Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Tirat Zvi טירת צבי was a singel mast, Italian wooden ship with a diesel engine.
Registered name: Rina Vivara Ex Vivare
Rina Vivara was renamed Tirat Zvi טירת צבי, after the settlement of Tirat Zvi טירת צבי in Emek Beit Shean, where on February 16, 1948, an attack by Kaukji's Arab irregulars was repulsed.
Capacity: 150 tons
Paul H. Silverstone's Aliyah Bet Project cites: Tirat Zvi טירת צבי capacity was 446 gross tons

On April 3, 1948, Tirat Zvi טירת צבי sailed from Gaeta, carrying 798 passengers.
Palyam.org cites: Tirat Zvi טירת צבי sailed "on April 3rd 1948 from the port of Formia in the Bay of Gaeta, Italy,
carrying 798 Ma’apilim."
Paul H. Silverstone's Aliyah Bet Project cites: Tirat Zvi טירת צבי sailed from Gaeta, carrying 798 passengers.
Zaki Keiny cites: an American tourist couple also joined the journey.
Betzalel Feldman served as Palyam Commander aboard Tirat Zvi טירת צבי.
Yosef Lazarovski served as Gidoni , wireless radio operator, aboard Tirat Zvi טירת צבי.
Arnold Kite and Eliahu Bergman served as Palyam Escorts, aboard Tirat Zvi טירת צבי.
Osnat Goldenberg was an American Machalnikim who served aboard Tirat Zvi טירת צבי.
Eli Chaboini, a student from Switzerland, served aboard Tirat Zvi טירת צבי.
Her Captain and Chief Engineer were Italian, and her crew included seamen from Haifa חיפה and Tel Aviv תל אביב, and cadets from the Naval School.

Tirat Zvi טירת צבי sailed in a stormy sea with no navigation equipment.
After several days on the rough sea, she docked at the island of Seria, and stayed over two days for repairs and to wait until the weather broke.

On April 12, 1948, Tirat Zvi טירת צבי was intercepted by British Navy vessel, HMS Virago.

On April 13, 1948, the passengers of Tirat Zvi טירת צבי, were put aboard the transport ship, HMT Empire Rival.
Tirat Zvi טירת צבי laid up at Haifa חיפה.
Paul H. Silverstone's Aliyah Bet Project cites: 467 men, 274 women, 70 children.
Uri Tahon was ordered to bring Tirat Zvi טירת צבי to France.
Zaki Keiny served as Gidoni גדעוני aboard Tirat Zvi טירת צבי.
The seamen were workers from the Tel Aviv תל אביב port and injured members of the Harel Brigade חטיבת הראל‎, including Chaim Gamzu, Tzvika Belhorn and Hadar Frumkin.
Zaki Keiny cites: bolts that were used as flanges to hold the engine shaft in place, worked themselves loose, and the engine would have to be stopped and the bolts retightened. She made 5 knots, despite the problems.

Tirat Zvi טירת צבי sailed through the Straits of Bonifacio.
Zaki Keiny cites: Tirat Zvi טירת צבי sailed through rough seas near Corsica, jostled by six-seven meter waves, when the boom smashed a hole in a lifeboat and the engine died and the bilge pump failed. They sent up SOS semaphore fags, and sent up flares.
An Egyptian ship almost crashed into her, but changed course at the last minute.
Miriella, an Italian vessel made contact, and towed Tirat Zvi טירת צבי to Napoli, where she tied up at one of the piers.
After undergoing repairs, she continued to Marseille, where she was put up for sail.