History of MS Stockholm (1946) in Timeline

MS Stockholm, launched in 1946, was a Swedish American Line ocean liner later converted to a cruise ship. Its notoriety stems from its 1956 collision with the Andrea Doria off Nantucket. The collision caused the Andrea Doria to sink, resulting in 46 deaths. The Stockholm, though damaged, survived and continued service under different names and owners until being scrapped.

1941: Stockholm sunk during the war

After the 1941 Stockholm was sunk during the war, the proceeds were used to finance the construction of the ship that would be launched in 1946.

1944: Ship ordered

In 1944, the ship was ordered.

September 1946: Launched as Stockholm

In September 1946, the ship was launched as the Stockholm by Gotaverken in Gothenburg for the Swedish America Line.

February 1948: Maiden Voyage

On 21 February 1948, the Stockholm made her maiden voyage from Gothenburg, arriving in New York on March 1.

1952: Joined by MS Kungsholm

In 1952, the Stockholm was joined by the new MS Kungsholm on the transatlantic route.

1953: Refit and cruise scheduling

In 1953, a refit expanded Stockholm's capacity, and occasional cruises were scheduled out of Morehead City, North Carolina.

February 1955: Deportation via Stockholm

In February 1955, the Stockholm was used to deport Arne Pettersen, the last person to go through Ellis Island, to Gothenburg, Sweden.

July 1956: Collision with Andrea Doria

In July 1956, the Stockholm collided with the Andrea Doria in heavy fog off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, resulting in the sinking of the Italian liner and 46 fatalities.

1956: Refit adding cinema and pool

A later refit in 1956-57 added a cinema to the deck forward end of the main superstructure, and an outdoor pool aft.

1957: Joined by MS Gripsholm

In 1957, the Stockholm was joined by the new MS Gripsholm.

May 1959: Sold to German Company

In May 1959, the Stockholm was sold to an unidentified German company.

1959: Ship's bell recovered

In 1959, the Stockholm's damaged ship's bell was recovered from the wreck site of the Andrea Doria.

January 1960: Transferred to East German Government

On 3 January 1960, the Stockholm was transferred to the East German government and renamed Völkerfreundschaft.

February 1960: Maiden voyage as Völkerfreundschaft

In February 1960, Völkerfreundschaft made her new maiden voyage and was home-ported in Rostock, Germany.

1960: Transferred to new company

In 1960, the Stockholm was transferred to the new company.

1961: Travel limitations after Berlin Wall goes up

In 1961, after the Berlin wall went up, all ports were restricted to communist countries only, which greatly limited sailing routes.

1964: Management by Free German Trade Union Federation

In 1964, management of the ship was put under the Free German Trade Union Federation, but was chartered out to western European countries for a majority of the year.

1967: Charter to Stena Line

In 1967, Stena Line chartered the ship for Swedish passengers for half of the year, doing within annually until the ship was sold in 1985.

1968: Collision with Bundesmarine submarine chaser Najade

In 1968, the Bundesmarine submarine chaser Najade rammed the Völkerfreundschaft during the rescue of East German defector Manfred Semmig.

1970: Escape attempt near Florida Keys

In 1970, a machinist and three medical researchers leapt off the Cuba-bound ship near the Florida Keys and were rescued by a small boat.

1975: Financial losses start mounting

From 1975 the ship began to incur continued losses that reached 70 million East German marks between 1975 and 1980.

1979: Appearance in 'Die Rache des Kapitäns Mitchell'

In 1979, the Völkerfreundschaft appeared as the luxury liner Astoria in the East German film Die Rache des Kapitäns Mitchell.

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1980: Financial losses mount

Between 1975 and 1980, the ships continued losses reached 70 million East German marks.

January 1983: Collision with West German Navy submarine U-26

On 21 January 1983, the ship collided with West German Navy submarine U-26 in the Baltic Sea.

1985: Ship sold due to age and losses

In 1985 the ship was sold due to its age and continued losses.

1985: Transferred to Panamanian company and renamed

In 1985, the ship was transferred to a Panamanian company, renamed Volker, and laid up in Southampton, England. Later in 1985 the ship was renamed Fridtjof Nansen and was later used as a barracks ship in Oslo for asylum seekers in Norway.

1989: Sold to Star Lauro Lines

In 1989, ex-Stockholm was sold to the Italian Star Lauro Lines, who intended to convert the liner into a luxury cruise ship.

1993: Towed to Genoa and labeled "the ship of death"

In 1993, the ship was towed to a shipyard in Genoa, Italy, and labeled "the ship of death" due to the collision with Andrea Doria.

1994: Refit Completion and Renaming

Following the completion of the refit in 1994, the ship was named Italia I, then Italia Prima, later sailing as Valtur Prima primarily to Cuba.

2002: Chartered by Festival Cruises

In 2002, the ship was chartered by Festival Cruises for a five-year period and was renamed Caribe.

2004: Sold to Portuguese-based operator

In 2004, the ship was sold to a Portuguese-based operator.

2005: Renamed Athena

In 2005, the Caribe was renamed Athena, being registered in Portugal.

