Another veteran still going strong, heading for another summer cruising in Svalbard:
The expedition ship M/s Stockholm in Norway and Svalbard – PolarQuest
One more veteran ship that has got a new lease of life as a mini-cruise ship:
Northern Light cruise on the vintage vessel MS Strønstad:
Or on whale safari:
Turn up sound:
More nice engine sound for the connoisseurs:
The engine is a 2-Cyl- Union, 100 Hp:
M/K Tampen 1 passing Langøyneset:
The is the oldest vessel in regular use in the Costal Express Service for Hurtigruten:
“Samka”, historical coastal trader from 1956, seen today in Søby harbour on the island of Ærø (Denmark).
LOA 30.48 meters, width 6.48 meters, draught 2.69 meters, DWT 240 tons. Four cylinder two stroke Aplpha Diesel, type 404, 375 rpm, 233 hp.
Background:
After the end of the 2nd World War, the Danish fleet of small ships was completely devastated and in urgent need of renewal. However, the procurement of materials for shipbuilding and financing were difficult, so that only a few ships were built in Marstal [coastal town on Ærø, in historic times a memorable shipbuilding centre] in the first years after the war. Then a financial injection was promised from America, and on 27. In May 1950, the King signed the Law on Marshall Aid, a total of 18 million crowns. The Marshall Aid was quickly renamed Marstal-Aid in the vernacular, as a large part of the money was used to convert Marstal ships. But the Marshall funds were also used for newbuilds, including the first 7 Caroliners, which represented a major innovation compared to the old sailing ships with auxiliary engines.
The first ship of the type was ordered from H.C. Christensens Staalskibsvaerft af 1949 A/S in Marstal by Captain Albert Hansen Petersen, Vejle. On August 4, 1951, the ship was christened CAROLINE and thus gave its name to the whole series of 23 sister ships, built between 1951 and 1959. SAMKA was the 15th Caroline and at the same time hull No. 69 of H.C. Christensens Staalskibsvaerft, delivered in 1956 to skipper Arne Flyvbjerg, Noerresundby. In 1997, the Ship Preservation Fund declared the SAMKA a vessel worthy of preservation. 1956-2003: Cargo voyage in Danish and Northern European waters 2003 - : Use of the ship for cultural purposes.
I think there is a decimal point missing from the Derrick.
Good catch. 15 tons seem a bit generous 
The owners, “Museumsforeningen til bevarelse af M/S SAMKA”, a museum association, should know better…
Edit: Zooming into the original pictures, I can see that the second (fore) derrick reads “2 TON”, which seems plausible.
She ended her days in 1978 as the Malaysian Express:
Happy days. Very rarely soot on the bridge wings. No vibration and spacious accommodation.
I sailed on three ships of this type. MS Tamesis, MS Theben and MS Teneriffa.
All belonging to Wilh. Wilhemsen A/S Oslo.
(From 1960-62. as Jungman and Lettmatros (OS)
PS> The accommodations for the officers +12 Pax were indeed specious and quite, (especially at the Fwrd. Superstructure)
For the crew it was more spartan and situated at the poop, with propeller noise VERY noticeable. (Especially on light load and in bad weather)
Veteran Cruise ship Astoria (ex Stockholm) blt 1948 has finally done her last voyage:
ASTORIA STARTED HER LAST TRIP (to the breakers)
After many years laid up in Rotterdam, the ASTORIA was sold for 200.000 Euro to the breakers in Gent (Belgium):
The cruise vessel ASTORIA has one of the longest and most fascinating careers in maritime history, spanning over 70 years and involving numerous name changes, roles, and ownerships. Here’s a detailed timeline of her storied life
Origins and Early Career (1946–1952)
Launched: As MS STOCKHOLM in 1946, built by Götaverken shipyard in Gothenburg, Sweden, for the Swedish America Line (SAL). Entered service in
1948. She was originally an ocean liner, designed for transatlantic service between Sweden and North America. At the time of her launch, she was the largest passenger ship ever built in Sweden:
Multiple Conversions and Name Changes (1960s–1990s)
Over the decades, the ship went through many transformations:
As VOLKERFREUNDSCHAFT (1960–1985)
Sold to East Germany and renamed VOLKERFREUNDSCHAFT (“People’s Friendship”).Operated by Deutsche Seereederei as a cruise ship for the Eastern Europe: .
Final Years and Retirement
2020: CMV went into administration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ASTORIA was laid up and did not return to service.
As of early 2020s, the ship remained in limbo, moored in Portugal. Despite rumors of preservation, there were also reports of a planned scrapping.
Legacy
The ASTORIA is notable for being the oldest passenger liner still afloat (as of her last operational years).She is also the last surviving ship involved in the ANDREA DORIA disaster. Her long and varied career—from ocean liner to Cold War cruiser to boutique cruise ship—makes her a floating piece of 20th-century history.
Source: Maasmond Newsclippings 187-2025
More details about this ship can be found here:
Video from her final voyage, leaving Rotterdam:
Her arrival at the lock at Terneuzen:
When I was in navigation school, the sinking of “Andrea Doria” was one example used to illustrate the potential dangers of free surface.
IIRC it was used as an example of a “radar induced collision”:
I think radar had progressed enough so that we never looked at that aspect of that particular collision.
Yes young man.
Radar was not a new thing in 1956. but not everybody were comfortable using it.
A lot of changes have happened since than, though.
Now radar plotting is no longer an “art”, but ships keep on running into each other, even with all the wonderful technology available on most ships.
Or could some collisions still be happening BECAUSE of it, just like in 1956?
Over reliance on technology, (AIS comes to mind) is a problem, as is too many bright screens and not looking out the windows enough.
I like to think that, though I’m 70 years old -
Edit: Forgot I’m still 69
From memory is was about another 10 years before Radar became a compulsory requirement for any vessel.
Plotting was all handomatic.
Edit. First sip of morning coffee for is read it.
When I started as 3rd Officer (in 1964) Radar plotting was by grease pencil on a plotting screen put over the PPI.
PS> My last cargo ship as Master (in 1974) didn’t even have a radar, so radar was not compulsory even then. (Blt.1950 so Grandfather clause applied)
