Today in the early 21^st century with the many new cruise ships entering service and with the new SOLAS regulations coming into force in 2010 it is clear that the era of the traditional ocean liner is almost over and the last classic liners are now in their final years and are likely to fade into distant memory only being remembered in books, photographs, films, museums, on websites and people’s hearts. We still hope that some will make it into preservation as hotel ships as they are ideal for this role, but only a few will have that good fortune. Hopefully some of these great ocean liners will escape the scrapyard and survive for future generations to enjoy and to allow them to experience in a small way the last great heyday of the ocean liner.

In light of these factors we believe that now is the right time to raise awareness about the world’s last surviving classic ocean liners, so that they can sail out their final seagoing years with dignity and be honoured and remembered before it is too late. The ocean liner has done the world a great service transporting people from nation to nation, including sterling work in times of peace and war. We owe these great leviathans of the sea our great respect and as they enter their final years we believe it only right and proper that awareness in them should be raised so that they can be honoured by everyone and enjoy the support, respect and dignity that they deserve.

Sadly time is fast running out for these last surviving leviathans of the oceans from the last heyday of the traditional ocean liner. So we ask you to support and honour these last classic ocean liners, and do everything you can to raise awareness about these last greyhounds and leviathans of the oceans in their final years. We however only include those surviving liners in near original condition which haven’t undergone extensive rebuilding that has altered their essential classic ocean liner character. We list these last survivors below in date order under the categories of Preserved Ocean Liners, Laid Up Ocean Liners, and Ocean Liners Still in Service.

Preserved Ocean Liners (12 Classic Ocean Liners):

Thankfully some examples of the world’s classic ocean liners have survived into preservation. But although these ships are saved, it must be noted that they will continue to need everyone's support if they are to be sustained into the future as viable visitor attractions and hotels etc. If they cannot be sustained then sadly one day they too may be lost as well.

S/S Great Britain (1843)

-          Built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Bristol, England, Great Britain (UK).

-          Notable as the forerunner of the ocean liner and all modern ships.

-          Great Western Steamship Company – Great Western Railway (Bristol / Liverpool to New York transatlantic liner route).

-          Now preserved as a heritage attraction at Bristol, England, UK.

-          Website: www.ssgreatbritain.org

S/S La Palma (1912)

-          Canaries Inter-Insular Mail Steamship Company (Canaries inter-island liner routes).

-          Now preserved as a heritage attraction based in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

-          Website: http://www.correillolapalma.com/

M/S Hikawa Maru (1931)

-          Built by Mitsubishi Shipyards, Yokohama, Japan.

-          NYK Line (Yokohama / Kobe to Seattle & Vancouver liner route).

-          Now preserved as a heritage attraction at Yokohama, Japan. However her future at risk due to recent financial problems of the owners. On the 25th December 2006 the Hikawa Maru closed to the public. she has been passed over to the ownership of her original owners NYK Line. She reopened to the public as a heritage attraction on the 25th April 2008 as NYK Hikawamaru.

-          Website: none as yet.

TSMV Moonta (1931)

-          Built by Burmeister & Wain shipyard, Copenhagen, Denmark.

-          Adelaide Steamship Company (Australian coastal liner route).

-          Now preserved as Lydia as a casino and restaurant ship at Le Barcares, Langedoc-Rousillion region, France

-          Website: www.partouche.com

RMS Queen Mary (1936)

-          Built by John Brown & Co. (Clydebank) Ltd., Clydebank, Glasgow Scotland, Great Britain (UK).

-          Cunard Line (Southampton to New York transatlantic liner route).

-          Now preserved as a heritage attraction, hotel and conference centre in Long Beach, California, USA owned by the City of Long Beach. In 2007 following the bankruptcy of her operator, Queen Mary Seaport Inc., her owners, the City of Long Beach found a new operator for the ship in the form of the "Save the Queen" consortium of local investors. They in turn have entrusted the management of the ship to the Hostmark Hospitality Group. The RMS Queen Mary Foundation Inc. continues to operate the historic attraction side of the RMS Queen Mary. This sub-lease continues for another 6 years.

