The return of the stockholm

[Doc Vernon]

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​Sixty years ago July 26th-27th 1956 ...

Humbled, demoded, even ashamed, the Stockholm returned to New York, to Swedish American Line's terminal at Pier 97, at West 57th Street, but no longer the same ship. Her sharp, raked bow was gone. The harbor seemed to stop and just stare -- and to go quiet as the once graceful liner slowly came into port. ​

The late maritime historian, author & artist Frank Braynard had gone to the Italian Line offices on State Street to help in the aftermath of the Andrea Doria sinking. He recalled Italian Line staff being all but overwhelmed, but going to the windows overlooking Battery Park and silently watching as the Stockholm sailed past. "They had daggers in their eyes -- the Stockholm was the villain!"


Bethlehem Steel Corporation was quick to accept the job of repairs -- and so, after several days at Pier 97 for inspection, the 12,500-ton Stockholm was towed but stern-first over to Bethlehem's shipyard (they had four in New York harbor back then, in 1956) at 56th Street in Brooklyn. It would take four months to repair the ship, fitting a completely new bow. The total cost would be a whopping (for the time) $1,000,000.


Frank Braynard was a legend in maritime circles and especially in Lower Manhattan's cluster of shipping line & maritime-related offices. Frank was also an enormous, very eager, tireless maritime collector. A friend from Bethlehem Steel later offered him a choice item from the Stockholm: The 6-ft high mounted letter "S" that remained along the port side bow.


Fresh and fully repaired, the Stockholm returned to service that fall, sailing between New York and Gothenburg with stops at Copenhagen in each direction.

[Ivan Cloherty]

No good shouting 'Make fast for'd' but joking aside the poor people for'd of that bulkhead never stood a chance

[Chris Allman]

A young girl passenger from the Andrea Doria was found in among that wrecked bow, alive and uninjured.

After the ships had separated, as Stockholm crew members were beginning to survey the damage, on the deck of the Stockholm aft of the wrecked bow they discovered 14-year-old Linda Morgan without any major injury. It was soon determined that she had been an Andrea Doria passenger, had miraculously survived the impact, and had been somehow propelled far onto the Stockholm deck. Her half sister Joan, who had been sleeping in Cabin 52 with her on Andrea Doria, had perished, as did her stepfather. Camille Cianfarra had been in an adjacent cabin with her mother, who was seriously injured but survived and had to be extricated. The body of another Doria passenger, a middle-aged woman, was also observed lodged in an inaccessible area of the wreckage of the Stockholm’s bow.

Must have been pretty horrific for all.

[Brian Charles Williams]

THE STOCKHOLM is not the Astoria reborn is it ?

[Gulliver]

[QUOTE=Brian Charles Williams;241987]THE STOCKHOLM is not the Astoria reborn is it ?[/QUOTE

She is indeed. Now 68 years old: 46 years in her first guise ,22 years in her second guise.

STOCKHOLM pass/cargo built 1948.11,650 grt/2,772 dwt ,][ 56 -Collision with ANDREA DORIA.} 60 VOLKERFREUNDSCHAFT - 85 VOLKER - 86 FRIDTJOF NANSEN - 93 ITALIA I - 93 ITALIA PRIMA -[1994 converted to passenger cruise ship, 16144gt/2020dw] 00 VALTUR PRIMA - 03 CARIBE - 05 ATHENA - 13 AZORES - 16 ASTORIA

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[vic mcclymont]

Is this the Astoria that was used by Safmarine in 1984 to try and re establish the mail run?
Regards
Vic

[Gulliver]

Is this the Astoria that was used by Safmarine in 1984 to try and re establish the mail run?
Regards
Vic

Vic ,if you read the Subsequent history list in my post,in 1984 she was still the VOLKERFREUNDSCHAFT (East German).She was only renamed ASTORIA many years later from 2016 (this year).

The one you are thinking of is another Astoria. Launched as ASTOR.The ship was built in 1981 in the ship yard of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Werk Ross, Hamburg, Yard no. 165. The builder was one of the highest quality builders of the time. The ship was ordered by the newly formed German company Hadag Cruise Line, but was quickly sold to South African company Safmarine, because the ship was not profitable enough.
Arkona

In 1985 the ship was renamed Arkona.
Astoria

As Astoria the vessel operated in the Atlantic ocean making cruises between South Africa and Europe. This continued for many years, before in 2002 it entered service for Transocean Tours, the company specialized in cruising in Norway and Europe. The vessel then operated closer to the shore, making low-cost cruises for German, Norwegian and Swedish passengers.
In November 2008, a world cruise had to be aborted after serious mechanical problems were identified during a refit in Barcelona. The ship remained laid up in Barcelona until June 2009 when she was towed to Gibraltar. After an auction in August, Saga Cruises acquired the ship after an unsuccessful attempt to do so earlier in the year.
Saga Pearl II

In late 2009, the ship sailed to Swansea, Wales where she underwent a £20million three-month refit in the re-opened Swansea dry dock. She sailed on her first cruise as Saga Pearl II on 15 March 2010 to the Norwegian Fjords.^[3][4]
MV Quest for Adventure

She was renamed MV Quest for Adventure in May 2012 and became the flagship for Saga's Discovery-style Adventure Cruises. She did not undergo a refit at that time but continued in her new role with the same facilities, captain and crew.
In December 2012, MV Quest for Adventure underwent a refit, where she received her new Saga livery funnel. This was like her fleetmate Saga Sapphire's funnel. However, the port side of the funnel was left blank and did not display the "SAGA" logo.
Saga Pearl II again.

The Quest for Adventure had the name Saga Pearl II restored to it on 21 November 2013 and received the "SAGA" logo on the portside of her funnel.
Regards Gulliver