Hamburg Atlantik Line
Deutsche Atlantik Line
Hanseatic Tours
These pages are devoted to postcards and photographs of the Hamburg Atlantik fleet (later Deutsche Atlantik). The
Table
below gives links to complete
postcard histories of selected ships
. Below the table are official
postcards of the fleet
in date order.
Hamburg Atlantik Line
The Hamburg Atlantik Line, was founded by Vernicos Eugenides in January 1958. Vernicos Eugenides was the adopted son of Eugen Eugenides, who had been the founder/president of
Home Lines
. Home Lines acted as agents for Hamburg Atlantik in the US. The company acquired the three-funnelled
Canadian Pacific
Liner
Empress of Scotland
(built as
Empress of Japan
in 1930). After substantial rebuilding into the more modern looking two-funnelled liner
Hanseatic (1)
, services began between Cuxhaven, Havre, Southampton and New York in July 1958. Home Lines withdrew their ship on the Hamburg-New York service, leaving Hamburg Atlantik with a monopoly on this route (Vernicos Eugenides was by then president of both Hamburg Atlantik and Home Lines). 1959 was Hamburg Atlantik's best year on the New York service, air traffic competition becoming more significant after that.
Hanseatic (1)
spent more time cruising, and only completed eight round voyages in 1965.
Deutsche Atlantik Line
In December 1965, a new company known as Deutsche Atlantik Line was formed to finance a new ship. Axel Bitsch-Christensen, the manager of Hamburg Atlantik, drew up a scheme to offer past passengers on
Hanseatic (1)
shares in the new company. This was successful, and an order was placed for the 25000 ton
Hamburg
in November 1966. However, the
Hanseatic (1)
had been badly damaged by fire in September 1966. She was towed to Hamburg, but considered unsuitable for repair. The loss-making
Shalom
of Zim Lines was bought in 1967 by a third new company, the Hanseatic Schiffahrts Gesellschaft, and renamed
Hanseatic (2).
The Hamburg Atlantik Line was then wound up, and the
Hanseatic (2)
was marketed as the Deutsche Atlantik Line. She was joined by the new
Hamburg
in 1969, by which time both ships were cruising full time, with annual positioning trips across the Atlantic. The company was by this time co-operating with
Holland America Line
, who were general agents for Deutsche America Line in the US, Canada and Mexico.
1973 was a difficult year for cruise operators, and
Hanseatic (2)
was sold to
Home Lines
as their
Doric
. The
Hamburg
was briefly renamed
Hanseatic (3)
, but was then sold herself to the Soviet Union (Black Sea Shipping Co) in early 1974, becoming the
Maxim Gorky
. She has subsequently spent many years catering for the German market, on charter to Phoenix Reisen of Bonn.
Hanseatic Tours
Hanseatic Tours was formed by Dirk Moldenhauer, a former captain with Deutsche Atlantik. There was no other direct link with the older company that I am aware of, but he acquired the rights to use the colours and name
Hanseatic
for the
Society Adventurer
, which was bought whilst under construction. Because of the continuation of the name and livery, it seems appropriate to deal with the company on this page. The company was bought by
Hapag-Lloyd
in 1997, but the
Hanseatic
has retained her historic name and livery within the Hapag-Lloyd fleet.
Ships Covered on This Page:-
Hamburg
- 1969-built liner, later Hanseatic (3)
Hanseatic (1)
- 1930-built liner, ex-Empress of Scotland
Hanseatic (2)
- 1964-built liner, ex-Shalom, later Doric etc
Hanseatic (3)
- 1969-built liner, ex-Hamburg
Hanseatic (4)
- 1993-built liner, ex-Society Adventurer
Hanseatic Renaissance
Associated Pages:-
Hapag-Lloyd
Canadian Pacific Line
Home Lines
Phoenix Reisen
Regency Cruise Line
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
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Table of Ship Histories
Name
Other names
Built
Hanseatic (1)
Empress of Japan, Empress of Scotland
1930
Hanseatic (2)
Shalom, Doric, Royal Odyssey, Regent Sun, Sun Venture
1964
Hamburg
Hanseatic (3), Maxim Gorky
1969
Hanseatic (3)
Hamburg, Maxim Gorky
1969
Hanseatic (4)
Society Adventurer
1993
Hamburg Atlantik Line
Fleet List in Date Order
Hanseatic (1) 1958-66
The new Hamburg Atlantik company acquired the three-funnelled Canadian Pacific Liner
Empress of Scotland
(built as
Empress of Japan
in 1930). After substantial rebuilding into the more modern looking two-funnelled liner
Hanseatic (1)
, services began between Cuxhaven, Havre, Southampton and New York in July 1958. 1959 was Hamburg Atlantik's best year on the New York service, air traffic competition becoming more significant after that.
Hanseatic (1)
spent more time cruising, and only completed eight round voyages in 1965. The
Hanseatic (1)
was badly damaged by fire in New York on 7th September 1966. She was towed to Hamburg, but considered unsuitable for repair. The Zim Lines
Shalom
was acquired in 1967 to replace her.
A complete postcard history is available
on this link
.
An early official Hamburg-Atlantik art card of
Hanseatic (1)
.
An official Hamburg-Atlantik postcard of
Hanseatic (1)
.
An official Hamburg-Atlantik postcard of
Hanseatic (1)
.
An official Hamburg-Atlantik postcard of
Hanseatic (1)
, advertising (in French) three cruises from Zeebrugge on 2nd April, 12th May and 29th June. Unfortunately the year is not stated. The card is printed by Kruger (serial: 920/48).
