Deck log book, printed and filled-in by hand, documenting the voyage of the illegal immigration ship "Atzma'ut" (Pan Crescent). Venice, Burgas, Cyprus and elsewhere, 1947-1948. Italian and English.
The ships "Atzma'ut" and "Kibbutz Galuyot" were the two largest ships that took part in the illegal immigration to Palestine. The two were purchased by the "Mossad LeAliyah B" (Institution for Immigration B) in 1947 in the USA (Their original names were the SS Pan Crescent and the SS Pan York, or the common nickname "The Pans") and due to their exceptional size and ventilation system, they could carry approx. 7500 immigrants each (together, the two carried approx. a fifth of the total number of illegal immigrants to Palestine).
In 1947, the ships sailed to the port of Venice under the flag of Panama and from there to Constanţa (Romania) where they were secretly renovated in order to be turned into immigrant ships. For several months, the leadership of the Yishuv refused to approve the voyage (mainly due to the fear of hurting Israel's chances before the vote of the UN on November 29); however, eventually, in December 1947, the two decided 'off their own bat' to leave towards Palestine. When they were far out at sea, David Ben-Gurion chose their Hebrew names, "Atzma'ut" (Independence) and "Kibbutz Galuyot" (The Gathering of the Exiles). The ships were discovered by the British at an early stage of the journey, and battleships were sent to prevent their arrival to Palestine. Fearing for the passengers' lives, the captains of the ships were ordered to obey the British orders and they sailed without resistance to the detention camps in Cyprus, and ceased activity.
With the Declaration of the State of Israel, on the fifth of Iyar 1948, a festive ceremony was held on the decks of the "Atzma'ut" and "Kibbutz Galuyot", and shortly afterwards, the Panama flag was removed and the Israel flag raised and they left for the port of Haifa. In the months after the establishment of the State, the "Atzma'ut" and "Kibbutz Galuyot" carried thousands of immigrants from Cyprus, Italy, Marseille and North Africa.
Before us is the deck log book of the ship "Atzma'ut", documenting the various stations of the voyage during the months of September 1947 - May 1948. Among other things, the log refers to the communication between the two ships throughout the journey; the negotiations with the British authorities at sea and the agreements that were reached; the arrival of the passengers to the detention camps in Cyprus; a visit of a British medical officer on the ship before the illegal immigrants were taken off them; the appointment of a military guard and the closure of the ships; the removal of the arrest warrant regarding the two ships on the day of the Declaration of Independence; the replacement of the the ships' home port from Panama to Haifa; waiting for a leave pass to be given by the Israeli government; and more.
The log is composed of forms to be filled-in by the captain, with spaces for recording the conditions of the voyage (the wind, route, atmospheric pressure and additional details) and spaces for the captain's comments. The first part of the log was filled-in, presumably, by the Italian member of the crew who navigated the ship, and its second part (from the day it left towards Palestine), by the Jewish captain, Yitzchak (Ike) Aronowicz.
[62] leaves, approx. 34.5 cm. Good condition. A few stains. Creases, stains and tears to margins of the cover. A strip of cloth along the spine, with tears and blemishes. Stamps on each one of the pages.