TSS Stefan Batory

300px TSS Stefan Batory
History
Netherlands
Name:	1951—1968: TSS Maasdam IV
Owner:	Holland America Lines
Port of registry:	Netherlands
Ordered:	1950
Builder:	Wilton-Fijenoord, Schiedam
Yard number:	733
Laid down:	19 December 1950
Launched:	5 April 1952 by Mrs. Adriaan Gips
Maiden voyage:	11 August 1952 Rotterdam—Southampton—Le Havre—Montreal—New York
In service:	1952—1966
Identification:	5216147
Germany
Name:	1951—1968: TSS Maasdam IV
Operator:	Europa-Kanada Linie subsidiary of Holland America Lines
Port of registry:	1966—1968: Bremen, Germany
In service:	1966—1968
Poland
Name:	1968—1990: TSS Stefan Batory
Operator:	1968—1988: Polish Ocean Lines 1988—1990: Hellenic Polish Line
Port of registry:	Gdynia, Poland
Route:	1968—1988: Gdynia—Montreal
In service:	1968—1990
Sweden
Name:	1990—2000 TSS Stefan
Owner:	Stena AB
In service:	1990—1992 as accommodation for asylum seekers in Gothenburg, Sweden
Out of service:	1992—2000
Fate:	Scrapped Aliağa, Turkey 2000
General characteristics
Type:	Ocean liner
Tonnage:	15015
Length:	153.4 m (503 ft)
Beam:	21.1 m (69 ft)
Draught:	8.8 m (29 ft)
Decks:	10
Installed power:	6256 kW
Speed:	18 knots
Capacity:	783 First class: 39 Tourist class: 734
Crew:	336

File:Stefan Batory orkiestra.jpg

Stefan Batory's orchestra.

The TS/S Stefan Batory was an ocean liner built in the Netherlands in 1952, as the fourth HA liner to serve under the name of SS Maasdam, initially used to service the Dutch East Indies by the Holland America Line. Originally planned as ordinary freighter under the name of "Diemerdyk".

She was bought from the Netherlands in June 1968 and began service as a Polish ocean liner on 11 April 1969 as a replacement for the then obsolete, but legendary MS Batory, both named after a king of Poland Stefan Batory (1533–1586).

After she was refitted and renamed at Gdansk, she became the flagship of the Polish Ocean Lines (1969–1988) and mainly sailed from Gdynia–Copenhagen–Rotterdam–London–Montreal–Southampton–Rotterdam–Copenhagen–Gdynia. According to contemporary press infos, on her first arrival in Rotterdam as the "Stefan Batory" in 1969, the former owners of her expressed their interest in buying her back from Polish owners for service under the former flag. During her long service, the "Stefan Batory" has at least twice appeared in film, significantly remembered, as "part of the set" in "Kochaj albo rzuć" (Love or Leave). The picture team have simply filmed the ship, festively leaving Gdynia, and a part of her original, regular voyage. She remained in service until 1988 and was the World's last regularly operated transatlantic liner. Festively farewelled by the people, and rather roughly by the Neptune, she was sold to third hands and finally scrapped in Aliağa, Turkey, works commencing in May 2000.

Technical data

• 10 decks
• Tonnage — 15,024 BRT
• Length — 153.4 m (503 ft).
• Width — 21.0 m (69 ft).
• Height — 21.0 m (69 ft).
• Speed — 16.5 knots
• Passengers — 39 1st class; 734 tourist class.
• Crew — 336.
• Engines — gas powered steam turbine.
• Stabilizers to reduce heeling (sailing)

References

• ts/s Stefan Batory. (1971). Polish Ocean Lines, Gdynia, Poland.
• Website dedicated to the TSS STEFAN BATORY