Kungsholm
Kungsholm - Europa - Columbus C
 
(Swedish America - NDL - Costa)
 
 
These pages are devoted to postcards and photographs of the Swedish America liner Kungsholm (III) of 1953, later sold to Norddeutsche Lloyd as their Europa. She passed to the combined Hapag-Lloyd fleet in 1970, retaining the name Europa, and was sold to Costa Line in 1981 as the Columbus C. Her career with Costa Line was short, since she fouled some rocks and was sunk in 1984.
 
 
Ship Names on this Page:-
Kungsholm (III) - Swedish America Line 1953-65
Europa - Norddeutsche Lloyd 1965-70
Europa - Hapag-Lloyd 1970-81
Columbus C - Costa Line 1981-84
 
Associated Pages:-
Swedish America Line
Norddeutsche Lloyd
Hapag-Lloyd
Costa Line
Ocean Liner Postcards -
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
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Kungsholm
 
Kungsholm (III)
(Swedish America: 1953-65)
 
Built in the Netherlands in 1953, Kungsholm (III) was the first of three striking two-funnelled liners built for Transatlantic service and cruising. The leading funnel on all three ships was a dummy. She was sold to Norddeutscher Lloyd in 1965, becoming their Europa, immediately prior to the delivery of Kungsholm (IV). In 1981, Costa Line bought the Europa, and renamed her Columbus C. In 1984 her keel fouled the rocks near a breakwater in Cadiz. She managed to reach the quay, but sank alongside soon afterwards. Although subsequently raised, she was sold for scrap in 1985.
 
 
Swedish American postcard of Kungsholm of 1953, stamped for the Maiden Voyage 24.11.53.
 
 
 
Photograph of Kungsholm of 1953 on hermaiden arrival in New York.
 
 
 
Swedish American postcards of Kungsholm of 1953.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A Jolin & Wilkenson postcard of Kungsholm of 1953.
 
 
 
Kungsholm passing through the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal.
The card is by Mike Roberts of California, serial number FF-130.
 
 
 
Postcard of Kungsholm of 1953.
 
 
 
Postcard of Kungsholm at Hamburg.
 
 
 
Kungsholm arriving at New York in the early 1950s. The card is by CT Publishing, serial number 006, and uses a photograph by John Blake.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europa
(NDL: 1965-70)
 
Built in the Netherlands in 1953, Europa was originally the Swedish America liner Kungsholm (III). She was the first of three striking two-funnelled liners built for Transatlantic service and cruising. The leading funnel on all three ships was a dummy. Kungsholm (III) was bought by Norddeutscher Lloyd in 1965, and she was transferred to the combined Hapag-Lloyd fleet in 1970, receiving a new livery during 1972. In 1981, Costa Line bought the Europa, and renamed her Columbus C. In 1984 her keel fouled the rocks near a breakwater in Cadiz. She managed to reach the quay, but sank alongside soon afterwards. Although subsequently raised, she was sold for scrap in 1985.
 
 
Official NDL art postcard of Europa.
 
 
 
Official NDL postcard of Europa.
 
 
 
Official NDL postcard of Europa.
 
 
 
Official NDL postcard of Europa.
Scan: Ken Murayama.
 
 
 
Official NDL postcard of Europa.
 
 
 
Official NDL postcard of Europa.
Card supplied by Reto Raeth.
 
 
 
A Duncan photographic card of Europa in NDL colours..
 
 
 
Slightly erroneously titled postcard by Editions Dubray (Conches) 788 of Europa at Cherbourg, apparently in NDL colours.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europa
(Hapag-Lloyd: 1970-81)
 
In 1970, Europa passed to the combined Hapag-Lloyd fleet, and received a new colour scheme in 1972. North Atlantic crossings ceased in July 1971, after which she cruised full time. In 1981, she became the Columbus C.
 
 
Seven official Hapag-Lloyd cards are shown below.
All official postcards of Europa (II) carried the company name Hapag-Lloyd AG.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Verlag OCC (Bremerhaven) postcard 12-72-6 of Europa in Hapag-Lloyd colours.
 
 
 
Verlag Papeterie Einkaufsgesellschaft (Bremen) postcard 2850-070-0 of Europa at Bremerhaven Columbusbahnhof.
 
 
 
Cramers Kunstanstalt 'Cekade' postcard (Dortmund) 562 78/10 of Europa in Hapag-Lloyd colours.
 
 
 
Two postcards by Schoening & Schmidt 'S+S' of Luebeck (serial numbers Nord-Ost5 and Rd KL 7043) showing Europa in the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal (Kiel Canal).
 
 
 
 
 
 
Two postcards by Normanns Kunstforlag of Oslo, serial numbers 01-N-8-106 and N-8-187, showing Europa in Naeroyfjord, Sogn, Norway.
 
 
 
 
 
 
An interesting aerial view of Kiel on Mielck postcard serial number 7273.
 
 
 
A busy schene at Hamburg on an HHH postcard (Hans Harz Hamburg), serial number 566.
The liner to the left of Europa is Cabo San Roque, of Ybarra Line. The freighter to the right is Aludra of Dutch company Van Nievelt, Goudrian &co.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Columbus C
(Costa: 1981-84)
 
In 1981, Costa Line bought the Hapag-Lloyd flagship Europa, which had been built as the Swedish American Liner Kungsholm of 1951. In 1984 her keel fouled the rocks near a breakwater in Cadiz. She managed to reach the quay, but sank alongside soon afterwards. Although subsequently raised, she was sold for scrap in 1985.
 
 
Costa company postcard.
Scan: Dimas Almada.
 
 
 
An official Costa Line card is shown below.
 
 
 
This postcard of Columbus C is by CT Publishing, serial number 086.
 
 
 
This photographic postcard of Columbus C is by A.Duncan.
 
 
 
 
 
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