The 1948-built original transatlantic liner turned cruise ship, ‘Astoria’, has been sold at an auction for recycling.
Belgian recycling company, Galloo was the sole bidder for the veteran cruise ship, during a court-ordered auction held in Rotterdam on 17th June, securing the vessel with an offer of €200,000.
Laid up in Rotterdam since moving from Tilbury on the demise of CMV in 2020, following the onset of the COVID crisis, ‘Astoria’—originally launched as the Swedish America Line’s transatlantic liner ‘Stockholm’—will be dismantled at a specialist recycling facility in Ghent, the buyer said.
She will always be best known by maritime historians as the vessel, which sank the pride of the Italian fleet, ‘Andrea Doria’.
On 25th July, 1956, while operating as the ‘Stockholm’, she collided with the ‘Andrea Doria’.
The Italian ship sank with 46 casualties, while the ‘Stockholm’, although severely damaged at the bow, managed to reach New York carrying survivors.
Following the incident, the ship underwent extensive reconstruction and served under various operators.
Her roles included service as the East German cruise ship ‘Völkerfreundschaft’ and later as the luxury cruise liner ‘Italia Prima’.
Most recently, the ship was chartered by UK-based Cruises & Maritime Voyages (CMV) before the pandemic stopped the company’s operations.
