ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
Turkish
Maritime Lines
(Denizcilik Bankasi Turk Anonim Orakligi)
MS Akdeniz
Including her sister ship - MS Karadeniz
Including the …
“Save the MV Akdeniz Campaign”
The then cruise ship MV Akdeniz is seen here in
Let’s keep her looking this beautiful for
history to remember what real ships were like!
Photographer unknown – *See Photo notes at bottom of
the page
Sent in by J.J. Thurston
The Akdeniz and
Karadeniz were the larger ships of the five at 8,809
MS Izmir the 1stiof three smaller sister ships
*¹ Author’s
private collection
The Akdeniz and Karadeniz both had a pair of M.A.N. diesel engines sailing at a respectable service speed of 18½ knots. Akdeniz was the first to be delivered in December 1955 and commenced services. She was soon followed by her sister Karadeniz in 1956.
MS Akdeniz seen sometimes in 1955
*¹ A. Duncan photo from the author’s private
collection
Directly below the Bridge located forward on three levels are the main First Class Lounges all of which were superbly furnished as were all her First Class accommodations. On Promenade Deck forward is the Ballroom with the Deck Bar located far aft. Between the two public rooms there are four twin deluxe suites, all having a private sitting room. On A Deck forward was the First Class Main Lounge followed by cabins. First Class accommodations were mostly two berth cabins in two grades, A and B grades and were located on the corresponding decks (A&B), the vast majority having private facilities.
MS Karadeniz seen in 1956
*¹ A. Duncan photo from the author’s private
collection
Tourist Class had a Lounge in the “poop” structure far aft. The Tourist Class Dining Room was located port side on C Deck. Four grades of accommodation were available from two and four berth to multiple spaces. When built these ships had three classes, but were changed into amore suitable two class configuration. When built both ships were only partially air-conditioned with forced air to other parts of the ship.
The four ships holds were serviced by eight 3 ton electric cranes and four derricks. Both ships had space to transport 40 cars out on deck.
Author’s private collection
Built
by: A.G. Weser Shipyards,
Tonnage: 8,809
Length: 144m – 474ft
Width: 18.7m - 61ft
Draught: 9m - 20ft 3”
Engines: 2 M.A.N. diesels,
3620
Screws: Twin
Speed 18.5 knots
Passengers: 8 deluxe, 74 First Class
370 Tourist
1980 - 561 One class
1990 - 314 One class
Both ships operated
on North and
1966 Fare and sailing schedule
From the collection of Björn
Larsson
www.timetableimages.com/maritime/index.htm
MV Akdeniz is seen here in
Photograph by & © Hans Jurgen Aambergh
An official Turkish Maritimes lines Postcard of
the MS Akdeniz
Author’s private collection
1967 sailing schedule
From the collection of Björn
Larsson
www.timetableimages.com/maritime/index.htm
In 1980s both the Akdeniz and her sister Karadeniz became one class ships accommodating up to 561 passengers and began operating cruises out of Istanbul, which proved to be an exceedingly successful move by the company.
MV Karadeniz was broken up in 1987. Page Four has further details.
From 1988 to 1989, Akdeniz had a change of livery, a dark blue hull, red boot topping and white masts. Also her far forward and aft electric cranes and derricks over the cargo holds were removed as the ship no longer carried general cargo.
Looking rather attractive the refitted MV
Akdeniz is seen with her dark blue hull
There are conflicting reports about the dates of
the hull colour
Photograph
by & © Ali Bozoglu –wowTURKEY.com
As Akdeniz had become a much loved ship by the cruising public, she continued to be extremely successful, thus Turkish Maritime Lines decided that it was time give her an extensive upgrade!
The refit would take place in 1989, which saw her passenger capacity lowered to just 314 with all cabins being upgraded and given private facilities. In addition she was finally fully air-conditioned. There were further upgrades, including the all important ones on the Bridge, which received the very latest navigational and international safety equipment, etc. Upon completion she had been repainted all white once again, but retained her red boot topping. Her life boats were also still white, but later they would become red, as they are to this day. She was completed in 1990 and she recommenced her cruise duties and became acclaimed for her, elegance, comfort and style!
With her hull white again, Akdeniz is looking
pristine.
Photographer unknown – *See Photo notes at bottom of
the page
Sent in by J.J. Thurston
MV Akdeniz is seen here cruising in the
Scandinavian Fjords in 1992
Photograph by & © Hans Jurgen Aambergh
As with many of the
Mediterranean ships, during the winter months the Akdeniz was laid up at the
Turkish
The photographs below show her during one of these winter lay up’s and these were taken by Hurol Hekimbasi. I am grateful to Hurol for the use of these fine images!
Her proud bow
Obviously fishing around the ship is a popular event!
A fine stern close-up
At last an excellent photograph of her funnel!