October 2006: Caught in Hurricanes

In October 2006, on a transatlantic cruise, the ship was caught in two violent hurricanes, causing a fatality and passengers threatening mutiny.

December 3, 2008: Attack by Pirates

On December 3, 2008, the Athena was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The crew prevented the pirates from boarding by firing high-pressure water cannons at them.

2009: Chartered to Phoenix Reisen

In 2009, the ship was chartered to German cruise operator Phoenix Reisen and repainted in the company colors.

September 2012: Detained in Marseille

On 17 September 2012, reports announced that she and her fellow ship Princess Danae were detained in Marseille, France, for unpaid fuel bills.

2013: Bought by Portuscale Cruises and renamed Azores

Early in 2013 Athena was bought by the recently created Portuguese cruise company Portuscale Cruises and renamed Azores, being revamped in Marseille.

March 2014: Charter began from Lisbon

In March 2014, the charter for the ship began with a cruise from Lisbon, Portugal, to Bremerhaven, Germany.

November 2014: Charter concluded in Genoa

In November 2014, the charter concluded in Genoa, Italy.

January 2015: First voyage from Avonmouth Docks

Her first voyage was from Avonmouth Docks to the Caribbean in January 2015.

April 2015: Blocked from port due to unpaid debts

In April 2015, she was blocked from port due to unpaid debts, stranding passengers aboard until the issue was resolved.

March 2016: Service as Astoria begins

In March 2016, the ship began service as the Astoria, sailing with Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

March 2016: Renamed Astoria by CMV

In March 2016, the ship was renamed Astoria by Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

May 2016: Subchartered to Rivages du Monde

From May 2016 until March 2017 the ship was subchartered to French tour operator Rivages du Monde.

June 2016: Planned departure from CMV fleet

In June 2016, CMV announced that Astoria would be leaving the CMV fleet after her final cruise on April 27, 2017, from London Tilbury.

February 2017: Decision to remain in CMV fleet

In February 2017, CMV announced that Astoria would remain in the CMV fleet until 2018, offering a mini-season from London Tilbury before being chartered by Rivages du Monde during the summer months.

March 2017: End of first subcharter to Rivages du Monde

From May 2016 until March 2017 the ship was subchartered to French tour operator Rivages du Monde.

April 27, 2017: Departure from CMV Fleet Announced

In June 2016, CMV announced that Astoria would be leaving the CMV fleet after her final cruise on April 27, 2017, from London Tilbury.

2018: Astoria to remain in CMV fleet

In February 2017, CMV announced that Astoria would remain in the CMV fleet until 2018.

December 2019: Astoria Begins Winter Cruising

In December 2019, Astoria began its scheduled winter cruising of the Sea of Cortez from Puerto Peñasco, Mexico.

January 2020: End of Winter Cruising

In January 2020, the winter cruising that began in December 2019 was cut short due to unspecified delays in dry dock.

June 2020: Crew Hunger Strike and Vessel Arrest

In June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and CMV's bankruptcy, 47 Astoria crew members began a hunger strike demanding owed wages and repatriation, after appeals to CMV proved fruitless. Subsequently, in June 2020, the vessel was arrested by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency after reports it was about to leave UK jurisdiction without arranging repatriation of foreign crew members stranded by the pandemic.

September 2020: Discovery of Stockholm's bow and anchors

In September 2020, Atlantic Wreck Salvage announced the discovery of the Stockholm's bow and anchors near Andrea Doria's final resting place.

December 2020: Astoria Laid Up in Rotterdam

In December 2020, Astoria was towed to Rotterdam and laid up.

2020: Cruise & Maritime Voyages ceased operations

In 2020, Cruise & Maritime Voyages ceased operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 2021: Astoria Put Up for Auction

On March 1, 2021, Astoria was put up for auction with a minimum sale price of €10 million, but received no offers.

July 2021: Astoria Purchased by The Roundtable LLC

In July 2021, Astoria was purchased by The Roundtable LLC, an affiliate of Brock Pierce, who intended to return Astoria to service.

July 2021: No offers received until July 2021

Until July 2021, Astoria received no offers from the auction that took place in March 2021.

February 2022: Ship Broke Loose from Moorings

In February 2022, Astoria broke loose from her moorings and crashed into the container ship Seatrade Orange during a storm.

December 2022: Ship Listed for Sale on Yachtworld

By December 2022, Astoria was listed for sale on the online yacht sale platform Yachtworld, reduced to $5 million.

January 2023: Attempts to Sell for Continued Trading

In January 2023, Astoria's owner confirmed that they were continuing their attempts to make a sale for continued trading, despite rumors of a scrap sale.

June 2025: Ship Auctioned and Sold for Scrap

In June 2025, Astoria, still laid up in Rotterdam, was auctioned and sold for €200,000 to Galloo, a ship scrapping company.

June 2025: Sold for scrap

In June 2025, after being laid up for several years in Rotterdam, the historic vessel Astoria was finally sold for scrap.

July 2025: Towed to Ghent for Recycling

On 4 July 2025, Astoria was towed from Rotterdam to Ghent for recycling.

2025: Ship's bell removed

In 2025, the ship's bell was removed when the ship arrived at Ghent for scrapping.

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