Author Topic: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service  (Read 16509 times)

Offline Kyle Stubbs

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Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« on: September 28, 2011, 03:11:27 AM »
I've seen threads regarding the oldest active vessel on the face of the planet, with various candidates from the 19th century coming forward, but how about something a little more specific, yet requiring a little less effort to go and find in person.

What are some candidates for the oldest serving oceangoing vessels out there?

For me, this question was raised by today seeing CSL CABO at a pier on the Duwamish River in Seattle. Built in 1971, at 40 years old she must be one of the most elderly seagoing bulkers still out there. Any other rather old active candidates anyone wants to bring forward?
"Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often." -Mark Twain

Offline Phil English

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2011, 08:37:00 AM »
Kyle,

Excluding lakes-only bulkers, small local passenger ships and harbour craft, the oldest ship IN CLASS (and therefore assumed to be in service) is the sail cruise ship "Sea Cloud", built 1931. The pipelayer "Henry P. Lading", built in 1930 as the tanker "Esso Kobenhaven", might also be considered though she is not fully self-propelled. Several former large tankers built in the early 70s are still in service as FSOs/FPSOs though, as permanently converted, might no longer be considered 'ocean going'. As far as cargo ships are concerned, a number of 1st generation containerships built 1970 / 1971 are still in service (pariticularly in the U.S.), as are the LNG carriers "SCF Polar and "SCF Arctic" built 1969. Numerous Chinese-flag bulk carriers and general cargo ships built in the 1960s are also claimed to be in service but came out of class years ago. In reality, most are probably scrapped though it's feasible some remain in service on Chinese coastal trades.

Hope this helps.
Brgds
Phil
« Last Edit: September 28, 2011, 08:39:51 AM by Phil English »

Offline itsfoto

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2011, 09:13:07 AM »
Oldest seagoing?
Interesting question, yet an answer is likely to be inconclusive, depending on personal preferences.
"Sea Cloud" was a nice suggestion, but then there is "Statsraad Lehmkuhl", built 1914, or "Belem" from Nantes, built 1896, and what about "Amphitrite" (3-masted german schooner) built 1887? Not to mention numerous other sailing vessels.
All of them are very seagoing indeed.

The question is probably more about the oldest seagoing motorvessel, if not steamship.

More precisely, what we would be looking for is, maybe, one that is still trading commercially i.e. not sponsored or sustained by goodwill of any kind. That would probably put "Sea Cloud" back on the list.

cheers

Uwe

Offline Phil English

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2011, 09:32:39 AM »
Uwe,

The Sea Cloud is in commercial service. If I'm not mistaken, the other sailing ships you mention are run by by sailing schools, preservation groups, navies, etc. Hence, I did not consider them. But, yes, there are probably many non-commercial seagoing ships older than those I have suggested.

Brgds
Phil
« Last Edit: September 28, 2011, 09:51:29 AM by Phil English »

Offline Astra

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2011, 10:00:04 AM »
Tankers with the classic bridge - amidship designs: Possibly the Russian tanker, OLEKMA could be a candidate. Built in 1964 in the Rauma - Repola Ship Yard in Finland and in 2010 still in active service. She was, at one point, converted into a replenishment tanker for the Russian Navy but in later years, I think, converted back to civilian service.

However, there could be older tankers with the bridge - amidship designs still afloat.

Phil - perhaps it's fair to say, the cable layer HENRY P LADING was built in 1930 as the tanker, PETER HURRL. She became ESSO K
« Last Edit: September 28, 2011, 10:29:55 AM by Astra »

Offline Phil English

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2011, 11:51:46 AM »
Astra - Yes agree regarding the "Henry P. Lading".

Brgds
Phil

Offline Kyle Stubbs

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2011, 01:43:56 AM »
Interesting thoughts everyone, thanks for the responses!

My hope was actually to kind of create a forum for celebrating some of these oddball elderly vessels that most aren't aware of, yet just may occasionally visit a port near you, and have, at least in the world of merchant shipping, seemingly achieved a temporary immortality.

I was very excited to actually capture CSL CABO as she departed yesterday. Who knows how much longer she will be sailing, though.

Among my personal sighting hall of fame I would also include HORIZON CHALLENGER, a 1968-built containership.

And, though scrapped at 31 or so years of age, one of my favorites, with the last photo taken of her posted here, 1978's SAMMI HERALD.
"Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often." -Mark Twain

Offline Daniel Taylor

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2011, 03:32:45 PM »
M/Y Delphine (built 1921) is a commercial yacht and is still in service.  Classed as a passenger ship so would appear to count in the above criteria.

Offline Robert J Smith

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2011, 04:58:21 PM »
What about the US exhibition ship SPIRIT built in 1945. I saw her in Galveston, Texas back in 2002 and apparently still operating.

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=272520

From Equasis today

IMO number :   5269003
Name of ship :   SPIRIT   (since 01-01-1985)
Call Sign :   KVUB   
MMSI :   367375000   
Gross tonnage :   3809   (during 1945)
DWT :   5310   
Type of ship :   Exhibition Vessel   (since 01-12-1989)
Year of build :   1945   
Flag :   United States of America   (since 01-05-2009)
Status of ship :   In Service/Commission   (during 1945)
Last update :   29-03-2011   

Regards

Bob

Offline frtrfred

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2011, 11:39:15 PM »
Hi Kyle, don't forget INDEPENDENCE 5290911 built as the tanker TRAVERSE CITY SOCONY in 1938,and has been on salt water since at least 1962--thanks, Fred

Offline b47b56

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2011, 09:23:53 AM »
Hello

I don't know about foreign Navy but in Russian Navy oldest ship is "Kommuna"
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1364540
Launched in 1913 as "Volhov" - sea transport, in service from 1915. From 1917 in service as Rescue Vessel. In 1922 renamed as "Kommuna".
L: 81 m; B: 13,2 m; draft: 3,7 m.
"Kommuna" is the oldest vessel of Russian Navy which still in service.
Some time ago I saw her on regular rescue exercises. She is in service and self-propelled.
But I heard that in few years she 'll become a museum.

Regards, Yevgeniy.

Offline Robert J Smith

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2011, 09:47:17 AM »
Another contender could be the dredger MAASMOND, built 1931 and presently operating on the River Thames here in the UK

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1354405

Regards

Bob

Offline b47b56

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #12 on: October 01, 2011, 10:31:28 AM »
Some old vessels from Norway:
Possibly it is not correct to say oldest seagoing ship for them but they are in service and work in Noreay fjords:

Victoria - IMO 5379822 Build: 1882 http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=850958
LYDIA - IMO 8882466 Build: 1896 http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1334695

For seagoing vessels which are in service and more than 500 GT I found:
Sedov - IMO 7946356 Build: 1921 http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1377387

Regards, Yevgeniy.

Offline john lecky

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2011, 01:37:37 PM »
dont forget the danae and daphne ex port melbourne and port sydney still original hulls and engines and aux.sailed as 3/2 elect on port melbourne in 1964 both built in 1955 one at swans and the melbourne at harlands and they are still oceangoing regards john

Offline Bernd U.

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Re: Oldest Seagoing Ships In Service
« Reply #14 on: October 01, 2011, 06:53:03 PM »
Grossherzogin Elisabeth Built 1909 at Ablasserdam,Nederland,Still in service.
Homeport Elsfleth,Germany
Imo 5309416
Mfg Bernd

 

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