Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות קוממיות Ingathering of the Exiles was a steam merchant ship
Registered name: El Dia Pan York
Built: 1901, by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Newport News
Danny Goldman and Michael J K Walsh cite both Pan Crescent and Pan York were "built in 1901 in Newport, Rhode Island."
Completed: September, 1901, as El Dia, f:or Morgan Line (Southern Pacific SS Co), New York., owned by Waterman Steamship Co, Mobile.
The Ships List.com cites: El Dia was built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Newport News, for Southern Pacific Company
She was a converted Central America banana ship, and cargo vessel.
Tonnage: 4,570 tons
Engine: steam
Speed: 12 knots

In November, 1917, El Dia Pan York פאן יורק was requisitioned by the US Navy and converted to the auxiliary minelayer USS Roanoke (ID # 1695) , under Captain Clark D. Stearns.
In January, 1918, she was commissioned and sent to Scotland as part of the Mine Squadron 1 of the Atlantic Fleet to work on the Northern Barrage in the North Sea.
In early 1919, she was transferred to the Cruiser and Transport Force and made four voyages to bring troops home from France.
In August 1919, she was returned to the owner by the US Shipping Board.

On September 16, 1942, at 12.00 hours, El Dia USS Roanoke Pan York פאן יורק sailed in convoy SQ-36, from Wilmington to Reykjavik - Sydney - Montreal.
At 49.10N, 67.05W - Grid BA 3883, the convoy was attacked by U-165 , commanded by Eberhard Hoffmann, which sank Joannis, and damaged Essex Lance and Pan York.

On September 18, 1942, El Dia USS Roanoke Pan York פאן יורק arrived in Montreal, damaged in the attack by U-165, where she was repaired, refitted and returned to active service.

In 1943, Pan York פאן יורק was acquired by the United Fruit Company. from Pan-Atlantic SS Corporation Waterman Steamship Company, Wilmington,

In 1947, Pan York was acquired by the F & B Shipping Company, Miami, from the sold to the United Fruit Company, and renamed Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

In August, 1947, fhe Romanian authorities, under Soviet pressure, prevented Pan York and Pan Crescent, from leaving Constanţa, but thanks to Yosef Klarman's contacts in the Romanian government. both vessels were permitted to sail.

On December 27, 1947, Pan Crescent פאן קרסצנט Atzmaut עצמאות and Pan York פאן יורק Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות sailed from the port of Burgas Бургас.
Gad Hilb cites: Pan Crescent פאן קרסצנט Atzmaut עצמאות and Pan York פאן יורק Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות sailed from Burgas Бургас on December 26, 1947.
Yoram Kaniuk cites: Pan Crescent פאן קרסצנט Atzmaut עצמאות and Pan York פאן יורק Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות sailed at 16:00PM, on Friday, December 26, 1947, because that sailing south from Burgas Бургас toward Turkey Türkiye would have been shorter, but it was filled with mines, therefore she sailed north, hugging the Romanian coast, where the minefields had been cleared by the Russians.
The Russian Pilot who had a map, but refused to sail at night, diembarked at Varna Варна, along with Shaike Dan and the Bulgarian officer who accompanied him.
Micha Peri served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan Crescent פאן קרסצנט Atzmaut עצמאות.

Danny Goldman and Michael J K Walsh cite: "Both the Pan Crescent and the Pan York were purchased by the Mossad Le-aliya Bet, in the United States in mid-1947 from one Samuel Zamorai, the owner of a fruit-shipping company in New York."

Nimrod Eshel served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Esteban 'Captain Steve' Hernandorena served as 1st Mate aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Donald 'Donny' Aaron Molofsky served in the Catering Department aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Akiva Offenbach served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Efraim Tzuk served as Chief Engineer abaord Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Irving Weingarten served as Senior Deckhand aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

Yoash 'Chato' Tzidon served as Palyam Escort aboard Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות.

On August 15, 1947, Gad Hilb was appointed Captain of Pan York Kibbutz Galuyot קיבוץ גלויות, with a crew of 3 Israeli officers, Gad Hilb, Ephraim Tzuk as Chief Engineer, and Werner Salomon.
The crew also included three other officers, including Estaban Hernandorena "Captain Steve', six experienced Spanish seamen, 7 American Jewish volunteers, and 3 men from Mossad le'Aliyah Bet, Nissan Levitan, Palyam Commander and Shlomo Hans Rosen, and Palyamniks, Zalman Perach, Akiva Offenbach, Willie Rostoker, David Lowenthal, Irving Weingarten, and Gidonim, Reuven Oren and Malka Rofeh.

HMS Chequers berthed alongside Pan York in Famagusta, to transfer sufficient fuel to enable Pan York to reach Haifa.