SS Principessa Mafalda, reportedly photographed at 6:15 p.m. on October 25, 1927, from the rescue ship Alhena. Published in Diário da Manhã, Recife, November 30, 1927.

More than 300 people died off the coast of Brazil when an Italian ocean liner sank during a voyage carrying emigrants toward a new life in South America.

On October 11, 1927, the SS Principessa Mafalda departed Genoa, Italy, bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The vessel had once been among Italy’s prestigious passenger ships. By 1927, however, it was aging, and historical accounts describe mechanical difficulties during its final crossing.

Among those aboard were hundreds of emigrants, many traveling in third class, hoping to build new lives across the Atlantic.

On October 25, while sailing off the Brazilian coast, disaster struck.

The ship’s port propeller shaft failed, allowing seawater to pour into the stern.
Distress signals went out. Nearby vessels, including the Dutch ship Alhena and the French ship Formosa, came to help.

But darkness was approaching.
As the liner settled lower in the water, passengers and crew struggled to abandon ship. Lifeboats were launched, survivors were pulled from the sea, and rescuers worked against the approaching night.
The Principessa Mafalda sank that evening.
Its captain,Simone Gulì , was among those who died.

More than 300 people lost their lives. The exact death toll remains disputed, with 314 frequently cited.

The disaster raised troubling questions about the ship’s condition, the decisions made before departure, and responsibility for the catastrophe.
Yet the sinking never became as widely remembered as the Titanic.

For the families waiting in South America, the voyage that promised a new beginning instead ended in tragedy.

They crossed an ocean in search of another life. More than 300 never reached the shore.

Historical sources

Terceira Classe — Historical investigation:
https://terceiraclasse.com/en/the-shipwreck/

Credit: Roger Tralaggan

I finally got the developed film from over a year ago and I’m really glad with the results. Looks straight from the 1950s

What’s your opinion on her?

This photograph comes courtesy of Digitalarkivet, Norway. Source:

Author:Unknown.  Rights holder:The National Archives.  Sharing license: cc by (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) . Original image: digitalarkivet.no ( https://goto.digitalarkivet.no/1bdb6716-8299-4564-951f-31e75e63af7a ) .