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 (14 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: http://www.nyk.com/rekishi/e/index.htm

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.

-          Website: www.queenmary.com

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

      -      Website: www.ci.long-beach.ca.us (City of Long Beach, California, USA)

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 Akdeniz (1955)

-          Built by W.G. Weser Shipyards, Bremen / Bremerhaven, Germany.

-          Turkish Maritime Lines (Istanbul to Izmir service and the Istanbul to the Black Sea express service).

-          Preserved in Istanbul by the ITU Maritime Faculty (Istanbul Technical University) as a training ship and student accommodation.

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).

-          Now preserved as a heritage attraction, hotel, apartments, education and conference centre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

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

-     Website: www.woonbron.nl (Woonbron Housing Corporation)

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)

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

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

-     Website: www.nakheel.com (Nakheel)

-     Website: www.dubaiworld.ae (Dubai World)

-     NOW UNDERGOING REFURBISHMENT FOR HER NEW LIFE IN DUBAI AS A HOTEL SHIP AND TOURIST ATTRACTION FOLLOWING HER RETIREMENT FROM SERVICE ON THE 28TH NOVEMBER 2008 AFTER ARRIVAL IN DUBAI. HOWEVER FOLLOWING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN DUBAI IN 2009 THERE ARE SOME DOUBTS ABOUT HER FUTURE.

Laid Up Ocean Liners (9 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.

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

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

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

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

      -          AT RISK: THREATENED WITH RECORDED DISMANTLING AND DECONSTRUCTION.

S/S Del Orleans (1940)

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

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

-          Currently remains laid up in San Francisco Mare Island Naval Base owned by Sanship Inc. in use as a disaster relief ship.

-          AT RISK: CURRENTLY LAID UP IN SAN FRANCISCO WITH AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

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 owned by the Manila Hotel in Manila, Philippines. The ship is currently for sale and various parties from Italy, the Philippines and America are said to be interested in acquiring her for various purposes.

-          AT RISK: CURRENTLY FOR SALE.

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 realistically 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. 

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

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

-          AT RISK: CURRENTY LAID UP IN PHILADELPHIA AND CURRENTLY FOR SALE.

S/S Jugoslavija (1956)

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

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

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

-     AT RISK: CURRENTY LAID UP IN PIRAEUS WITH AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

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. Until recently was 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. Due to dispute with African Safari Club over payment of the crew, the ship was sold at auction on the 27th February 2009 by the Kenyan Authorities and was acquired by TUI Air Leasing. This thus terminated the legal issues with African Safari Club. Ship is currently in Mombasa and owned by TUI Air Leasing who now wish to sell her. However it is reported that Ocean Mist Cruises have now bought her and intend to restore her for cruise service in 2010.

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

-     AT RISK: CURRENTLY LAID UP IN MOMBASA

S/S Santa Rosa (1958)

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

-          Grace Line (USA to the Caribbean liner route).

-     Ship was completely rebuilt in 1992 in Greece and is unrecognisable compared to her original design.

-          Owned by Louis Cruise Lines and chartered to Thompson Cruises as S/S The Emerald, although to be retired in October 2008 due to SOLAS 2010 and returned to Louis Cruise Lines. She was in service with Louis Cruise Lines for summer 2009, she was then be retired from service in September 2009 and is currently laid up awaiting her fate.

-     She has not been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010, and it may be impractical to do so. Sale for scrap is a distinct possibility.

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

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 in protective storage in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and undergoing decommissioning of her nuclear reactor. 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/ships_shipping_landing_page/ns_savannah_home/ns_savannah_home.htm

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. Recently Saga Cruises announced that she would be retired from service in December 2009 as it is impractical to upgrade her to meet SOLAS 2010 requirements. 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.

-    She has not been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010 and it is impractical to do so. Therefore she was retired in December 2009.

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

-     AT RISK: LAID UP IN GIBRALTAR AND CURRENTY FOR SALE.

Ocean Liners Still in Service (12 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 San Giorgio, Funchal, Oceanic, Istra, and Kungsholm will be retired due to SOLAS 2010 in the next few years. There are a few that 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 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 Stockholm (1948)

-          Built by Gotaverken, Gothenburg, Sweden.

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

-     Ship was completely rebuilt in 1994 in Italy and is unrecognisable compared to her original design.

-          Currently in service with Classic International Cruises as M/S Athena. 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.

-    She has been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010 and therefore will continue in service beyond 2010.

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

      -     FUTURE SECURE: TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE BEYOND 2010, SO LIKELY TO HAVE A LONG TERM FUTURE.

S/S Port Melbourne (1955)

-          Built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Queens Island, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

-          Port Line (UK to Australia fast cargo liner route).

-     Ship was completely rebuilt in the 1970s and is unrecognisable compared to her original design.

-          Currently in service with Classic International Cruises as M/S Princess Danae. 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.

-     She has been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010 and therefore will continue in service beyond 2010.

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

S/S Port Sydney (1955)

-          Built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Queens Island, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.

-          Port Line (UK to Australia fast cargo liner route).

-     Ship was completely rebuilt in the 1970s and is unrecognisable compared to her original design.

-          Currently in service with Classic International Cruises as M/S Princess Daphne. 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.

-     She has been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010 and therefore will continue in service beyond 2010.

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

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.

-     She has been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010, and therefore will continue in service beyond 2010.

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

      -     FUTURE SECURE: TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE BEYOND 2010, SO LIKELY TO HAVE A LONG TERM FUTURE.

