Yechiam
"Yechiam" sailed from Gaita Port in Italy on March 10th 1948, with only 256 immigrants on board.
The Haapala ship, "Yechiam" (named after kibbutz Yechiam in the western Galilee, which drove away the Arab "rescue force" after a grueling battle on January 1948) was built in Venice. The ship commander was Palyam member, Eli Zohar. The 'Gidoni' (wireless operator) was Chana Sireni. An additional escort was Palyam member, Chaim Senesh.
"Yechiam" sailed from Gaita Port in Italy on March 10th 1948, with only 256 immigrants on board, since it was assigned to absorb the immigrants of the "Nacshon" ship that had a technical failure at sea. The ships met on March 12th near the Monte Christo Island, and 531 additional immigrants boarded the "Yechiam." There were 767 immigrants in total on the "Yechiam." The ship continued its journey towards Israel, but was spotted on March 28th by a British reconnaissance aircraft. A few hours later, it was joined by a destroyer that forced it to change its sailing route from Tel-Aviv to Haifa. "Yechiam" entered the Haifa Port on March 29th; its immigrants were transferred to the "Empire Rival" deportation ship, and were detained at the "Summer Camps" in Cyprus.
"Yechiam" sailed from Gaita Port in Italy on March 10th 1948, with only 256 immigrants on board, since it was assigned to absorb the immigrants of the "Nacshon" ship that had a technical failure at sea. The ships met on March 12th near the Monte Christo Island, and 531 additional immigrants boarded the "Yechiam." There were 767 immigrants in total on the "Yechiam." The ship continued its journey towards Israel, but was spotted on March 28th by a British reconnaissance aircraft. A few hours later, it was joined by a destroyer that forced it to change its sailing route from Tel-Aviv to Haifa. "Yechiam" entered the Haifa Port on March 29th; its immigrants were transferred to the "Empire Rival" deportation ship, and were detained at the "Summer Camps" in Cyprus.