The Groen company from Scheveningen has decommissioned and sold the 'Fortuna' for further use as a houseboat with a mooring in Slikkerveer. The vessel was built in 1954 as 'Geestroom' by the Shipyard A. Apol in Wirdum, Groningen, for the company Waling van Geest & Zonen in 's-Gravenzande. The ship transported fruit and vegetables from Maassluis to England, and livestock was carried as return cargo. On Aug 28, 1961, she was ballasting en route to Boston, England, when she was struck amidships on the Nieuwe Waterweg between Maassluis and Hoek van Holland by the incoming Norwegian tanker 'Juranda' and sank. All 11 crew members were rescued. On Sep 4, the wreck was raised by a crane by the Van den Tak salvage company and repaired at the De Groot en Van Vliet shipyard in Slikkerveer.. In 1971, the transport of vegetables, fruit, and livestock came to an end. amd the ship changed owners twice. The last one changed its name to 'Fortuna'. In 1972, she was converted for recreational fishing and came under the management of Groen. The FORTUNA also served as a passenger ship, making trips in the early 1970s to the pirate radio ships Radio Veronica and Radio Noordzee, which were moored off the coast of Scheveningen. In 1998, the ship was chartered and served as a tender for goods and passengers on the east coast of Scotland, but was mainly deployed as an offshore support vessel. One of her last assignments involved serving as a guard vessel at the K13-A platform in the Dutch North Sea. The offshore work has now come to an end, andvessel left her home port of Scheveningen for the last time on July 10, 2025.
News
SEVEN SEAS NAVIGATOR
The Regent Seven Seas Cruises will dispose of the 'Seven Seas Navigator' in Oct 2026. The ship, which has been part of the fleet since 1999, will underake three farewell cruises between Aug and Oct 2026. The farewell cruise will include a twelve-day voyage from Le Havre to Barcelona, followed by a nine-day cruise through the Western Mediterranean. The ship's final voyage will be a 14-day cruise from Istanbul to Rome. The retirement of the Seven Seas Navigator is part of a fleet modernization strategy. The cruise line has expanded its fleet with newer, larger ships in recent years. For the 'Seven Seas Navigator's final voyages, various onboard events are planned to honor the ship and its long-serving crew. The retirement of the 'Seven Seas Navigator' marks a strategic step in the fleet development of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
