Beautiful lines

[Doc Vernon]

0101.jpg

Unquestionably, the 700-ft long Andrea Doria was one of the most handsome liners of the post-Second World War era, of the 1950s. More than ever, the Italians had become masters of ship design. She is seen here departing from her homeport of Genoa

[Gulliver]

'Daddy's Yacht' comes to mind,Vernon. Such a sad ending for her though.

[Doc Vernon]

Indeed Gulliver a great looking Ship that had a very sad ending!
Many lives lost! But amazing that not more were lost in that collision with the MS Stockholm

Cheers

[Gulliver]

Probably one of the best analysis of the tragedy is this one : - ANDREA DORIA v. STOCKHOLM -25th July 1956


We're approaching the 60th anniversary in a few days time.

TEMPUS FUGIT
REQUIESCAT IN PACE

[Captain Kong]

That collision cost me my job on the old Franconia.[ MY FAULT!!]
We followed the Stockholme out of New York, she sailed in the morning past our berth at Pier 90, she had been moored a couple of piers up river. We sailed in the afternoon bound for Liverpool. and off the Nantucket Shoals the fog was the thickest I have ever seen.
I was Look Out man in the Crows Nest. and I couldn't even see my own ship. I thought, this is a waste of time, impossible to see anything.
So at the bottom of the mast, the ladder went down the inside of it, the door opened into the Pig, so I climbed down for a quick pint.
Meanwhile the collision occurred, and out went the mayday, The Captain phoned the Nest to tell me to keep a good look out , but I wasn't there.
next I knew was Two Master at Arms picked me up and dragged me up to the wheel house, in front of Captain Donald Murdo MacClean DSC.
We were Not required in the rescue, I think the Isle de France was already there.
I was sacked and told I was Sacked on arrival in Liverpool.
Thanks for the memory,

[-I know it was my fault, so do not shout at me, I was 21 at the time,.]
Cheers
Brian

[Captain Kong]

I remember when I was in College at Fleetwood, we were doing our Radar Certificate, and we used the Stockholm /Andria Doria Collision as an example of a Radar assisted Collision.
Brian.

[Chris Allman]

I saw a lot of the Italian Liners whilst at sea and have to admit that they had lines, grace and beauty. Not so the livestock carriers of today, an insult to call them liners, that's why I use the expression ' livestock carriers ' because that's what they are. There is still one around, although basically laid up, QE2, but the rest, well, I wont comment because I might be rude.

[Gulliver]

I remember when I was in College at Fleetwood, we were doing our Radar Certificate, and we used the Stockholm /Andria Doria Collision as an example of a Radar assisted Collision.
Brian.

Radar.gif(A chance to turn my radar on!)

Yes Brian that was always the prime example to be mentioned first when 'radar-assisted-collisions' were studied. I had to travel halfway across the country to Lowestoft to do my R.O.C; with a load of fishermen,as I only had a short leave,and Liverpool and Fleetwood were fully booked.
I would be surprised if the Andrea Doria v.Stockholm collision example is not still used today,although with all the latest ECDIS gizmos with bells and whistles maybe not.

Other notable 'Radar Assisted Collisions' were; Crystal Jewel v.British Aviator ( 23rd Sept.1961) in the English Channel.One death- sadly the Crystal Jewel Master's young daughter asleep in her cabin - when the high in ballast British Aviator sliced through the accommodation of the deeply laden with grain Crystal Jewel; and the French Shell tanker Sitala v. Niceto de Larinaga remarkably on that same September 1961 day in a more western part of The Channel..
The bows of the tanker crushed the laden iron ore carrying focsle of the Niceto de Larinaga cargo vessel at a 60 degree angle,killing both the bow lookout and his relief stationed there who had no time to escape.
Both vessels in both cases were in fog , had not been doing proper manual radar plotting and had made a series of small course alterations to increase their passing distance.They had assumed they were on reciprocal courses passing clear but were in fact on slightly converging courses.

Not only that, in the Andrea Doria v.Stockholm (1956) both vessels had not reduced to a 'moderate speed' in fog as required by the ColRegs and in fact were closing at a combined speed rate of nearly 40 knots -although to be fair the Stockholm until she detected visually Andrea Doria just before the collision had not been in fog,unlike the Andrea Doria which was in fog throughout yet was still steaming along at 21 knots- a moderate speed should probably have been about 10 knots for her.

The British Aviator,speedwise,had reduced to half speed but that still gave her 12 knots,which exactly matched the 12 knot speed full ahead of the Crystal Jewel,which had not slowed down.

[John Callon]

I was reading an article the other day about the new cruise ship that Saga are having built. They have gone back to the traditional lines of what liner should look like and have to admit the artists profile of the vessel reminds one of ships gone by. Apparently she will only carry 700 passengers which is a pleasant change from the floating gin palaces of today. Should be interesting to see her when she commences cruising.
Regards
John C

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Vernon.
I saw the Andria Doria in Genoa, I think she was the loveliest ship I had seen up to that time, along with the girls in Genoa
Cheers Des.