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December 7: Hans Hoffman reports the following information to Maritime Matters:

November 28: ASSEDO arrives at Alang. The former 1968-built SHOTA RUSTAVELI, fourth of the five IVAN FRANKO sisters built for the Soviet Union by the Mathias Thesen shipyard at Wismar had been the subject of conflicting reports in recent days. She will definitely not be going to the far east for use as a gambling ship as she was destored at Iliychevsk (November 3), passed through the Suez Canal (November 18) and beached ten days later.

November 30: S OCEAN (ex APHRODITE, STELLA OCEANIS) arrives at Alang. She departed Eleusis on 11 November and passed through Suez on 15 November.

December 4: *APOLLO (ex EMPRESS OF CANADA, MARDI GRAS, STAR OF TEXAS, LUCKY STAR, HOMERIC, OLYMPIC 2004, APOLLON) arrives in tandem with NEW ORLEANS (ex ARGENTINA, VEENDAM, BRASIL, MONARCH STAR, VEENDAM, BERMUDA STAR, ENCHANTED ISLE). APOLLO departed Eleusis on 12 November and passed through Suez on 21 November. NEW ORLEANS departed Violet, Louisiana on 25 October and passed through Suez on 17 November.

Currently being broken up at Alang: *BIG BOAT (ex TRANSVAAL CASTLE, SA VAAL, FESTIVALE, ISLANDBREEZE, THE BIG RED BOAT III), VEESHAM (ex TRELLEBORG, NISSOS KYPROS, etc.), SAGAR (ex FERDINAND DE LESSEPS, DELPHI, LAPALMA, etc.), ROGALIN (ex AALOTAR), and EXPRESS HERMES (ex PRINSES ASTRID).

Currently enroute to Alang: *SEAWIND CROWN (ex INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE, VASCO DA GAMA) and S SOLAR (ex CAMBODGE, STELLA V, STELLA SOLARIS). S SOLAR passed through Suez on 23 November.

Currently in preparation for delivery to Alang breakers: *RED BOAT (ex EUGENIO C, EUGENIO COSTA, EDINBURGH CASTLE, THE BIG RED BOAT II) which is at Freeport, Bahamas.

Currently at Bangladesh awaiting demolition or possible resale: SS OCEANBREEZE (ex SOUTHERN CROSS, CALYPSO, AZURE SEAS)

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...and the next?

Albatros?

Norway?

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Partial Alang Update
December 26: A bit of news about some of the passenger ships at Alang. S SOLAR has already had a number of local visitors on board inspecting her wares. A hole has been cut into her port focsle bulwarks where a jacob's ladder provides vertiginous access. The accommodation and public rooms still seem to have most of their furnishings and artwork intact. Aside from some rust around the lido pool, this ship looks in excellent cosmetic condition.

APOLLON is beached, but quite far out. No visitors have been allowed on board as of yet, but inspections are due to take place this weekend.

NEW ORLEANS (ENCHANTED ISLE) has already had her nose sheared off. Her fittings are being claimed by local tradespeople. She is beached on the starboard side of ASSEDO, which is beached rather far out. APOLLO is on the port side of ASSEDO, also far out from shore.

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SEAWIND CROWN is reported to be en route from Barcelona to Asia under the name BARCELONA.

I have searched and searched and cannot find ANY photos of these ships being dismantled,.....does anyone have a link they can offer up?

Also, and this may have been posted here already but, here is a link to a WONDERFUL site all about Canberra:

http://www.sscanberra.com/

There are movies, tons of photos (including her scrapping) and even games to play.

Very cool indeed.

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Remnants of RED
December 31: Images taken today of BIG BOAT (ex TRANSVAAL CASTLE, SA VAAL, FESTIVALE, ISLANDBREEZE, THE BIG RED BOAT III) at Alang show a long sliver of her midships keel, (used to winch the remains ashore) attached to a terraced outpost of her remaining aft third superstructure. The outer plating has been removed, exposing the remains to the elements. The breaking process has been long and slow since the ship's arrival in July.

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SEAWIND CROWN left Barcelona 28.12.03

Source

[ 01-03-2004: Message edited by: Karsten ]