The "Seven Seas" was built by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Chester, PA, in 1940 as the "Mormacmail" for the US Moore McCormack Line as a freighter. She was a 12,575 gross ton ship, length overall 492ft x beam 69.2ft, one funnel, one mast, single screw and a speed of 16 knots. Launched on 15/1/1940, she went to the US Navy in 1941 and was renamed "Long Island". In April 1947 she was laid up and in 1948 was sold to the Caribbean Land & Shipping Co, renamed "Nelly" and rebuilt as a passenger ship with accommodation for 20-1st class and 1,066-tourist class. In 1949 she made her first Bremen - Australia voyage and in 1953 was renamed "Seven Seas". In 1955 she was chartered to the German Europe-Canada Line and on 30/4/1955 commenced her first Bremen - Havre - Southampton - Quebec - Montreal voyage. In January 1956 she made her first Bremen - Rotterdam - Havre - Southampton - Halifax - New York voyage (winter service) and in April 1956 resumed Bremen - Quebec - Montreal voyages. She was bought outright by Europe-Canada Line in 1956 and in April 1963 made her last Bremen - Rotterdam - Havre - Southampton - Quebec - Montreal voyage and subsequently ran to New York. On 17/7/1965 she had a serious fire in the engine room while 500 miles from St John's NF to which port she was towed. She was repaired and on 20/6/1966 resumed the New York - Southampton - Havre - Rotterdam - Bremen service, starting her last voyage on 13/9/1966. She was bought by Rotterdam University the same year and employed as a students' hostel.
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Updated: April 20, 2003
