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S/S "United States"
Built in 1952 by Newport News SB for United States Lines
Gross tons: 53330, - Displacement: 47300, - DWT.: 13016, - LOA.: 301,08 m, - Beam: 30,8 m
Propulsion: 4 steam turbines, - HP.: 248000, - Speed: 38,3 knots.
Photographed in the English Channel in 1969
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

The S/S "United States" is a legend - - -
She is simply the Worlds fastest passenger liner, and won the "Blue Riband" for crossing the Atlantic with an average speed of 35,59 knots, - and she still had extra power to give - - -
She still holds the record for having done the fastest westbound passage ever, but lost the record for the east going trip as late as 1990 because ships of a different design, - the catamaran type, and much smaller -, now can do the trip slightly faster.
But these super fast catamarans are not passenger liners in the traditional sense, and they are not in regular, commercial trade on this route, but only did it for "fun" and in order to win the "Blue Riband" - - -
In other words: To my humble opinion they should NEVER have been allowed to win, - but unfortunately it is not me who makes the rules - - -

S/S "United States" is also the biggest passenger liner ever built in USA.

She has not been in service since 1969, - which means, that when I had the good fortune of being passed, and quickly left behind by this super fast ship -, it was also the last chance to photograph her in all her glory during the very last days of her active service time - - -
So, - talk about good luck for a ship lover - - - :-)

However, - the S/S "United States" is still around - - -
After she was laid up in 1969, she was finally sold in 1978 and after that she had various owners who never managed to put her back in any sort of commercial service again.
But in 2003 she was sold to NCL, who apparently have serious plans of getting her back to life as a cruise ship!
The NCL guys appear to know very well what they are doing, and it would be GREAT if they finally manage to come up with some sort of idea that can save the ship from the scrap yard - - -
After all she IS the true Queen of the Atlantic, and therefore she certainly does not deserve to be converted to scrap!

Unfortunately I only managed to take one picture as "United States" passed, - but it was one of the last chances there were for photographing her under way at high sea, - and the picture turned out good, - so please enjoy this unique sight! :-)

"Ocean Queen"
Ex. Royal Mail Ship "Pendennis Castle", - built in 1957 for Union-Castle Line, London, UK
DWT.: 15976, - Gross Reg. Tonnage: 28582, - LOA.: 232,6 m, - Beam: 25,6 m
Machinery: Steam Turbines, - BHP.: 46.000, - Tween Propellers, - Speed: 22,5 Knots
Renamed: 1976 "Ocean Queen", - 1977/1978 "Sinbad", - 1977/1978 "Sinbad I", - and finally scrapped in 1980
Photographed in Hong Kong, Dec. 1976.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

This very fine, beautiful and stylish ship also requires some additional notes - - -
She is clearly a real classic, and as such her name "Ocean Queen" suits perfectly - - -
It would be very interesting to investigate the history of this ship.

My investigations revealed, that the "Ocean Queen" was actually the former, famous Royal Mail Ship "Pendennis Castle" owned by just as famous Union-Castle Line of London, - and built at the legendary Harland & Wolf yard in Belfast way back in 1957, - indeed a true classic!

In maritime circles RMS "Pendennis Castle" was voted as "the ship of the year" and earned a reputation of being the finest, fastest and most famous mail ship in Union-Castle Line, - gaining the speed record on her regular run between Southampton and Cape Town.
She stayed in active service with Union-Castle Line for 19 years, until she was finally sold to Ocean Queen Navigation Co. in 1976, - the year I happened to be around in Hong Kong and could photograph her in all her glory with her brand new paint scheme and a new name, - "Ocean Queen".

The idea was, that she should continue service on the big oceans as a cruise ship.
However, - something went terrible wrong, and in 1977 or 1978, she was sold again and renamed "Sinbad", - and later again she became "Sinbad I".
The end came in 1980, when her last, short voyage brought her to Kaohsiung, where she was finally scrapped, after having been laid up in Hong Kong since she retired from service with the Union-Castle Line in 1976 .
Indeed a sad end for such a fine ship - - -

Therefore I have added not just one or two pictures to this page of this beautiful ship, - but six!
Please enjoy my images of this true classic - - -

"Ocean Queen"
Photographed in Hong Kong, Dec. 1976.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

"Ocean Queen"
- a true classic in all her glory -
Photographed in Hong Kong, Dec. 1976.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

"Ocean Queen"
- a final view of this great ship photographed in Hong Kong in Dec.1976 -
Photographed in Hong Kong, Dec. 1976.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

From Left to Right, - a Magnificent Trio: "Homeric", "Nieuw Amsterdam" and "Patria".
These fantastic ships are moored here, waiting to be scrapped!
Photographed in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 1974.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

The "Homeric" , - still looking good although she is soon bound to "die" - -
Photographed at the scrap yard in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 1974.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

The "Homeric" again, - and "Nieuw Amsterdam" behind - - -
Photographed in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 1974.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/F "Frigg Sydfyen", Ferry, Denmark
Photographed in July 2005
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/F "Frigg Sydfyen", Ferry, Denmark.
Photographed in July 2005
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

Here one of the characteristic "rising sun" inter island passenger ferries, that connects the japanese islands.
Photographed in Japanese waters, 1974.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

Cunard Cruise Liner
Photographed in Pnama Canal, Nov.5.1996
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

"Stenøre" , ro-ro inter island ferry , Denmark
Photographed on July 29.1992
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

"Fursund", - ro-ro inter island ferry, Denmark
Photographed on July 29.1992.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

M/S "Great Rivers Explorer"
One of the ships from Exploration Cruise Lines.
Photographed in the Panama Canal at Gaillards Cut, March 1985.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

S/S "Britanis"
A Chandris Line passenger ship photographed in Colon, Panama March 07.1985.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

This great ship deserves a few comments.
She was originally built in USA way back in 1932 by the Bethlehem Steel Corp. for US owner Matson Line.
That means, that when I photographed the ship in 1985, she was already an old lady having crossed the oceans for 53 years, - including WW2 service.
She could very well be the passenger liner with the longest active service life of all.
Here in this series of pictures, she is flying the flag of Greek owner Chandris and registered in Panama.

"Halas"
- a great Turkish old-timer navigating the Bosporus -
Photographed in December 1972.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

"Ærøskøbing"
Danish inter-island ro-ro ferry, photographed April 14. 2006 at arrival Ærøskøbing on island Ærø.
Gt.: 1617, - Dwt.: 204, - Length: 49,9 m, - Breadth: 13,4 m, - Engine: 2040 KW, 13 knots.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

"Ærøskøbing"
Danish inter island ferry, photographed April 14. 2006 at arrival Ærøskøbing on island Ærø.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

"Højestene"
Danish inter island ro-ro ferry approaching small island Drejø.
Gt.: 257, - Dwt.: 100, - Breadth: 9,7 m, - Engine: 750 KW, 12,5 knots.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

"Øen"
Danish ro-ro ferry photographed off Skjoldnæs Lighthouse on island Ærø, April 14.2006.
Gt.: 503, - loa.:37,2 m, - breadth:9,4 m, - Engine: 607 KW, 12 knots.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

"Øen"
Danish ro-ro ferry photographed off Skjoldnæs Lighthouse on island Ærø, April 14.2006.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)

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