Aznar Line Ship Postcards


Aznar Line




This page is devoted to postcards of the Aznar Line, concentrating on ships sailing to the UK. An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. Beneath this are official postcards of the fleet in chronological order.

Aznar Line (Sota y Aznar until 1939) operated cargo and passenger services from Spain to South America, United States and the Caribbean. Later they were allocated a large share of the Canary Islands fruit and vegetable market to Britain, sailing to both London and Liverpool. In the late 1940s, the Spanish government ordered six Monasterio Class cargo-passenger ships off around 10000grt. Three of these were allocated to the Aznar Line:- Monte Urbasa (1948), Monte Urquiola (1949) and Monte Ulia (1952). Aznar ordered a fourth ship, the Monte Udala (1948). A similar ship, the Monte Umbe was delivered in 1959.

In 1974, the first of two large cruise-ferries arrived, the Monte Toledo entering service between Southampton and Santander. A sistership, Monte Granada, was delivered a year later for summer service between Liverpool and the Canary Islands (Amsterdam-Southampton-Santander in winter). The services were ahead of their time, and the ships were sold to Libya in 1977 as Garnata and Toletela. They remained in service in 2002.


Ships on This Page:-
Monte Anaga - 1959-73
Monte Arucas - 1956-76
Monte Granada - 1975-77
Monte Toledo - 1974-77
Monte Udala - 1948-71
Monte Ulia - 1952-76
Monte Umbe - 1959-75
Monte Urbasa - 1948-77
Monte Urquiola - 1949-74

Associated Pages:-
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page




Aznar Fleet List


Monte Urbasa (1948-77)
Monte Udala (1948-71)
Monte Urquiola (1949-74)
Monte Ulia (1952-76)

In the late 1940s, the Spanish government ordered six Monasterio Class cargo-passenger ships off around 10000grt and 487ft in length. Three of these were allocated to the Aznar Line:- Monte Urbasa (1948), Monte Urquiola (1949) and Monte Ulia (1952). Aznar ordered a fourth ship, the Monte Udala (1948). The ships served on transatlantic services from Spain, plus between the UK and Tenerife. The ships were sold in the late 1970s, following the arrival of the two large car-ferries Monte Toledo and Monte Granada (although these also remained in service only until 1977).

Rodolfo B. González writes:- "The Monte Udala, sank off San Salvador de Bahía (Brasil), in September 1971. I was aboard the Monte Urquiola, I was an engineer in this ship. At around 10.00 a.m. we gathered the shipwrecked crew. There were no fatalities, and we even saved the cat!"

Phil Smith writes:- "Monte Urquiola operated for Aznar Line until Autumn 1974 making a final round voyage from Liverpool to Vigo and then onto the Canaries departing on 4th Sept. I understand, from taliking to The Yeowards Rep in the November of that year that it had been sold to Singapore owners and that it might even visit the port of Liverpool once again under new identity. Whether or not this deal was ever completed and or it ever did call at Liverpool I dont know.

"Monte Ulia operated a summer service from Liverpool the following year and made its last passenger carrying journey in Sept 1975. This vessel was due to continue on the route carrying freight only, leaving Liverpool on alternate Tuesdays with Monte Granada. However, this never happened because a fire on board Monte Ulia led to a decision to sell the ship to a Company operating under the Liberian flag. Instead a Russian ship and crew were chartered to replace her. It is my understanding that the Russian ship remained on the route working for Yeowards long after Monte Granada's demise in Spring 1977 and according to Yeowards official history, was finally withdrawn as late as1980."

Matthys Marc writes:- "My family and I travelled by Monte Udala when we were forced to escape from Belgian Congo via South Africa (Capetown) to Belgium (Zeebrugge). The Monte Udala came from Australia and was in mixed configuration (cargo and partly passenger)."


Company official postcard of Monte Udala.
Scan: Matthys Marc.




Company official postcard of Monte Urquiola.
Scan: Michael Kenyon.


Photographic postcard of Monte Urquiola.


Photographic postcard of Monte Urquiola.




Company official postcard of Monte Ulia.


Company official postcard of Monte Ulia.
Scan: Michael Kenyon.


Company official postcard of Monte Ulia.


Photographic postcard of Monte Ulia.




Photographic postcard of Monte Urbasa.






Monte Arucas (1956-76)

Monte Arucas was built in 1956. She was 388ft in length, and 4691grt.


