Cruise ship 'Astoria' to be broken up.
Built in 1948 as the Stockholm for the Swedish America Line, the ship’s legacy includes one of the most infamous maritime disasters of the 20th century.
On 25th July 1956, the Stockholm collided with the Italian liner Andrea Doria off the coast of Nantucket.
The Andrea Doria sank, but the Stockholm, despite severe damage to her ice-strengthened bow, was able to limp into New York with many of the Italian ship’s survivors aboard.
Over the decades, the vessel was rebuilt, renamed, and repurposed under various owners:
As Volkerfreundschaft, a trade union holiday ship in East Germany
As Italia Prima, a luxury cruise ship under Italian ownership
Later renamed Astoria, she operated cruises for UK-based Cruises & Maritime Voyages (CMV)
The ship was in operation until early 2020, when CMV ceased operations due to the global shutdown.
She was then sold to a group of US investors with the aim of preserving her as a historic attraction – a plan that ultimately failed to materialise.
Despite speculation in recent years that the Astoria might find new life as a museum ship or floating hotel, Galloo’s purchase confirms that she will now be dismantled and recycled.
The ship is expected to be towed to Ghent, Belgium, where the recycling process will begin at one of Europe’s most environmentally regulated ship-breaking facilities.
In happier times. Just left Bergen and heading to Tilbury
