Serviciul Maritim Roman (S.M.R.)
Romanian Maritime Service
Establishment and Routes
The Serviciul Maritim Roman (S.M.R.) was established in 1895, based on a law adopted on June 7, 1888, to provide sea transport to and from the Levant carrying general cargo, maritime mail, and passengers. On the continent, the S.M.R. maintained direct connections with major rail lines, including the Paris-Ostend-Bucharest-Constanta express, the Berlin rapid train, and various Romanian express services.
The first Constanta to Constantinople service launched on September 26, 1895. It was extended to Piraeus in May 1897 and then to Alexandria in June 1899. Haifa was added to the route in May 1924 and Beirut in 1933. The full route eventually operated as: Constanta - Istanbul - Piraeus - Beirut - Haifa - Alexandria - Piraeus - Istanbul - Constanta.
Expansion and Conflict
On September 27, 1914, at the onset of World War I, the Black Sea entrance to the Bosphorus was mined by the Russian fleet, and the service to the Levant was suspended until November 1921.
Following the war, the service grew. There were ambitions to extend the Maritime Service as far as the Indies, championed by the King of Romania. By the 1930s, Constanta had become the most important port on the Black Sea between Odessa and Istanbul. Except for minor interruptions, the service continued, mostly on a weekly sailing basis, until the beginning of World War II. With the Russian occupation of Romania in 1945, all the ships were taken as war booty, and the line ceased to exist.
Postal History
Beginning December 30, 1906, a postal clerk was assigned to each vessel. Mail processed on board received specific postmarks reading "Constanta-Alexandria" or "Alexandria-Constanta", depending on the direction of the ship. Different types of handstamps were used over the years. Covers and cards can be found bearing Egyptian stamps as well as those of Romania and other nations along the route.
References & Resources
