Astoria in Thames Estuary, 7 March 2017
| |
History | |
---|---|
Name |
|
Owner |
|
Operator |
|
Port of registry |
|
Ordered | October 1944[3] |
Builder | Götaverken, Gothenburg, Sweden |
Yard number | 611[2] |
Launched | 9 September 1946[2] |
Christened | 9 September 1946[3] |
Acquired | 7 February 1948[2] |
In service | 21 February 1948[2] |
Out of service | 2020 |
Identification |
|
Status | Laid up in Rotterdam. |
General characteristics (as built)[2] | |
Type | Ocean liner |
Tonnage | |
Length | 160.08 m (525 ft 2 in) |
Beam | 21.04 m (69 ft 0 in) |
Draught | 7.90 m (25 ft 11 in) |
Installed power |
|
Speed | 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
Capacity | 390 passengers |
General characteristics (currently)[2] | |
Type | Cruise ship |
Tonnage | 15,614 GT |
Installed power |
|
Speed | 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
Capacity | 556 passengers |
MV Astoria is a ship that was constructed as the transatlantic ocean liner Stockholm for Swedish American Line, and rebuilt as a cruise ship in 1993. Ordered in 1944, and commenced service in 1948, at 76 years old, she is the oldest deep water passenger liner still around in a non retired status. As Stockholm, she was best known for an accidental collision with Andrea Doria in July 1956, resulting in the sinking of the latter ship and 46 fatalities off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States.
During her seven decades of service she has passed through several owners and sailed under the names Stockholm, Völkerfreundschaft, Volker, Fridtjof Nansen, Italia I, Italia Prima, Valtur Prima, Caribe, Athena, and Azores before beginning service as Astoria in March 2016. Astoria sailed with Cruise & Maritime Voyages until 2020 when the company suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has been laid up since.