Mrs. Irene Moser, the widow of Kuno Moser (1926 - 2004), kindly sent us two valuable documents of her late husband, a letter with drawings of the steamer and the cabin of the officer candidates, as well as a hand-painted deck view, many thanks.

Original of the letter, as sent by Kuno Moser

In above original to his parents, Kuno described the details of the steamer, as well as the general layout of its cabin. He had attended the 06/1942 course on the training ship LEVENTINA in Basel and then, in 1945, Course 11, which was specifically for officer apprentices. After completion of this course, he signed on as an apprentice on the CALANDA.

Cutting from the letter, showing the details of the CALANDA

Kuno had probably achieved the best possible description of his steamer with this drawing, better than a thousand words. Note that the sailors and firemen lived forward under the forecastle and aft on the poop.

Cutting from the letter, showing the layout of his cabin

The 2-man cabin of the officer apprentice, directly under the bridge. Just behind this cabin lived the 2nd. mate. The captain probably lived next to the 1st. officer one deck below. Obviously, there was no protected stairwell at that time and the officers and sailors had to use the outside stairs to the bridge in wind and weather. The steering shaft ran through the middle of the cabin and then to starboard to the engine room.

After the CALANDA he was on the first CRISTALLINA (ex-EIGER). In 1948/49, he attended the nautical school in Rotterdam to obtain his certificate as 3rd. mate oceangoing. After that he made four North Atlantic voyages as 3rd. mate on the ANUNCIADA (Capt. Klaas Heeres) before he had to give up seafaring because of a defective eyesight and changed to Swissair.

The Dutch certificate for 3rd. mate oceangoing

Picture painted by Kuno Moser, showing the bridge superstructure as seen from aft. His cabin was on the middle deck, next to the lifeboat.

Steering gear

The steamer CALANDA, in 1913 in England gebaut, hatte noch eine Ruderanlage aus den Anfängen des Dampfzeitalters. Das handbetriebene, grosse Steuerrad auf  der Brücke steuerte über einen Wellenantrieb die dampfbetriebene Rudermaschine im Maschinenraum. Die Dampfrudermaschine befand sich hoch oben, im hinteren Teil des Maschinenraums und bewegte über einen Kettenantrieb der über Deck lief, den grossen Ruderquadranten auf dem Poopdeck.

Steering gear arrangement, as shown in the book „Verbal Notes and Sketches for Marine Engineers“

The steering gear of the CALANDA was built approximately according to the scheme shown in the British technical book "Verbal Notes and Sketches for Marine Engineers", 19th. Edition, by J. W. M. Sothern. Unfortunately, the date of publication is not listed in the book, but it must have been published in the period after World War II. Interesting notice under the second sketch, that this type of rudder system would quickly become a thing of the past.

The rudder shaft in Kuno's cabin went to the steering gear in the engine room. Under "Diverse Photos" we have made the appropriate notes where parts of the steering gear can be seen.

SwissShips - HPS, February 2021