דאריאן Sofia S Pole Star Darien
| City | Kladovo |
| Alternate Locations | |
|---|---|
| City | Constanţa |
| County | judeţul Tulcea |
| State/ Province | Dobrogea |
| Country | România |
Narrative
Darien דאריאן
Registered Name: Sofia S ex-Pole Star
Built: 1892
Registration: Panama
Capacity: 459 tons
Narrative
In May, 1940, Shmarya Zameret, working in Greece with Moshe Agami, for Mossad leAliyah Bet, and travelling on a US passport, found Sofia S in Piraeus Πειραιάς, and acquired the boat for $40,000, with help from the Joint Distribution Committee.
He registered her in his name, as an American citizen, and changed her name to Darien, and then prepared her for taking passengers, adding bunks in the storage, and latrines at bow and stern.
When Italy entered the War, Eliyahu Golomb ordered a stop to the preparations, and the milritary leaders discussed selling Darien to the British, with the hope that sharing inyelligence would be advantageous, and hopefully ease the British blockage of Palestine.
The Jewish Agency agreed to turn her over to the British, but Mossad leAliyah Bet agents in Istanbul refused the orders.
Narrative
Darien דאריאן had been intended for the rescue of the Kladovo Group.
Mossad leAliyah Bet had intended to lash Struma to Darien, the larger, more powerful vessel, to allow another 200 or so passengers to escape, but the German occupation of Bulgaria stranded Struma, and Darien דאריאן sailed alone.
David HaCohen cites the plan for Darien was to sail to Sulina, where passengers would board, and continue to Varna Варна, where the passengers would be transferred to a second vessel.
Narrative
In 1941, Darien דאריאן sailed from Greece for the Black Sea.
At Sulina, she boarded 200 passengers.
Darien דאריאן was forced to wait through several delays.
On December 29, 1940, she finally sailed for Constanţa.
Narrative
On February 19, 1941, Darien דאריאן sailed from Constanţa, with 878 passengers, not the survivors of the Kladovo Group, organized by Mossad leAliyah Bet.
Narrative
Darien דאריאן picked up the remaining survivors of Salvador, at Istanbul.
Narrative
On March 19. 1941, Darien דאריאן arrived at Haifa.
She was intercepted by the British, and her 878 passengers were to be deported to Mauritius.
Our Jerusalem.com cites: "Darien reached Haifa with 792 people on and was caught and confiscated by the British Mandate government. The Refugees were in Atlit detention camps for 15 to 18 months."
No ship was available to transport them, so they were interned at Atlit Dentention Camp.
Narrative
David Hacohen, Yehuda Arazi, Zeev Shind and Moshe Agami were sent to Cairo القاهرة, and sold the Darien דאריאן to the SOE, British intelligence, for 15,000 Sterling.