Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Yehuda HaLevy יהודה הלוי was a Hebrides Islands local ferry that had been used for trading and cruising in the Northern Sea
Code name: Anal
Registered name: Earl of Zetland
Built: 1877, by John Fullerton & Co., Paisley, for the Shetland Islands Steam Navigation Company
Capacity: 253 tons
in 1890, she was was taken over by the North Company, served the North Isles, with trips to the Pentland Firth, until 1946.
She was named after Yehuda HaLevy יהודה הלוי, the Jewish poet who lived in Spain in the mid Ages, and went to Israel in his later years.
She was the first boat to bring immigrants from North Africa.

After the War, Earl of Zetland was acquired by a Panamanian company, a cover for Mossad leAliyah Bet, and transferred to Marseille.
On April 20, 1947, the ship's certificate was issued for Yehuda HaLevy הודה הלוי at Marseille, where she was prepared to sail for Palestine, with a crew headed by Gideon Shochat.

At the beginning of World War II, Earl of Zetland recruited by British Navy as a transport vessel.
In October, 1941 , she was attacked and bombed by JU88, but was unharmed.

On May 9, 1947, Yehuda HaLevy הודה הלוי stopped to load up on coal in Palermo, and was followed by a British destroyer upon leaving the island.

On the evening of May 10, 1947, Yehuda HaLevy הודה הלוי arrived at Algiers.

On May 11, 1947. Yehuda HaLevy הודה הלוי sailed from Algiers, carrying 399 passengers, 15 men, 54 women, 29 children.
She had to leave before all the passengers had boarded, and a convoy with 250 additional Maapilim was caught by the French authorities on its way ashore.
Paul H. Silverstone's Aliyah Bet Project cites Yehuda HaLevy הודה הלוי sailed from Ténès., at 36°30'40"N 1°18'43"E
During the voyage, a girl became ill and died.
Eitan Spojnik–Menuchin served Palyam פלי"ם Escort מלווה on board Yehuda HaLevy הודה הלוי sailed she sailed from Algiers.

On May 18, 1947, Yehuda HaLevi הודה הלוי was supposed to meet Mordei haGetaot, and transfer her 450 passengers at sea.
The plan was aborted because Yehuda HaLevi הודה הלוי ran out of fuel, and failed to arrive.

On May 31, 1947, five British destroyers surrounded Yehuda Halevyהודה הלוי, two destroyers butted against her, and British soldiers boarded and used tear gas while taking over the ship.
The Palyam escorts had managed to sabotage the ship's engines, and the British had to tow her to Haifa, by the minesweeper, HMS Skipjack.

On June 1, 1947, the Maapilim on Yehuda HaLevy הודה הלוי were transferred to HMT Ocean Vigour transfer ship, for transhipment them to Camp No.55 at Karaolos Καράολος.
The Palyam escorts intermingled with the passengers,and arrived in Cyprus with them.

In 1950, Yehuda haLevi הודה הלוי was broken up for scrap, after years of being tied up at the dock in Haifa.