Company official postcard of Monte Arucas.
Scan: Captain J.Delisau






Monte Umbe (1959-75)

Monte Umbe was similar to the preceding Monasterio Class ships, but was slightly longer at 508ft, with a more raked and flared bow. She was 9961grt, and was built for the servics to South America. She entered service in 1959, and her basic route was Bilboa - Coruna - Vigo - Tenerife - Rio de Janeiro - Santos - Montevideo - Buenos Aires. The round-trip would take 42 days. She carried 492 third class, 84 tourist class, and 4 first class passengers. First and tourist were air-conditioned. The 4 first class passengers travelled in two suites. From 1960 Monte Umbe was also used for a limited number of cruises from Bilbao or Barcelona each summer, visiting ports as far afield as New York and Leningrad.

In 1968 Monte Umbe returned to her builders in Bilbao for her accommodation updated, returning to a new service from Liverpool to Tenerife carrying 360 one-class cruise passengers. she operated a weekly service in partnership with the Monte Anaga. She later sailed from London during the winter, but returned to Liverpool year-round between 1973-75. Monte Umbe was withdrawn in May 1975 and sold to lebanese buyers as the Liban, but was scrapped in 1979.


Company official postcard of Monte Umbe.


Company official postcard of Monte Umbe.


Monte Umbe at La Coruna, published by Ediciones FISA.
Scan: Michael Kenyon.


Photograph of Monte Umbe in the Tagus, Lisbon.
Scan: Carlos Monteiro.





Monte Anaga (1959-73)

Monte Anaga was built in the same year as Monte Umbe, but was smaller at 6813grt and 429ft long.
Monte Anaga served with Monte Umbe on the Liverpool-Tenerife service, and was sold to Mexico in 1973.


Official Aznar Line postcard of Monte Anaga. The card was published by Iris Mexichrome.
Card caption: La moto nave "MONTE ANAGA" sallendo del Puerto de la Luz (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).
Scan: Chris de Wet.






Monte Toledo (1974-77)

In 1974, the first of two large cruise-ferries arrived, the Monte Toledo entering service between Southampton and Santander. A sistership, Monte Granada, was delivered a year later for summer service between Liverpool and the Canary Islands (Amsterdam-Southampton-Santander in winter). The services were ahead of their time, and the ships were sold to Libya in 1977 as Garnata and Toletela. Reports in late 2002 indicated that both ships were now laid up, one in Italy and one in Libya.

Phil Smith writes:- "Just to clarify one point the two "cruise ferries" were used during from January 1974 until April 1977 during the winter between London, Vigo, Madeira and the Canaries and then in summer as car ferries between Southampton/Amsterdam and Santander (Monte Toledo). Monte Granada entered service in the winter of 1974/75 working alternate weeks from London with Monte Toledo. In summer 1975 they both worked the car ferry route between the UK/ Netherlands and Santander. Then for winters 75/76 and 76/77 Monte Granada was moved to operate every two weeks from Liverpool whilst Monte Toledo performed the similar service from London (75/76) and then Southampton (76/77), following a long Dockers strike at the Port of London.

I understand that in Summer 1976 Monte Granada was used on the recently established Mediterranean car ferry routes and worked in conjunction with Monte Contes, Corona, and Castillo. The contes incidentally operated a freight only departure from London in conjunction with Monte Toledo during winter 75/76. The Monte Contes, Corona and Castillo were small ro.ro. ca ferries that were designed for carrying passengers over short distances in Pullman seats."


Company official postcard of Monte Toledo.


Arribas postcard B.19850XX of Monte Toledo at Santander, plus an enlarged image of the ship.


Garcia Barrabella postcard B.40843XVII of Monte Toledo at Santander, plus an enlarged image of the ship.


Arribas postcard B.19853XX of Monte Toledo or Monte Granada at Santander.




Real photographic card of Monte Toledo.


Monte Toledo and Monte Granada were sold to Libya in 1977 as Garnata and Toletela. They remained in service in 2002.
Click Postcards Ref: 02.100 shows one of the sisters in Valletta, Malta (plus an enlarged image of the ships).






Monte Granada (1975-77)

A sistership to Monte Toledo, the Monte Granada, was delivered in 1975 for summer service between Liverpool and the Canary Islands (Amsterdam-Southampton-Santander in winter). The services were ahead of their time, and the ships were sold to Libya in 1977 as Garnata and Toletela. Reports in late 2002 indicated that both ships were now laid up, one in Italy and one in Libya.


Real photographic card of Monte Granada.






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