MS Astor

This article is about the ship built in 1987. For the earlier cruise ship, see MS Astor (1981).
Astor at Fremantle in 2016.
History
Name
  • 1987–1988: Astor
  • 1988–1995: Fedor Dostoyevskiy
  • 1995–2020: Astor
NamesakeFyodor Dostoevsky (2nd name)
Owner
Operator
Port of registry
Ordered1985[1]
BuilderHDW, Kiel, West Germany[1]
Cost$65 million[6]
Yard number218[1]
Launched30 May 1986[1]
Acquired14 January 1987[1]
Maiden voyage14 January 1987[1]
In service14 January 1987[1]
Identification
FateScrapped in January of 2021
General characteristics [1]
TypeCruise ship
Tonnage
Length176.25 m (578 ft 3 in)[7]
Beam22.60 m (74 ft 2 in)[7]
Draught6.15 m (20 ft 2 in)[7]
Decks7 (passenger accessible)[6]
Installed power
PropulsionTwo propellers[6]
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity650 passengers
Crew300[6]

MS Astor was a cruise ship that most recently sailed for Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Transocean Cruises subsidiary, under which she operated voyages to Europe, South Africa, and Australia.[2][8]

The ship was originally built in 1987 under the name Astor by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), Kiel in West Germany for the Mauritius-based Marlan Corporation, although originally ordered by the South African Safmarine as a combined ocean liner/cruise ship for the Southampton-Cape Town service.[4][9]

In 1988, she was sold to the Soviet Union-based Black Sea Shipping Company and renamed Fedor Dostoevskiy[7][10] (some sources spell the name Fedor Dostoyevskiy,[6] Russian: Фёдор Достое́вский), but spent her time under charter to various West German cruise lines. In 1995, she reverted to the name, Astor. From 1996 until 2020, she operated under charter to Transocean Tours.[1]

After Transocean Cruises' parent company, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, entered administration in 2020, Astor was sold at auction by C.W. Kellock London Ltd. on 15 October 2020 for US$1,710,000.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Asklander, Micke. "M/S Astor (1987)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  2. ^ a b Newman, Doug (21 January 2008). "Astoria to Leave Transocean Tours". At Sea with Doug Newman. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  3. ^ "Cruise & Maritime Voyages Purchases Cruise Ship - Cruise & Maritime Voyages". www.cruisecritic.com.
  4. ^ a b Boyle, Ian. "Fedor Dostoevskiy / Astor (2)". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  5. ^ Message #6 27.10.2011, 13:31 Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  6. ^ a b c d e Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 203–204. ISBN 978-981-268-240-6.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Astor (31512)". Vessel Register for DNV. Germanischer Lloyd. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Die Premicon-Flotte" (in German). Premicon AG. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  9. ^ Miller, William H (1986). The Last Blue Water Liners. London: Conway. pp. 198–199. ISBN 0-85177-400-8.
  10. ^ Miller, William H (1995). Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners, 1860-1994. Mineola: Dover. pp. 10. ISBN 0-486-28137-X.