“Norway” a 1960’s classic ocean liner that last flew the flag of Norwegian Cruise Line, is on its final journey – a trip from Port Klang, Malaysia, to Alang, India, a destination known as one of the world’s cruise ship “scrapper” hubs.
The ‘Norway’ is no longer owned by Norwegian Cruise Line as one year ago she was transferred back to Malaysia based “Star Cruises”, the parent company of NCL.
The transfer happened as Star Cruises “intended to utilize the ship in a new venture”. Now the ship is heading for the scrapyard.
No qualified buyers
The course was set for the “junkyard” after Star Cruises determined that there were no qualified buyers other than scrap brokers.
Despite some controversy over the large amount of asbestos (around 900 tonne) used in the ship and the resulting danger to ship-breaking workers, she has finally been sold and is expected to arrive at Alang around June 1.
The buyer was Regent Shipping, who acquired the “Norway” for USD 17 million.
The ship breaking of SS Norway can yield considerable profit for Regent Shipping. Out of the 46,000 tonne weight of the ship, about 95% is steel and the global price of steel is currently ranging between $275 to $500 per tonne.
Ship with a history
The ship was built in 1961 for Le Havre-Southampton-New York service. Back then it was known as “France”. It was the largest ocean liner built after World War II and the third-largest ocean liner in the world at that time.
As one ship was decommissioned and another sank in 1972, “France” was suddenly the largest ocean liner in the world.
In 1974, the French government withdrew the ship’s operating subsidies and she was laid up at the quai d’oubli, or “quay of the forgotten,” at Le Havre. There she remained until in 1979 where she was sold to Knut Kloster, owner of then Norwegian Caribbean Lines (now Norwegian Cruise Line).
Under Norwegian supervision and the new name “Norway”, the ship entered service on seven night cruises from Miami to the Caribbean in 1980.
Norway didn’t lose its title as largest passenger ship in the world before 1988 when the Sovereign of the Seas was build. But a few years later, Norway regained the title after adding more decks.
In 1995 the ship lost the title permanently, this time to the “Sun Princess”.
