil, it is very likely that they disembarked on one of the ships La Veloce Navigazione Italiana. In 1884, the company had a fleet of 83 vessels.

The Veloce began as a line of double-chimney steamships (and built almost entirely of wood), created by Giovanni Lavarello. It was known as “Society John Baptist Lavarello & Co” and traveled between Italy and South America. 

When Giovanni joined his brother in 1884, the The Fast, with a fleet of fast and modern steamships, which reached 16 knots of speed – hence the name.

It is believed that La Veloce would have transported around 30 million people in almost 50 years. But it wasn't just people that the fleet transported: the company brought correspondence and packages to South America. Acting as a courier, the companyThe Fast had its own stamp.

From 1889 onwards, German banks began to acquire shares in the company and, in 1899, they already had a majority stake. The company of the original founders (Fratelli Lavarello) was acquired along with its fleet in 1891.

Around 1900, Italian banks and Italian General Navigation (NGI) bought shares from the Germans and, in 1901, the company became effectively controlled by them.

By 1892, 43 Italian emigrants had left for North America, while by 1901 the total had risen to 125. La Veloce began a service from Genoa and Naples to New York (the first departure was on 15 March 1901, with the ship Duchess of Genova ).

O Savoy it was the Company's flagship steamship. And with the support of three new acquisitions (Italy, Argentina e Brazil ) all four remained in South American service until 1912 (the fifth large ship, the Venezuela, was destroyed after running aground near the port of Marseille).

Solidarity

In December 1908, the city of Messina, in Sicily, suffered a violent earthquake, which killed thousands of people and left almost all survivors homeless. 

A La Veloce made three ships available to authorities: North America, Savoy e Citta di Napoli, to serve as emergency bases, accommodating thousands of refugees. 

The three ships were sent to Messina as accommodation ships for earthquake survivors. Nord America was later used as a cargo ship, and on December 5, 1910, on the return journey from Buenos Aires with a load of horses, she ran aground off the coast of Morocco (she was then refloated and towed to Genoa, taken to mooring by one time and undone).

On June 13, 1910, with the approval of the law on maritime agreements, the National Maritime Services Society (Società Nazionale dei Servizi Marittimi ), which the NGI gave up a large part of its fleet, ceasing to manage the network of subsidized routes in the Mediterranean. This traffic sector was left entirely to SNSM, focusing its interests on routes to the Americas and keeping only 19 ships in line.

The official name became La Veloce Navigazione Italiana a Vapore, which was acquired by NGI in 1924 and liquidated as a separate company.

List of routes according to the year:

• 1883 - 1924: Genoa / Naples / Palermo – Las Palmas – South America
• 1901 - 1922: Genoa / Naples / Palermo–- New York / Philadelphia
  Some services to New Orleans and Central America.

