ASTOR cruise liner 1981

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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

ASTOR cruise liner 1981

Post by aukepalmhof » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:45 pm

Built under yard no 165 as a cruise vessel by Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg for the Kymo Verwaltungsgesellschaft für Schiffsbeteiligung KG, managed by Hadag Seetouristik & Fahrdienst AG, Hamburg.
16 December 1980 launched under the name ASTOR., the intention was to name her HAMMONIA, but the name was changed to ASTOR.
Tonnage 18.835 gross 10.695 net, 3.245 dwt. Dim. 164.35 x 22.6 x 6.12m. (draught)
Powered by four 6-cyl geared diesels, manufactured by Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg, (MAN) 13.200 bhp., speed 18 knots, twin screws.
Passenger accommodation 638 and 220 crew.
21 May 1981 due to a small fire, which caused much smoke and water damage the planned maiden voyage on 22 August had to be postponed.
24 Nov. made her first trial.
04 Dec. 1981 delivered to owners. Building cost US$ 55 million.

14 December sailed out from Hamburg for a shake down cruise to Le Havre-Malaga-Genoa, with invited guests.
23 December sailed from Genoa for her official maiden voyage cruise to North Africa-Tenerife.
During the winter season used for cruises in the Caribbean.
After two years the company had lost a lot of money on her, and she was sold.

14 Oct. 1983 Sold to the South African Marine Corp. (Safmarine) Ltd. Cape Town, and on 7 Feb. 1984 delivered to the new owners.
Refitted from 07 Feb. until 30 June 1984 at the builders yard, passenger accommodation increased.
First voyage in the Durban-Port Elizabeth-Cape Town-Las Palmas-Southampton service, she made also cruise voyages. But after one year in service it became obvious that the engines designed for leisure cruises mostly at a much lower speed than full ahead and a maximum speed of 20.5 knots for the duration of the service between Southampton and South Africa, did not operate well, and Safmarine ordered a new ship.

01 July 1985 under Bahamian flag, and registered at Nassau.

29 August 1985 sold to the Deutsche West-Afrika Linie at Hamburg and the same day resold to VEB Deutfracht/Seereederei, Rostock, East Germany, renamed ARKONA. She was named after the famous cape on the island of Rügen. The same day delivered to owners at Hamburg. The reason for this deal was that it would be embarrassing for the GDR to do business with the Apartheid regime in South Africa.
After an extensive refurbishment at her builders yard the ARKONA sailed on 29 September 1985 from Hamburg for Rostock.
Passenger accommodation for 638 persons in 304 cabins. Crew 212.
First voyage for the new owners on 25 October from Rostock to Leningrad and Riga, she was used on the West German market during the summer season.

After the collapse of the socialist regime and the German reunification in 1990 the company changed her name to Deutsche Seereederei, and on 18 June 1990 the ARKONA transferred to the new company.
01 Jan. 1991 chartered by Seetours Internationale of Frankfurth/Main.
She was used in the long running German T.V. series “Das Traumschiff” (The Dreamship).
01 Jan. 1994 transferred to DSR Passagiersschiffs GmbH (Mgrs.: Reederei F.Laeisz GmbH), Rostock
20 Nov. 1995 transferred to the Arkona GmbH & Co., Kg, Monrovia, Liberia, as invest object for the Hamburgischen Seehandlung, (Mgrs.; Deutsche Seetouristik GmbH, Rostock.
01 Dec. 1995 transferred to the DSR daughter Arkona Touristik GmbH, she got a new funnel logo.
1999 Chartered to the Star Cruises (Pte) Ltd. for two year and an option for a third year.

February 2001 sold to Ariane Shipping Co. Ltd., Monrovia, Liberia, (Mgrs.;Transocean Tours GmbH).
14 Feb. 2002 delivered to new owners and renamed in ASTORIA, with registry Bahamas.
Will be used in worldwide cruising.
2007 Owned by Astoria Shipping Ltd., Bahamas and managed by Passat Shipmanagement Ltd. Limassol, Cyprus.
18 August 2009 sold to Enbrook Cruises Ltd., Bahamas, not renamed.
February 2010 was renamed by owners in SAGA PEARL II.
December 2011 under Malta flag and registry
May 2012 renamed in QUEST FOR ADVENTURE.
November 2013 was renamed in SAGA PEARL II.

2016 As given by http://www.equasis.org same name, owned by Enbrook Cruises Ltd. and managed by Saga Cruises Ltd. Sandgate, Folkestone, U.K. Under Malta flag and registry.

16 April 2019 sold to Aqua Explorer Holdings Ltd., British Virgin Islands. Renamed in PEARL II.
May 2019 arrived in Perama, Greece for lay-up.
January 2022 same owners, laid-up at Paloukia, Grece.
July 2022 renamed in PEARL.
25 July 2022 arrived at Aliaga, Turkey under tow for scrapping.

IMO No. 8000214, call sign C6S12

Mauritius 1984 10r sg684.
Tristan da Cunha 1994 £2 sg563, scott545.

Souces: Great passenger Ships of the World Vol. 6 by Arnold Kludas. Marine News 2001/145,341.
Some websites. http://www.deutfracht-seereederei.de/Sc ... rkona.html in German. Fakta om Fartyg.
Attachments
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Astor.jpg
Last edited by aukepalmhof on Thu Dec 29, 2022 2:51 am, edited 2 times in total.

FrenchShips
Posts: 70
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:31 pm

Re: ASTOR cruise liner 1981

Post by FrenchShips » Mon Nov 09, 2020 3:05 pm

On 7 November the 1986-built cruise ship Astor (20,704gt), recently operated by Cruise and Maritime Voyages, departed Tilbury docks in Essex for the last time heading for Aliaga in Turkey for recycling.
https://shipsmonthly.com/news/astor-lea ... in-turkey/

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