-          Website: www.queenmary.com

      -      Website: www.hostmark.com (Hostmark Hospitality Group)

M/S Charlesville (1950)

-          Built by Cockerill-Ougree of Hoboken, Belgium.

-          Compagnie Maritime Belge (Belgian Line) (Antwerp to the Belgium Congo liner route).

-          Now in static use as a youth hostel, hotel and training ship in Rostock, Germany as M/S Georg Buchner.

M/S Brazil Maru (1954)

-          Built by Mitsubishi Shipyards, Kobe, Japan.

-          Osaka Shosen Kaisha (OSK) Line (Kobe & Yokohama to South America liner route).

M/S Frieden (1956)

-          Built by VEB Warnowwerft Warnemuende, Warnemunde, Germany as hull number 301.

-          Launched 14^th January 1956 as the first merchant ship with a cargo capacity of 10,000 mt for the Deutsche Seereederei Rostock. Delivered 23^rd June 1957.

-          Type IV general cargo ship for the East German shipping company, Deutsche Seereederei Rostock.

-          Now in static use as M/S Das Traditionschiff in Rostock, Germany as a heritage attraction.

-     Website: www.schifffahrtsmuseum-rostock.m-vp.de (Rostock Shipbuilding Museum)

S/S Jadran (1956)

-          Built by Brodogradiliste Uljanik, Pula, Croatia (formerly known as Yugoslavia).

-          Jadranska Linijiska Plovidba (Jadrolinja) (Adriatic liner route).

-     Now preserved as a restaurant ship in Toronto, Canada.

-     Website: www.captainjohns.ca

S/S Rotterdam (1958)

-          Built by the Rotterdam Drydock Company, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

-          Holland America Line (Rotterdam to New York transatlantic liner route).

-          After undergoing repainting in Cadiz, she departed (under tow) on the 10th February 2006 bound for Gdansk in Poland for full refurbishment and restoration of her magnificent interiors. Due to some difficulties with the Gdansk authorities, on the 25th August 2006 the ship was instead moved to Wilhelmshaven in Germany for removal of the last asbestos panels and final refurbishment. She arrived there on the 3rd September 2006. Then  finally she will be towed triumphantly back to Rotterdam in 2008 for preservation as a heritage attraction, hotel, apartments, education and conference centre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

-          Website: www.ssrotterdam.net or www.derotterdam.com

M/S Cap San Diego (1961)

-          Built by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, Germany.

-          Hamburg Sud (Hamburg to South America liner route).

-     Now preserved in operational condition as a heritage attraction in Hamburg, Germany.

-     Website: www.capsandiego.de

M/S Ancerville (1962)

-          Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, St Navaire, France.

-          Compagnie de Navigation Paquet (Paquet Line) (Marseille to Dakar liner route).

-          Now in static use as a hotel, restaurant and entertainment complex as Mingua / Sea World at Sea World Plaza in Shekou, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. The Sea World Plaza is property holding of the Hong Kong based China Merchants Group.

-     Website: http://www.cmhk.com/en/ (China Merchants Group)

Laid Up Ocean Liners (8 Classic Ocean Liners):

These surviving classic ocean liners sadly are laid up out of service and in some cases have been laid up and deteriorating for many years. These examples are those ocean liners most at risk of being scrapped so we believe that everything possible must be done to raise awareness about their plight and encourage preservation efforts to be made or at least make sure that these fine ships are remembered and honoured with dignity in their final years. We cannot be sure that all will survive into preservation so sadly for some their end may be near. So please honour and remember them.

SV City of Adelaide (1864)

-          Built by William Pile, Hay & Co., Sunderland, England, UK.

-          Messrs Devitt & Moore (London to Adelaide, Australia route).

-          She is the last surviving passenger clipper ship in the world and as such is the sailing predecessor to the ocean liners.