List of shipsLa Veloce Navigazione Italiana a Vapore

• America – 1909 – was sold to Navigazione Generale Italiana in 1912.
• Argentina – 1905 – renamed Brasile in 1913, sold to Italia Line in 1914.
• Bologna – 1905 – purchased from Navigazione Generale Italiana in 1913, acquired by NGI in 1924, scrapped in 1928.
• Brazil (1) – 1905 – sold to French Line in 1912 and renamed Venezuela.
• Brazil (2) – See Argentina.
• Calabria – 1876 – Former Princess Royal, purchased from Langland & Sons Glasgow in 1901, renamed Calabria, sold to NGI in 1905.
• Central America – 1897 – sold to Navigazione Generale Italiana in 1908, renamed Solunto.
• Citta di Genova (1) – See Matteo Bruzzi.
• Citta di Genova (2) – 1889 – purchased from F.Lavarello in 1891, sold to Soc. Generale de Transports Maritimes in 1898, became Marseille and renamed Savoie.
• Citta di Milano –1897 – was sold to Sitmar Line in 1914, renamed Albania.
• Citta di Napoli – See Vittoria (2)
• Citta di Reggio – 1888 – chartered from G. Bertollo in 1905, Genoa, for 2 voyages.
• City of Torino – 1898 – was sold to the Sitmar Line in 1914, and renamed Constantinopoli.
• Dalmatia – 1920 – Launched as War Picture, completed as Dalmazia, sold to Parodi, Genoa, in 1925.
• Duca di Galliera – 1883 – Formerly Oaxaca, it was acquired from Cia Trasatlântica Mexicana in 1887 and renamed Duca di Galliera. It was scrapped in 1906.
• Duke of Genoa – 1907 – purchased from Navigazione Generale Italiana in 1912, reverted to NGI in 1914, torpedoed and sunk by U.64 off the French coast in 1918.
• Duchess of Genova – 1884 – Ex-México, purchased from Cia Transatlântica Mexicana in 1887, renamed Duchessa di Genova, dismantled in 1906.
• Etruria – 1893 – Former Halifax City, acquired from Furness Withy in 1900, renamed Etruria, acquired by NGI in 1903.
• Europe (1) – 1872 – transferred from M.Bruzzo & Co in 1884, discarded in 1893.
• Europe (2) – 1907 – transferred to Navigazione Generale Italiana in 1922.
• Italy – 1905 – was sold to Navigazione Generale Italiana in 1912.
• Las Palmas – 1886 – Former Giovanni Battista Lavarello, purchased from F. Lavarello in 1891, renamed Las Palmas. Sold to Navigazione Generale Italiana in 1905 and renamed Ionio.
• Liguria – 1901 – chartered from Navigazione Generale Italiana in 1909 for just 2 voyages.
• Lombardia – 1901 – chartered from Navigazione Generale Italiana 1909 for just 2 trips.
• Matteo Bruzzi – 1882 – Former Golconde, acquired from Cie. Fraissinet by M. Bruzzi in 1883 and renamed Matteo Bruzzi in 1884, incorporated into La Veloce in 1899 and renamed Citta di Genova, scrapped in 1907.
• Montevideo – 1869 – Ex-Citta di Napoli, it was purchased from F. Lavarello in 1891 and renamed Montevideo, it was scrapped in 1899 after running aground in the Rio de la Plata, between Argentina and Uruguay.
• Napoli – 1870 – Ex-Colombo, transferred from M.Bruzzo & Co in 1884 and renamed Napoli, abandoned on the Brazilian coast in 1893 and shipwrecked.
• North America – 1882– Formerly Stirling Castle, it was acquired by M.Bruzzo of Thos.Skinner & Co (London) in 1883, renamed Nord America Stirling Castle. It was transferred to La Veloce in 1888 and renamed Nord America. In 1909 it became a freighter only. In 1911 she was scrapped after running aground in Morocco.
• oceania – 1909 – In 1912 it was renamed Stampalia. In 1915 she capsized a troopship, in 1916 she was torpedoed and sunk by UB.47 in the Aegean Sea.
• Piemonte – 1895– Former St. John City, was acquired from Furness Withy in 1899, and renamed Piedmont. In 1903 it was acquired by NGI.
• Rio de Janeiro – 1888 – Formerly Adelaide Lavarello, it was acquired from F.Lavarello in 1891 and renamed Rio de Janeiro. It was sold to Soc. Gen. de Transp. Mar, Marseilles, in 1899, and renamed Alsace.
• Rosary – 1887 – It was purchased from F.Lavarello in 1891, then sold to Cie. Mixte (Marseille) in 1898, it was renamed Djurjura.
• Savoy – 1897 – In 1915 it became a troop ship, in 1919 it fell into disuse, and in 1923 it was scrapped.
• Siena – 1905 – In 1913 it was purchased from Navigazione Generale Italiana, in 1916 it was bombed and sunk by U.35 in the Gulf of Lyon; loss of 46 lives.
• Stampalia – See Oceania.
• South America (1) – 1872 – In 1884 it was transferred from M.Bruzzo & Co. In 1888 it was sunk in collision with France s/s (SGTM) at Las Palmas; loss of 87 lives.
• South America (2) – 1868 – Ex-Mentana, it was purchased from F. Lavarello in 1891. In 1901 it was discarded.
• Umbria – 1901 – In 1912 it was purchased from Navigazione Generale Italiana, in 1913 it was sold to Italia Line and renamed San Paulo.
• Venezuela (1) – 1898 – In 1908 it was sold to Navigazione Generale Italiana.
• Venezuela (2) – 1904 – Formerly Caserta, acquired from Navigazione Generale Italiana, renamed Venezuela in 1923, and discarded in 1928.
• Vittoria (1) – 1883 – Ex-Tamaulipas, was purchased from Cia Transatlântica Mexicana in 1887, renamed Vittoria, in 1899 caught fire, was stranded in Alicante, towed to Italy and scrapped.
• Vittoria (2) – 1871 – Ex-Maasdam, in 1902 acquired from Holland America Line, renamed Vittoria, and in 1902 renamed Citta di Napoli, in 1910 scrapped.
• Vittorio Veneto – 1918 – ex- War Joy, in 1919 acquired from The Shipping Controller, London, renamed Vittorio Veneto, and in 1924 acquired by NGI.
• Washington – 1880 – In 1905 and 1907 it was chartered from Navigazione Generale Italiana for two round trips.

With information Origin, Immigration Museum of the State of São Paulo and The ships list.