Cruise Talk: SS Northern Star

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » SS Northern Star

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Author

Topic: SS Northern Star

Araucaria
First Class Passenger
Member # 1535

posted 08-23-2000 06:34 PM

Hello all,
Could anyone point me in the right direction to discover the fate of a ship on which I travelled in 1971? The SS Northern Star was operated by Shaw Savill Line as a sister ship to Southern Cross, which is still in operation as Ocean Breeze. All I know is that she was scrapped in Taiwan in 1974, but for what reason I don't know, as it does seem that there must have been a problem due to the fact that her sister still sails.
Any help appreciated.

Posts: 22 | From: Essex, UK | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 08-23-2000 07:10 PM

Northern Star ended up arriving at Tiawanese ship breakers on December 11th 1975. She ran her last series of cruises from Australia early in 1975 and then a final series from England, the last one finishing on November 1st. She was on 13 years old but suffered throughout her life with various mechanical problems. Her owners Shaw Savill decided to get out of the passenger shipping business in 1974, mainly due to the high cost of running British crewed ships and the associated industrial problems they had with these crews. Ironically, Northern Star' last series of 11 cruises from Britian were about her most succesful ever, with good passenger loads and few mechanical problems. Sadly, the ships fate had been decided and she went to the breakers.

Her former sister Southern Cross is still sailing as Ocean Breeze. The Australian office of Shaw Savill tried to stay in the cruise business by chartering the old Cunard liner Franconia from the Russians. She ran cruises from Sydney starting October 1975 and winding up in October 1976. Thus this ship ended Shaw Savill's connection with passenger shipping.

To finish it is worth saying that Northern Star was a lovely ship, beautiful inside and out. Only problem was that, being built as a passenger ship and to carry migrants to Australia from Britain, she had many cabins without their own shower and toilet, something cruise passengers don't like too much.

Posts: 493 | From: Sydney,NSW, Australia | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-24-2000 07:23 AM

Hi...being from the UK you can get the video series called 'The Great Liners' which we saw last trip on the Marco Polo. #5, the 'Blue Water Liners' has some great footage taken on a trip on the Northern Star on a round voyage.

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Araucaria
First Class Passenger
Member # 1535

posted 08-24-2000 02:29 PM

Thanks to Aussie1 and gohaze for your replies, I'm off to seek out the video.

Posts: 22 | From: Essex, UK | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Baker
First Class Passenger
Member # 1311

posted 08-25-2000 06:00 AM

Araucaria,
I see you are in the UK, You can get a magazine called 'Ships Monthly' most of the videos you want can be purchased through the add's in there.
Ships Monthly, Burton on Trent,
Phone 01283 542721.
Email ShipsMonthly@Compuserve.com
Good Luck. B

Posts: 221 | From: Rosebud, by the Bay.Victoria, Australia | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Scottylass
First Class Passenger
Member # 420

posted 08-25-2000 07:38 AM

Araucaria,

I purchased 3 of the Great Liners Videos whilst I was in Southampton in June, and they are excellent, its like stepping back in time seeing the footage. They are excellent, not only is there a Ships Monthly Magazine, there are two others, Ships Today and Yesteryear and Sea Breezes, there are lots of information in these magazines.

There is also What Cruise as well but it is mainly about cruising, nothing historic in them.

The videos are about 1 hr long and cost around £16.99.

Cheers - M.

Posts: 648 | From: Stirlingshire, Scotland | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Patsy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5611

posted 04-23-2005 07:01 PM

My dad has footage of this ship departing Southampton for the final time. But can anyone clarify the exact date? He wrote the 5th November 1975 but The New Zealand Maritime Record says the 7th.

Posts: 2023 | From: Hythe, Hants | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

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