-     Laid up in deteriorating condition on a slipway at the Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine.

-          AT RISK, long term future is uncertain at the moment, threatened with managed deconstruction.

-     Websites: www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org (Scottish Maritime Museum)

-     Websites: www.sunderlandmaritimeheritage.org.uk (Sunderland Maritime Heritage)

-     Websites: www.cityofadelaide.org.au (Save the City of Adelaide Group)

-     Websites: www.cityofadelaide.org.uk (Sunderland City of Adelaide Recovery Fund)

S/S Del Orleans (1940)

-          Built by Bethlehem Steel, Sparrows Point, Baltimore, USA.

-          Delta Line (New Orleans to South America liner route).

-          Sold for scrap in 2004 but currently remains laid up in San Francisco Mare Island Naval Base due to legal dispute.

-          AT RISK, long term future is uncertain at the moment.

M/S Augustus (1952)

-          Built by Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Monfalcone, Trieste, Italy.

-          Italia Societa di Navigazione (Italian Line) (Genoa, Naples to South America liner route).

-          Currently laid up Manila, Philippines as M/S Philippines and until recently was in use as a restaurant and conference ship.

-          AT RISK, long term future is uncertain at the moment.

S/S United States (1951)

-          Built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia, USA.

-          United States Lines (New York to Le Havre & Southampton transatlantic liner route).

-          Presently owned by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) via their "sham" subsidiary company Maritime Corporation Inc. and laid up in Philadelphia, USA. Sadly reaslistically it is likely that NCL Corporation will now dispose of the ship soon and therefore she will end up going to Alang, India for scrapping. Unless of course someone steps in to save her. 

-          AT RISK, long term future is uncertain at the moment.

-     Website: www.ssunitedstates.org (S.S. United States Foundation)

-     Website: www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org (S.S. United States Conservancy)

S/S Independence (1951)

-          Built by Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, USA.

-          American Export Lines (New York – Gibraltar, Naples & Genoa transatlantic liner route).

-          Currently owned by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and laid up in San Francisco, USA awaiting a possible return to active service or some other fate. However the S/S Independence may now be surplus to requirements for NCL as she was acquired (along with the “borrowed” S/S United States) mainly as a tool to gain the legal right to set up NCL America. This has now been done so her fate is uncertain. She is now renamed OCEANIC. On the 8th February 2008 she departed San Francisco under tow apparently bound for  Dubai. She is currently laid up in Dubai, but more than likely she will head to Alang, India for scrapping. A sad end to a fine ship.

-          AT RISK, long term future is uncertain at the moment.

S/S Jugoslavija (1956)

-          Built by Brodogradiliste Uljanik, Pula, Croatia (formerly known as Yugoslavia).

-          Jadranska Linijiska Plovidba (Jadrolinja) (Adriatic liner route).

-     AT RISK. Now laid up as Hermes in Piraeus, Greece since 1994 when Epirotiki Cruises went out of business.

N/S Savannah (1959)

-          Built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, USA.

-          U.S. Maritime Administration "Atoms of Peace" roving goodwill ship.

-     Currently undergoing refurbishment and decommissioning of her nuclear reactor in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. After that she is likely to be offered by the U.S. Maritime Administration for preservation as a historical attraction. She is indeed the world's first nuclear powered merchant ship and is a lasting symbol of President Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" initiative.

-     Website: http://www.marad.dot.gov/offices/msp/ship_operations/nss/index.htm

Ocean Liners Still in Service (15 Classic Ocean Liners):

Happily these ocean liners are still in service and so have a more promising future at least for the time being. However their time will not last forever and the new SOLAS regulations coming into force in 2010 is likely to result in the end for many of these last surviving active classic ocean liners. So we again would encourage you to patronise, support and honour these fine ships in what may be their final years in active service. At the moment it seems very likely that the Olympia, Ausonia, San Giorgio, Empress of Britain, Funchal, Oceanic, Istra, Dalmacija, Kungsholm, Queen Elizabeth 2, Hamburg will be retired due to SOLAS 2010 in the next few years. The Alexandr Pushkin, Sagafjord and Vistafjord may have a chance of being upgraded and thus carry on beyond 2010 but this is by no means certain as yet.