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. It is reported that Pullmantur are to retire the Oceanic from service in September 2009. In March 2009 Pullmantur sold the Oceanic to a Japanese organisation who will charter it to Japanese Peaceboat.

-    She has been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010, so likely to continue in service.

-          Website: www.peaceboat.org (Japanese Peaceboat)

-     FUTURE SECURE: ACQUIRED BY A JAPANESE ORGANISATION FOR LONG TERM CHARTER TO PEACEBOAT.

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).

-          Recently in service for Transocean Tours as M/S Marco Polo. Following refits over the years it is likely that the ship now meets SOLAS 2010 and so it is likely that she will enjoy many years of further service beyond 2010. She has now been chartered by UK based Cruise & Maritime Voyages from 2010.

-    She has been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010 and therefore will continue in service beyond 2010.

-          Website: www.cruiseandmaritime.com (Cruise & Maritime Voyages)

-    FUTURE SECURE: TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE BEYOND 2010, SO LIKELY TO HAVE A LONG TERM FUTURE.

M/S Black Prince (1966)

-          Built by Flender Werft, Lubeck, Germany.

-          Fred Olsen Ltd (UK to Canary Islands ferry route in winter, UK to Norway ferry route in summer, and finally worldwide cruising).

-          Retired by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines as M/S Black Prince, in October 2009. Now sold to Venezuelan operators Ola Cruises and now operates in Venezuelan territorial waters only as Ola Esmeralda. 

-    She has not been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010.

-          Website: www.olacruises.com (Ola Cruises)

-     FUTURE SECURE: TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE BEYOND 2010 IN VENEZUELAN WATERS.

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 in winter lay up in Greece. Due to be chartered to Lord Nelson Seereisen in Summer 2009.

-     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.

-     She has not been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010 and it is impractical to do so. Therefore she will be retired from service in 2010.

M/S Italia (1967)

-          Built by Cantieri Navale Felszegi, Trieste, Italy.

-          Crociere D'Oltremare (worldwide cruising).

-          Currently in service for Louis Cruise Lines as M/S Sapphire, although likely to be retired before 2010 due to SOLAS 2010.

-     She has not been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010.

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

      -     AT RISK:  LIKELY TO BE RETIRED FROM SERVICE BEFORE 2010, DUE TO SOLAS 2010.

M/S Vistafjord (1973)

-          Built by Swan Hunter Ltd, Wallsend on Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Great Britain (UK).

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

-          Presently in service for Saga Cruises as M/S Saga Ruby. A source close to Saga Cruises has indicated that this ship is to continue in service beyond 2010 and is likely to be retired in 2014. Again the owners are favourable to seeing her saved as a hotel ship as they are reluctant to see her sent to scrap. So hope there possibly.

-    She is upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010 and therefore will continue in service beyond 2010.

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

-     FUTURE SECURE: TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE BEYOND 2010, SO LIKELY TO HAVE A LONG TERM FUTURE.

RMS St Helena (1990)

-          Built by Hall Russell Ltd / A&P Appledore Ltd, Aberdeen, Scotland, Great Britain (UK).

-          St Helena Line (Portland to Ascension Island, St Helena and Cape Town liner route).

-          Presently in service for St Helena Line as RMS St Helena, although may be at risk of being retired in the next few years due to the planned opening of an airport on St Helena in 2010. Airport now delayed and St Helena will continue until 2020.

-          Website: www.rms-st-helena..com (St Helena Line)

-     FUTURE SECURE UNTIL 2015 / 2020 WHEN NEW AIRPORT OPENS

Ocean Liners Scrapped in Recent Months:

M/S Doulos (1914)

The Doulos 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 has not been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010 and sadly failed an inspection in late 2009 and therefore was retired from service immediately due to corrosion issues. She is now laid up in Singapore awaiting her fate. Sold for scrap February 2010.

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

       -     Website: www.gbaships.org (GBA Ships)

M/S Renaissance (1966)

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

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

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).

-          Currently in service for Louis Cruise Lines as S/S Ivory, although likely to be retired in October 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.

-    She has not been upgraded to meet SOLAS 2010, and it may be impractical to do so. Therefore it is likely that she will be retired.

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

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 bound for  Dubai having been sold to Global Marketing Systems (GMS). She is currently laid up in Dubai, and has been sold in October 2008 to a European organisation for use as an workers accommodation ship or hotel ship in the Middle East.  After much legal wrangling permission to beach the ship at Alang was given in January 2010 and she will now be scrapped.

-          DUE TO BE BEACHED AND SCRAPPED AT ALANG SHORTLY. 

M/S Anna Nery (1962)

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

M/S Jean Mermoz (1956)

S/S Empress of Britain (1956)

M/S Princessa Isabel (1962)

So please do everything you can to raise awareness of and support for these last classic ocean liners so that they can live out their final years with honour and be remembered by present and future generations. However we must not forget those ocean liners already preserved around the world such as S/S Great Britain, M/S Stella Polaris, M/S Hikawa Maru, RMS Queen Mary, and S/S Rotterdam as they will continue to need people's support if they are to remain successful and viable visitor attractions and hotels etc for the long term and thus survive for many years to come. Please do your bit to support these last classic ocean liners so that a small reminder of the golden era of ocean travel can live on and be enjoyed by present and future generations in the preserved examples of this illustrious breed of ocean going ships.

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