A legendary ship’s long and infamous career may finally be coming to an end.
Just over a week ago, news broke that MV Astoria is heading to auction. The Rotterdam District Court ordered the sale for June 17 to cover her dockage fees. Astoria arrived in Rotterdam in December 2020 after spending months laid up in the UK at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s a sad day for ship lovers. Launched in 1948 as the Swedish American Line’s MS Stockholm, this ship has had a remarkable 77-year career. She’s the oldest ocean-going passenger ship afloat and one of the last surviving ocean liners, even after an extensive rebuild as a cruise ship in the 1990s. Astoria, as Stockholm, also played a pivotal role in one of the most famous maritime disasters in history when she collided with and sank the Italian liner Andrea Doria on July 25, 1956.
The Ship of Death
Third Officer Ernest Carstens-Johannsen had the Stockholm’s bridge when the collision occurred. He spotted the Andrea Doria on his radar but likely misread the display, thinking it was set to the 15-mile range when it was actually on the five-mile setting. On impact, Stockholm’s bow tore deep into the Italian liner’s starboard side, instantly killing five crewmen aboard the Swedish ship. Aboard the Andrea Doria, 46 people lost their lives.
Despite heavy damage, Stockholm remained afloat and helped evacuate Andrea Doria’s surviving passengers and crew. Despite her crushed bow, she limped into New York under her own power on July 27. The ship returned to service several months later after extensive repairs. In 1960, the Swedish American Line sold Stockholm, and she became Völkerfreundschaft under East Germany’s Deutsche Seereederei (now AIDA Cruises).
In 1993-1994, workers converted the ship into a cruise ship in Andrea Doria’s home port of Genoa, Italy. Understandably, the locals bristled at the ship’s presence, dubbing her La nave della morte—’the ship of death.’ But the work proceeded and the former Stockholm emerged from the shipyard as an entirely new ship.
After her extensive rebuilding, the ship operated under various names and owners. She became Astoria in 2016 and sailed for Cruise & Maritime Voyages until the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly halted operations in 2020. The company subsequently went bankrupt, and Astoria was seized after reports that she was preparing to leave UK jurisdiction without repatriating stranded foreign crew members.
On the Auction Block
Now, as Astoria prepares for auction on June 17, the maritime community holds its breath. Law firm Hoek Sinke Ten Katen is overseeing the bidding process, allowing potential buyers to submit offers in advance. Astoria went to auction in 2021 but failed to draw a single bid at the €10 million starting price.
The future of the old ship is uncertain. Though there’s hope a buyer might save Astoria, she’ll more likely end up sold for scrap. Reports suggest her interiors have deteriorated significantly during her lay-up. It would be costly to restore her to sailing condition, let alone as a museum ship.
Will Astoria Be Saved—or Scrapped?
Over the years, there’s been much talk about saving Astoria. Sadly, however, the truth is that age and neglect have taken their toll. Keeping a ship like this afloat isn’t easy, and the challenges only grow with time. Just look at what happened to the Aurora.
As one of the last surviving ocean liners—and the oldest ocean-going cruise ship still around—Astoria holds a special place in maritime history beyond her role in the Andrea Doria disaster. The upcoming auction could (and likely will) signal the end of her long career.
As Astoria’s fate hangs in the balance, ship lovers and maritime historians alike are left hoping for a miracle. Whether she finds a new lease on life or goes to the breakers, her career remains remarkable. No matter what happens on June 17, MV Astoria’s long and remarkable legacy—beginning with her time as MS Stockholm—is secure.
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