Registry - Ostend

Official Number - 22629

Length on deck - 113.54m (372.5 ft) (overall)

109.85m (360.4 ft) (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 14.97m (49.1 ft)(extreme)

Depth - 7/4m (24.5 ft) (moulded)

Draught - 3.81m (12.5 ft)(maximum)

Tonnage - 3,701 gross

1,788 net

Engines - Two 12-cylinder Cockerill/Sulzer single acting two-stroke diesels each

Power - 8,500 hp/17000 bhp

Speed - 22 knots service, 24 knots (max)

Capacity - 1600 passengers

Call Sign - ORAJ (@ 1949)

Sister ships: KONING ALBERT

October 11^th 1947: Launched.

March 1948: Delivered to Government Of Belgium (Regie Voor Maritiem Transport), Oostende, Belgium.

March 1948: Commenced service between Ostend - Dover.

February 24^th 1951: During a gale collided with Dover Harbour Board tug LADY BRASSEY, the Belgian ship being flung against the tug while the latter was berthed against the Prince of Wales Pier.

May 30^th 1966: Fire in the seaman’s quarters whilst berthed in Ostend. After three hours considerable damage was caused before the fire was extinguished.

Arne Pyson Collection

October 1972: Laid up for sale.

February 1973: Sold to Rederi Ab Svenska Kusten, Stockholm.

March 1^st 1973: Surplus to requirements and transferred to the Baltic under the management of Strömma Rex Belgium N.V, Antwerp. Renamed STRÖMMA REX. The ship was not approved for entry into the Swedish Ships register and therefore remained registered in Belgium. She then departed for conversion in Oskarshamn.

April 4^th 1973: While bunkering in Skagen, a fire broke out in her engine room. Towed to Oskarshamn.

June 20^th 1973: Entered service between Norrköping - Mariehamn.

September 2^nd 1973: Gutted by fire following an engine-room explosion. Considered not worthwhile repairing.

September 5^th 1973: Laid up in Mariehamn to be sold for scrap.

October 30^th 1973: Sold to Persöner Ab Ystad for scrapping, but under tow to Ystad she broke free from her tug. Upon arrival in the port of Ystad she broke free from her moorings. When she came to rest it was decided to try and scrap her in situ. The scrap-yard workers labelled her as “unlucky” and it was decided to attempt to tow her to a final resting place.

November 15^th 1973: Towed to Ystad yard of Carl Person and scrapping began.