The end of an era: GDR dream ship about to be scrapped?

The end of an era: GDR dream ship about to be scrapped?

The fate of the “Stockholm”, one of the oldest active cruise ships in the world, will once again be in the balance on June 17, 2023. After more than 70 years of service, much of it for the GDR, the now heavily damaged ship, which was last scheduled to sail under the name “Astoria”, is being auctioned off again. The estimated scrap value is now reportedly at $2.75 million at most, suggesting the bleak prospect of possible scrapping, although the owner has denied these reports Northern Courier.

The “Stockholm” has had a turbulent journey in its long history. The ship, which began its first voyage from Gothenburg to New York on February 21, 1948, has undergone numerous changes over the years. It had a total of twelve different names and belonged to five nations Wikipedia. Among the best-known names, the ship received particular attention as the “Völkerfreundschaft” after it was acquired by the GDR in 1960.

Historical collisions and conversions

A striking event in the history of the “Stockholm” was the collision on July 25, 1956 with the Italian passenger ship “Andrea Doria”. The tragic accident occurred in thick fog in which 46 people on board the “Andrea Doria” and five passengers on the “Stockholm” were killed. After this incident, the ship received a new forecastle and was returned to service Northern Courier.

The Stockholm was rebuilt in 1952 to increase capacity to 86 passengers in first class and 584 in tourist class. Further renovations were also made in 1955 and 1956 to create additional uses, such as a cinema Wikipedia.

Recent trips and future prospects

After the end of her service for the GDR, the ship was sold in 1985 and underwent numerous renamings and different owners. The last trip to the West Indies under the name “Friendship of Peoples” took place on December 21, 1984. The ship took part in various cruises until 2020 before finally falling into rustic disrepair in the port of Rotterdam. Since then, the “Astoria” has been orphaned and rusting away after the shipping company filed for bankruptcy in 2020 Northern Courier.

Investors are looking forward to the upcoming auction with excitement. Experts believe that a return to sea is extremely unrealistic because the ship is badly damaged in several places. Nevertheless, the historic contours of the famous cruise ship could soon be a thing of the past, while the story of the “Stockholm” represents a chronicle of maritime heritage that is worth reading.