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A classic ship heads to the breakers26/2/2009Maxim Gorkiy has arrived at Alang. Poignantly, the vessel remains in ‘immaculate condition,’ according to passenger ship journalist/maritime historian Peter Knego. He last sailed on board in September, blogging for www.maritimematters.blogspot.com.
Built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in 1969 as Hamburg for German Atlantic Line, the ship operated in recent years on charter to Germany’s Phoenix Reisen.
Maxim Gorkiy had been scheduled to commence cruising in April as Marco Polo 2 for Florida entrepeneur Wayne Heller’s attempted revival of Orient Lines. But Heller pulled the plug in November, blaming the global economic climate.
Last-ditch German attempts to bring Maxim Gorkiy back to its namesake city of Hamburg failed, and the ship was sold in January by long-time owners Sovcomflot for scrap, at a reported price of €4.2m.
Along with the recently retired Queen Elizabeth 2, the steam turbine Maxim Gorkiy was one of the last vessels designed to cross the Atlantic as well as cruise. It boasts a colorful history and, according to Knego, retained many original design elements.
‘She was mostly “as built” with marvelous central passageways through her cabin areas and early space-age decor that, along with her low passenger capacity and flying saucer-topped funnel, gave her the nickname of The Space Ship,’ Knego told Seatrade Insider. ‘Her post-Hamburg career was distinguished with a starring role in the terrorist movie, “Juggernaut,” an actual attempted terrorist bombing [in 1975], a near sinking following an iceberg encounter off Norway, and the [1989] Malta Summit, where she hosted Gorbachev and Bush.’
Just a few months ago, ship buffs were focused on whether the ‘new’ Orient Lines would alter Maxim Gorkiy’s remaining vintage features.
‘It was those fuel-hungry turbines that ended her days,’ Knego said.
‘Even at full capacity and with a very loyal German following, she could not make a profit when oil prices soared last year. If she were a diesel ship, she would surely have continued at least until 2010 and, with a proper SOLAS refit, could have sailed much longer than that.’
Best,
Raoul
Raoul, didn't your sources say she beached just yesterday (in India, the 26th)? The day prior, she was not anywhere in sight of the beach, according to my source there.
In any case, better late than never. RIP MAXIM GORKIY.
my source at Unicom wrote the following:
quote:Yes,tonight at 04.12 MG dead-was beached at Alang.
That was on February 25th. Maybe he got it wrong, I don't know, as she was scheduled to beach yesterday.
Indeed, I would tend to go with what he said, but could it be possible the time difference makes both correct? Also, I should be getting some images soon but was she beached as MAXIM M as some have reported? After that whole ALANG BITCH thing, I'm a little cautious. MAXIM M would make sense, since M stands for Mehta...
Peter
quote:Also, I should be getting some images soon but was she beached as MAXIM M as some have reported?
Hello Peter,
I'm sorry, but I cannot confirm that at this time.
Looks like I'll be heading off to DISCOVERY on April 25, so if you can come up for a visit on the 23 or so, that should work. Not sure what I can do with MG but will try. I'm so happy we did that cruise. I barely made it and went almost reluctantly after a summer of flying everywhere under the sun. It was such a pleasure to sail in her and also to be a part of the OLS group.
I'll actually be sailing in DISCOVERY (ex ISLAND PRINCESS) on a Black Sea cruise. I did sail in DISCOVERY SUN a couple times, however. Covered her interiors but they date from the rebuilding she underwent in the late 1980s and are not of any particular vintage merit. Lots of shiny ceilings and pastels. Love her funnel, though and I guess, soon, she will be the last "classic" sailing from the U.S.
All the best,
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