Liners again popular
Safmarine, South Africa’s main shipping line, heartened by the success of its modern, German-built luxury passenger liner Astor, will replace it with a larger vessel in two years. The Astor, which carries 500 passengers, was featured in “The Press” (April 24). It revived the famous “mail ship” tradition of Britain’s great Union Castle liners which carried thousands of passengers on the Southampton-South Africa service this century.
It was a blow to all sea travellers when Union Castle withdrew its last prestigious liners in 1977. Air travel annihilated this service.
The new liner, which will carry 650 passengers, is being built at the same German shipyard as the Astor — Howaldts-werke-Deutsche Werft. The Astor is a twin-screw motor vessel. The new liner will be equipped with more powerful, fuel-efficient engines and will carry more crew. She will be based on the Astor’s design and will further boost the “mail ship” revivals as well as continuing the varied cruise programme of the Astor.
The Astor has been sold to undisclosed owners. It will complete this year’s European summer cruise programme before transfer.
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Press, 31 May 1985, Page 24
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182Liners again popular Press, 31 May 1985, Page 24
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