It is already known that the QE2 will be retired by Cunard Line in 2008 and will go to Dubai for preservation as a hotel, museum, retail and entertainment destination at The Palm Jumeirah. When the Olympia is retired it is likely that she will go to Piraeus for preservation as a museum ship as discussions are ongoing with the Greek Government. Also when the Kungsholm is retired from service it is likely that she will go to Gothenburg in Sweden for preservation as a hotel ship and museum as discussions are ongoing with local business interests.

But as for the other veteran ocean liners facing retirement in 2010 or before, their future at this stage is uncertain. Let's hope and campaign for at least some of them to be saved and find useful new roles as hotel ships and museums in appropriate locations. But let's be honest, we are very much in the final years of these classic ocean liners and they will not sail the oceans for much longer. Enjoy while you can!

M/S Roma (1914)

The Roma was originally built as a US coastal freighter named Medina but acquired in 1948 by Cia Naviera San Miguel S.A. and rebuilt in 1949 in Italy to become the passenger liner Roma. In 1952 she was acquired by Costa Line and became Franca C. In 1959 she was remodelled as a first class luxury liner and later pioneered the cruise ship trade out of Miami. In 1977 she was acquired by her present owners for use as a roving missionary ship and bookshop as Doulos. Today she is immaculately well preserved and is the world's oldest continuously operating ocean going passenger ship and a veritable museum piece.

       -    Built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia, USA

       -    Cia Naviera San Miguel S.A. (varous routes)

       -    Currently in service with Gute Bucher fur Alle as a roving missionary ship and bookshop. She is due to be retired in 2010. There is interest among Australian business partners for the ship to be preserved as a museum, restaurant and entertainment complex in Australia.

       -     Website: www.doulos.org (Gute Bucher fur Alle)

S/S Olympia (1953)

-          Built by Alexander Stephen & Sons, Glasgow, Scotland, Great Britain (UK).

-          Greek Line (Piraeus to New York transatlantic liner route).

-          Currently in service for Imperial Majesty Cruises as M/S Regal Empress, although likely to be retired due to SOLAS in 2010.

-          Website: www.imperialmajesty.com (Imperial Majesty Cruises)

S/S Ausonia (1956)

-          Built by Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Monfalcone, Trieste, Italy.

-          Adriatica Societa di Navigatione (Adriatica Line) (Trieste to Egypt & Lebanon liner route).

-          AT RISK. Currently in service for Louis Cruise Lines as S/S Ivory, although likely to be retired in 2008 due to SOLAS 2010. Also Louis Cruise Lines is likely to be acquiring new ships from NCL soon so the future of older ships in their fleet is uncertain.

-          Website: www.louiscruises.com (Louis Cruise Lines)

M/S San Giorgio (1956)

-          Built by Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Monfalcone, Trieste, Italy.

-          Adriatica Societa di Navigatione (Adriatica Line) (Trieste / Venice / Genoa to Piraeus, Istanbul & Izmir liner route).

-          AT RISK. Currently in service for African Safari Club as M/S Royal Star. In 2006 she celebrated her 50th birthday, although likely to be retired due to SOLAS in 2010. Rumoured to be available for sale from 2009.

-          Website: www.africansafariclub.com (African Safari Club)

S/S Funchal (1961)

-          Built by Helsingor Skibsvaerft A/S, Helsingor, Denmark.

-         Empresa Insulana de Navegacao (Portuguese Line) (Lisbon to the Azores & Madeira liner route).

-          Currently in service for Classic International Cruises as M/S Funchal. It is believed from official sources close to Classic International Cruises that they have undertaken refits over the years so that the ship will now meet SOLAS 2010. Therefore it is guaranteed that she will not be retired from service yet but instead will continue in service beyond 2010. 