Smoking Room/Main Lounge A Deck
Provided
by
First Class Dinning Room
Provided
by
Two swimming pools
Provided
by
Forward tender and lifeboats
Provided
by
A New Life for the Akdeniz
In 1997 the
MS Akdeniz was
handed over to the
Prof. Dr. Osman Kamil SAG, the then Dean of the
Faculty delivering the official opening speech
Provided by
A good friend of the author, Peter Knego, visited her in 1998 and he told me,
“In June of 1998, the Akdeniz had just
been taken over by the
In June 2006 Dr. Ata Bilgili, Vice Dean, Maritime Faculty, took a series
of photographs of her interiors prior to her being used as an accommodation
ship, thus she looked a rather lonely vessel. Yet her lounge showed her old
elegance and it can be seen how this ship could be turned into an elegant
floating hotel one day!
Before being berthed she was dry-docked for maintenance. When completed she was berthed at an especially made mooring and soon she was ready to served both as an ongoing Faculty as well as a student accommodation ship.
Page Two has a series of photographs taken by Dr. Ata Bilgili of the interiors mentioned above from June 2006, as well as other images. Page three contains a series of photographs taken by maritime historian Peter Knego when he visited the ship in 1998. Page four will have further photographs of her sister the MV Karadeniz.
Akdeniz has served
the
Dr. Bilgili wrote me as he is concerned about this fine ship, considering that she is the only passenger ship afloat that has never been externally been modified and looks the same today as she did the day she sailed on her maiden voyage. Obviously her future at this stage is somewhat unsure and it is best to look ahead and ensure that her future is safe and well taken care off!
A superb view of the Akdeniz in 2009 – It
is amazing, but her superstructure remains 100% as built
Photograph by & © Dr. Ata Bilgili -
The author is seen here on the Bridge of the
Akdeniz whilst visiting her in
Photograph taken by Dr. Ata Bilgili © 2009 Reuben Goossens
“Save
the MV
Akdeniz Campaign”
Working
together - Reuben Goossens founder - “SCLC” - “Save a Classic
Liner Campaign”
And
Dr. Ata Bilgili, Maritime Faculty,
ssMaritime in combination with the founder of the original “Save a Classic Liner Campaign” - Reuben Goossens, and Dr Ata Bilgili of Istanbul have now commenced a new campaign the “Save the MV Akdeniz Campaign” and we hope that this fine all original ship will receive your support and from around the world, I need genuine ship lovers to get behind her for this is indeed a remarkable ship! How many ships do you know that has not been modified or rebuilt in one way or another? MS Akdeniz is an original that proudly sailed under the Turkish flag for 42 years, and now she has served the academic community since 1988.
Peter Knego has already
visited the ship and was most impressed with her and has a special blog online
at: when he is in
Although she is currently in use and there is certainly no indication that she is about to be sold. However, as we have experienced with other ships, it is preferable to be well prepared in advance. Without doubt, this ship is unique to any other classic ship that may come on the market at this time for the reason that she is an original and totally unspoilt! There are several possibilities that we could consider for her future:
1... Reclassification:
This will mean that we could keep Akdeniz operational but with a crew of around
36, and use her locally or even internationally as an emergency accommodation
and/or a hospital ship, should there be a need. For the rest of the time she
can continue as a floating student Faculty in
2...
According to Dr. Ata Bilgili, “The initial goal is to find funding in order to dry dock the Akdeniz as soon as possible and do a thorough hull survey. After necessary repairs are completed and anti-fouling coating is applied, this would give us enough time to investigate other preservation opportunities. In the meantime, she can be used as a dorm for hands-on training lab for ITUMF cadets, classroom-library-conference hall and/or recreational center for ITUMF faculty and staff.”
If you have any further ideas or special interest in this fine ship - please email me for details.
She is a Fine Looking Classic Ship and this is the way we want her
to stay!
MV Akdeniz an elegant and a truly classic cruise ship!
Photographer unknown – *See Photo notes at bottom of
the page
Sent in by J.J. Thurston
INDEX
Page One … The history of MS Akdeniz and the early days
of MS Karadeniz
Page Two … Interior photographs
taken in June 2006 and other images
Page Three … Photographs
by Peter Knego taken of Akdeniz in 1998
Page Four … Photographs
and details of MS Karadeniz
Page Five ... NEW – A superb page packed full of photographs of the
ships interiors taken by Dr. Ata Bilgili
whilst she has been at anchor as an accommodation vessel
New Page … MS Pasabahce is a remarkable 1955 built Turkish all steel ferry and it is now in need of saving!
**************************************
I trust you have enjoyed reading about the Akdeniz or Karadeniz. If you have sailed on them I would like to hear from you, also if you have any photographs I would greatly appreciate some, especially those of the interiors and out on deck. Please email me!
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PLEASE NOTE: I receive hundreds of requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and Sailing Schedules. I hereby wish to advise that I am unable to assist due to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request for these will no longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!
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Where the ships of the past make history & the MV Doulos Site
Please Note:
*¹ Photographs marked with *¹ were scanned from Laurence Dunn’s book
“Passenger Liners” the 1961 edition.
This notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!
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