A historic chapter in maritime history is drawing to a close as the 77-year-old cruise liner Astoria, once the storied Swedish-American ship Stockholm, has been acquired by a Belgium-based recycling firm. The sale was confirmed following a public auction in Rotterdam on June 17, where Galloo, a European leader in sustainable ship dismantling, emerged as the sole bidder.Galloo’s offer of €200,000—the minimum reserve—was accepted, clearing the path for the ship’s relocation to a recycling yard in Ghent. However, before the vessel can be towed, Galloo must settle outstanding port dues, a standard procedure in marine asset liquidation.
The Astoria, which had been idle since being towed to Rotterdam in December 2020, is among the oldest operational vessels in the world. Initially launched in 1948 as the Stockholm, she gained notoriety in 1956 after a fatal collision with the Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria near Nantucket, a tragedy that claimed over 50 lives and led to the Andrea Doria’s sinking. Stockholm, although severely damaged, survived—marking a turning point in maritime safety narratives.
In the decades that followed, the ship underwent several transformations. From a hardworking transatlantic liner to an East German holiday ship and later a luxury cruise vessel, her hull has borne numerous identities: Italia I, Athena, Azores, and finally Astoria. In 1994, after narrowly avoiding the scrapyards, the vessel was completely stripped down and rebuilt in Italy as a modern cruise ship—an unusual feat for a post-war relic.Despite being acquired in 2021 by private investors with intentions to revitalise her, the ship’s condition visibly deteriorated over time. By 2024, amateur videos surfaced revealing extensive decay and corrosion, reinforcing speculation that scrapping was inevitable.
Galloo now plans to recycle the 160-metre vessel, which can accommodate more than 500 passengers. The company estimates that over 12,000 tonnes of materials will be recovered from the ship, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, glass, wood, and plastics. Significantly, the recycler aims to achieve a 97% material recovery rate, transforming the liner into renewable raw materials, in alignment with European circular economy directives.The dismantling of Astoria not only underscores Europe’s advancing ship recycling standards, but also illustrates a broader shift towards sustainable lifecycle management of ocean-going vessels. Galloo’s yard in Ghent is recognised for its compliance with international norms and ensures that the vessel’s end-of-life is handled with minimal environmental impact—a rarity in a global shipping industry still grappling with hazardous beaching practices.
For maritime historians and enthusiasts, the retirement of Astoria marks the end of an era. Her legacy—rooted in mid-20th-century naval engineering, Cold War geopolitics, and contemporary cruise tourism—serves as a tangible reminder of how vessels can outlive national borders, political regimes, and market cycles.
Yet the final voyage of the Astoria may offer one last service—not as a cruise or liner, but as a model of eco-responsibility, showing that even in retirement, ships can have a meaningful and sustainable impact.
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