-          Website: www.classicintcruises.com (Classic International Cruises)

M/S Anna Nery (1962)

-          Built by Brodogradiliste Uljanik, Pula, Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia).

S/S Oceanic (1963)

-          Built by Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Monfalcone, Trieste, Italy.

-          Home Line (Cuxhaven, Le Havre, Southampton to Canada transatlantic liner route and cruising).

-          Currently in service for Pullmantur as S/S Oceanic. In September 2006 Pullmantur was bought by the American cruise giant Royal Caribbean International. This may spark off a new build programme for Pullmantur to replace their current aging fleet of cruise ships. As a result any such move would seriously affect the future of the Oceanic. Also likely to be retired due to SOLAS in 2010.

-          Website: www.pullmanturcruises.com (Pullmantur Cruises)

-     AT RISK, long term future uncertain after purchase of Pullmantur by Royal Caribbean International and Pullmantur's likely acquisition of new ships from NCL in the near future.

M/S Alexandr Pushkin (1965)

-          Built by Mathias Thesen Werft, Wismar, Germany.

-          Baltic Shipping Company (St Petersburg, Copenhagen, London to New York & Montreal transatlantic liner route).

-          Currently in service for Transocean Tours as M/S Marco Polo. Although at risk of being retired due to SOLAS in 2010.

-          Website: www.transocean.de (Transocean Tours)

M/S Sagafjord (1965)

-          Built by Soc. des Forges de la Mediterranee, La Seyne sur Mer, France.

-          Norwegian America Line (Oslo to New York transatlantic liner route).

-          Presently in service for Saga Cruises as M/S Saga Rose, although likely to be at risk of being retired due to SOLAS in 2010. We have heard from a source close to Saga Cruises that she is to be retired in 2010. Options are being explored that may see her preserved as a hotel ship etc as the owners are reluctant to see her sent to scrap. So hope there possibly.

-          Website: www.sagacruises.com (Saga Cruises)

M/S Kungsholm (1966)

-          Built by John Brown & Co. (Clydebank) Ltd, Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland, Great Britain (UK).

-          Swedish American Line (Gothenburg to New York transatlantic liner route).

-          Currently on charter to Pullmantur Cruises (as Oceanic II) and to Scholar Ship (as Scholar Ship) for 2007 and 2008.  However the charter with Scholar Ship was terminated in September 2008 and the ship laid up.

-     Swedish entrepreneur Lars Hallgren, owner of Top Industri AB, has signed a letter of intent with Leonardo Shipping, Greece, to acquire the former Kungsholm in 2010. The ship is to be docked in Gothenburg, Sweden, as a hotel, restaurant, and maritime museum. She will be restored to her original external profile and the two funnels with the Swedish American Line symbol, and the aft mast will be restored. She will be moored in Gothenburg at Banana Pier opposite Gothenburg Opera House. Apparently the Swedish have all the financing in place to acquire and restore the former Kungsholm to her former glory. Final discussions are taking place on the permanent berth in either Gothenburg or Stockholm. But apparently the project wishes to have a final agreement signed with the current owners of the ship (Leonardo Shipping / Kyma Ship Management) by summer 2008.

-          Built by John Brown & Co. (Clydebank) Ltd, Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland, Great Britain (UK).

-          Cunard Line (Southampton to New York transatlantic liner route).

-          Website: www.cunard.co.uk (Cunard Line)

M/S Hamburg (1969)

-          Built by Howladswerke, Germany.

-          Deutsche Atlantik Line (Cuxhaven to New York transatlantic liner route).

-          AT RISK. Currently in service for Phoenix Reisen as M/S Maxim Gorky, however likely to be retired due to SOLAS in 2010. She is owned by Sovcomflot.  In November 2007 Phoenix Reisen announced that she would be retired from service on the 30th November 2008. As a result the rest of her planned cruise programme for 2008 and an intended World Cruise in 2009 are now all to be cancelled. The reason stated for her premature retirement is the high fuel cost making her too expensive to operate.

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