LIVES OF THE LINERS: Stockholm of 1948
Recently, we mentioned that the Andrea Doria sank some 70 years ago, on July 26, 1956. The 700-ft long Italian flagship was mortally wounded in a nighttime collision with the 525-ft long Stockholm.
Like the Andrea Doria, the disaster gave the 11,700-ton Stockholm immortality.
The Swedish ship, launched on Sept. 9, 1946, was in fact the first trans-Atlantic passenger ship to be built following World War II. It was also the largest passenger ship yet built in Sweden. In reality, the Stockholm was not in the big Atlantic liner leagues – it was actually a passenger-cargo ship, carrying as few as 395 passengers – 113 in first class and 282 in tourist.
The Stockholm sailed regularly, even in off-season winter, between Gothenburg, Copenhagen and New York. Occasionally, it also called at Bremerhaven and at Halifax (but westbound only).
Stockholm alongside during its Swedish American Line years in 1959. From the William H. Miller Collection. Swedish American Line poster promoting trans-Atlantic service between Gothenburg and New York. From the William H. Miller Collection. Swedish American Line advertisement promoting its 1961–62 cruise program and regular trans-Atlantic sailings. From the William H. Miller Collection. Swedish American Line advertisement promoting budget cruises aboard Stockholm and other fleet ships. From the William H. Miller Collection.
The Stockholm was sent to the Bethlehem Steel shipyard in Brooklyn for months of repairs.
Stockholm returns to New York on July 27, 1956, escorted by tugs after the Andrea Doria collision. From the William H. Miller Collection. Stockholm returns to New York with severe bow damage after the 1956 collision with Andrea Doria. From the William H. Miller Collection. Stockholm’s shattered bow during repairs at Bethlehem Steel’s Brooklyn shipyard after the 1956 Andrea Doria collision. From the William H. Miller Collection. Close-up of Stockholm’s severely damaged bow following the 1956 collision with Andrea Doria. From the William H. Miller Collection. Stockholm in dry dock at Bethlehem Steel’s Brooklyn shipyard as repairs begin on her crushed bow after the 1956 Andrea Doria collision. From the William H. Miller Collection. Stockholm in dry dock at Bethlehem Steel’s Brooklyn shipyard, showing the extensive bow damage from the 1956 Andrea Doria collision. From the William H. Miller Collection.
A little timeline with the Stockholm
New York City
In the early 1970s, I met a young man named Dickie Hall. He was in fact the child carried off by a crewman from the sinking Doria and dramatically separated for hours from his actress-mother Ruth Roman before a highly publicized reunion on the New York piers.
After full repairs, the Stockholm sailed for Swedish American only less than a dozen years; it was sold in 1960 to the East German Government to become the world’s first trade union holiday ship – offering cruises for loyal and high performing Communist Party workers. It was renamed Volkerfreundschaft and sailed to the Baltic, the Soviet Union, Egypt, the Black Sea, and even to Castro’s Cuba.
In 1985, the ship was retired by the East Germans and offered for sale.
Southampton
In July 1986, we saw the idle ship at Southampton, awaiting buyers.
Later that year, it was moved to Oslo to serve (under charter) as refugee housing.
Genoa
In June 1989, I arrived in the Italian port-city soon after the former Stockholm was sold to, of all buyers, the Italians. It had just arrived and was docked at a local shipyard. The Genoese newspapers still referred to it as “the Death Ship”. It had been sold to Starlauro Cruises and was reported to become the Surriento and then the Positano, but plans changed and instead it was thoroughly rebuilt as the 550-bed cruise-ship Italia I (soon changed to Italia Prima).
Civitavecchia
In August 1995, while onboard the Crystal Harmony, I suddenly left the dinner table. Through the window and across the port, the ex-Stockholm was sailing.
Yes, I had to be up on deck, to see it!
New York
The greatly rebuilt Italia Prima visited New York in 1998. It was the ship’s first return in almost 40 years.
April 2001
We cruised from Montego Bay to Mexico, Grand Cayman and to remote Cuba on the yet again renamed Valtur Prima.
June 2014
Visiting on a cruise, we came across the again renamed Azores at Reykjavik and then at the Westman Isles. (It had actually been renamed Athena just before.) Yes, and again it was the former Stockholm.
The former Stockholm as Azores at Reykjavik, Iceland. From the William H. Miller Collection. The former Stockholm as Azores at Reykjavik, Iceland, during her later cruise career. From the William H. Miller Collection. The former Stockholm as Azores at the Westman Islands in Iceland during her later cruise career. From the William H. Miller Collection.
April 2023
In Rotterdam and while onboard the current Rotterdam (VII), I spotted the nearby ex-Stockholm – now renamed Astoria – and which was laid-up, lonely, rust-scared. There were vague rumors that the 75-year-old ship might be restored and resume cruising. But instead, two years later, “the world’s oldest cruise ship” was sold to nearby Belgian shipbreakers.
The end for the Stockholm, Volkerfreundschaft, Volker, Fridjof Nansen, Italia I, Italia Prima, Valtur Prima, Caribe, Athena, Azores and Astoria.
If correct, I count 11 names in all!
The former Stockholm as Astoria during the final chapter of her long cruise career. From the William H. Miller Collection. Astoria, the former Stockholm, laid up at Rotterdam while awaiting her fate shortly before being sold for scrapping. From the William H. Miller Collection. Astoria, the former Stockholm, laid up at Rotterdam near the end of her career, before her 2025 sale for recycling. From the William H. Miller Collection.