A very similar postcard of
Hanseatic (1)
to the one above (note that the position of the fourth small boat has changed). This was printed was printed both as Hans Anders 13662, and Conwa 8860, both versions having Hamburg-Atlantik serial 8536.
A further variation of the postcards of
Hanseatic (1)
shown above.
The same image of the postcard of
Hanseatic (1)
shown above, but with inferior colour and sharpness.
Scan supplied by Fred Schnittke.
An unusual musical postcard of
Hanseatic,
with a 45 rpm record embossed on the front.
The image of the ships has been rather crudely added to a view of New York.
The two-minute song has a men's chorus apparently extolling the virtues of the
Hanseatic
.
Scan: Barbara Krim.
A later Hamburg-Atlantik official postcard of
Hanseatic (1)
, with exhaust extensions to the funnels.
A later Hamburg-Atlantik official postcard of
Hanseatic (1)
, with exhaust extensions to the funnels.
Deutsche Atlantik Line
Hanseatic (2) 1967-73
The first
Hanseatic
(
ex-Empress of Scotland
) caught fire in New York in 1966. She was towed to Hamburg to be broken up. Deutsche Atlantik were able to buy the three-year-old
Shalom
, and renamed her the
Hanseatic (2).
Although intended for Hamburg-New York service, she soon spent her time cruising the world, and an attractive series of official cards were issued showing many ports of call (although they were not identified on the cards!).
A complete history of this ship is shown
on this link
.
The following eight postcards are all Deutsche Atlantik official releases of the
Hanseatic (2)
.
She received generous postcard coverage of this stage of her career.
This is an enlargement from the official postcard above.
Otto Schulze (Hamburg) card 745a (79/84) of
Hanseatic (2).
Hildegard Mielck (Kiel) card 7086 of
Hanseatic (2).
HHH (Hans Hartz, Hamburg) postcard 1/518 of
Hanseatic (2).
HHH (Hans Hartz, Hamburg) postcard 1223 of
Hanseatic (2).
Postcard of
Hanseatic (2)
at Cuxhaven.
Postcard of
Hanseatic (2)
at Cuxhaven.
Hamburg - Hanseatic (3) 1969-74
The
Hamburg
was ordered in 1966, and entered service in January 1969, the first major German-built liner since 1938. Although intended for the Hamburg-New York service, she operated as a full time cruise ship from new. In 1973 she was renamed
Hanseatic (3)
when the
Hanseatic (2)
was sold to
Home Lines
. I do not have any postcards issued as
Hanseatic (2).
The new name was short lived, since
Hamburg
was sold to the Soviet Union (Black Sea Shipping Co) in early 1974, becoming the
Maxim Gorky
. She has subsequently spent many years catering for the German market, on charter to
Phoenix Reisen
of Bonn.
The subsequent history of this ship is shown on the complete postcard history
on this link
.
Deutsche Atlantik official postcard of
Hamburg
.
Deutsche Atlantik official postcard of
Hamburg
. An enlargement of the ship is shown below.
Deutsche Atlantik official postcard of
Hamburg
and
Hanseatic (2)
at St Thomas.
Deutsche Atlantik official postcard of
Hamburg
in the Caribbean.
HHH (Hans Hartz, Hamburg) postcard of
Hamburg
at Hamburg, serial 1/559.
HHH (Hans Hartz, Hamburg) postcard of
Hamburg
at Hamburg, serial 1/5369.
HHH (Hans Hartz, Hamburg) postcard of
Hamburg
at Hamburg, serial 1/550.
HHH (Hans Hartz, Hamburg) postcard of
Hamburg
at Hamburg, serial 1/568.
Anders, Hamburg, postcard of
Hamburg
at Hamburg, serial 8585. the freighter in the foreground is the
Rio Lujan
(1949) of state-owned Empresa Lineas Maritimes Argentinas.
Kruger, Hamburg, postcard of
Hamburg
at Hamburg, serial 920/210.
Kruger, Hamburg, postcard of
Hamburg
at Hamburg, serial 920/208.
Unidentified postcard of
Hamburg
at Hamburg, similar to the one above, but dressed overall.
Hanseatic Tours 1991-97
Hanseatic (4)
The Hanseatic Tours vessel
Hanseatic (4)
was built in 1991. She was ordered as the
Society Adventurer
, of Discoverer Rederei, but bought by Hanseatic Tours before delivery. The owner of Hanseatic Tours, Dirk Moldenhauer, was the final captain of the last German registered
Hanseatic
of Deutsche Atlantik Linie. He bought the rights to the Deutsche Atlantik Line logo and the name
Hanseatic
. Hapag-Lloyd took over Hanseatic Tours, and the
Hanseatic
in 1997, and Dick Moldenhauer became one of the chiefs of Hapag-Lloyd Seetouristik.
A more complete postcard history of this ship, including a card of
Society Adventurer
, is shown
on this link
.
Hanseatic Tours issued a stream of superb postcards of the
Hanseatic (4)
during their ownership, although none of the cards gives any details of location, photographer or serial number. Twelve of these cards are shown below.
This is an oversized Seven Seas Cruise Line of the
Hanseatic (4)
presumably issued when they chartered her or marketed space - I do not have precise details of the connection.
Hanseatic Tours was bought by Hapag-Lloyd in 1997, although the colours of
Hanseatic (4)
have remained unchanged. This is a Hapag-Lloyd Tours card of
Hanseatic (4)
, serial S12H.
Hapag-Lloyd postcard of the
Hanseatic (4)
.