Shortly thereafter, captain Ike Aronowicz decided to depart France altogether and, at the end of April
1947, docked in the Italian harbour of Portovenere, where conversion work immediately commenced again.
In Portovenere Haganah agents came aboard: Yossi Harel (code name: Amnon), former Hamburger, became ship's commander
and took charge of the entire operation, Micha Perlson, commander of the refugees, responsible for their
care and protection, Miri, who remained with the refugees even after they left the ship, and Sima,
a nurse.
British Intelligence observed every movement on board. An Italian gunboat was moored directly in
front of the bows of the President Warfield preventing her from sailing. On 11th June 1947, to the
surprise of the crew, the obstruction was removed. Ike Aronowicz used this opportunity to depart
Portovenere. However, the gunboat persistently shadowed the President Warfield while in Italian waters.
As the Haganah had not agreed on a place where the refugees were to board ship a stopover was made,
once again, in Port de Bouc. On 14th June 1947 two harbour officers made a thorough control of the ship
and found no shortcomings, wherupon the President Warfield received its certificate of seaworthiness.
On 9th July 1947, the ship arrived in the harbour of Sète where, on the night of 10th July 1947,
the refugees were brought on board.
The refugees saw the 118 metre long President Warfield. However, its size was deceptive. Each
passenger had a
bunk approximately 45cm wide with 60cm headroom.
Dov Freiberg relates:
My first impression was very bad, I felt as if we were entering the gas chambers.
The French officer, Laurent Leboutet, who was informed of the plan, allowed the President Warfield to sail at 01.00 Hrs on 11th July 1947. The President Warfield, with 4,554 people on board, began its uncertain course towards Palestine.
