The Andrea Doria's captain, 58-year-old Piero Calamai, had determined to go down with the ship, however crew members eventually convinced him to abandon the sinking vessel. However, he still made sure he was the last one off. He retired after the disaster and reportedly asked repeatedly "Are the passengers safe? Are the passengers off?" on his deathbed in 1972. It's incredibly sad honestly.
One of the young female passengers on the Andrea Doria went to sleep in her cabin, she awoke to a tremendous crash of the two ships only to discover that both her and her bed were now aboard the Stockholm. During the collision her cabin was enveloped by the Stockholms bow Sadly her mother who also was in the cabin was killed, but the young lady survived..
I thought this story was apocryphal like the Angels of Mons but having checked Wikipedia it turns out it may be true, they even give her name :- "On the top deck of Stockholm, one of the crew came across Linda Morgan, who had been thrown from her bed on Andrea Doria as the two ships collided and landed on Stockholm's deck, suffering moderate but not life-threatening injuries. "
@@vinm300 She's very real, and is married to a former Mayor of San Antonio, Phil Hardberger. As such, she was First Lady of San Antonio from 2005-2009.
Really love how a big ship decided to help the one in need and turn on all of the lights. If there's a movie about it, I would think the light scene would be very emotional.
@@RealVidjag Hollywood loves their fake love stories too much though. Titanic, Pearl Harbor, both films ruined by dumb love stories. On another note if you want to watch a good Pearl Harbor film, watch "Tora! Tora! Tora!"
Rule of the seas. Anyone and everyone able to help a vessel in distress is obliged to do so. If you were sinking in the Atlantic Ocean with over 1,500 people under your command, you’d want every ship you can get coming your way.
@@JNDlego57 sadly there are still captains ( professional and pleasure ) that don't obey the laws. The vast majority do but some will ignore the problem.
One of the laws of the sea is that anyone able to assist a vessel in distress is obliged to do so. You wouldn't consider it insane if they were proceeding to YOUR aid.
6:53 - “less than three hours later, the Il De France arrived on the scene” I admit, I am a 40+ year old man, still I started to cry. Imagine what it means to be on a battered, sinking ship with all those smaller vessels around it, and all of a sudden this giant emerges from the mist, to save you.
@@FirstDagger let me ask, it's true that MV Astoria Stockholm was build to break ice, so when hit Andrea Doria produce double damage to his flank, due to reinforced steel front needed?
@@sibbolo9204 Actually Stockholm's bow was crushed like a can by the impact, but in those scenarios the rammed ship has always far worse damages than the ramming one, since a ship can loose a dozen meters of the bow and remain afloat, but can't have another ship enter in his flank for a dozen meters and remain afloat. www.galatamuseodelmare.it/contrib/uploads/2017/01/Andrea-Doria_Calamai.jpg
@@sibbolo9204 The Stockholm has a reinforced bow to deal with light ice that can be encountered in the north Atlantic. But it can not break heavy thick ice like an ice breaker ship can.
I saw it laid up in Genoa (there's an irony) ~1990. One of my shipmates was an expert on ocean liners; he recognized the ship from across the harbor(!) and led several of us over to take a look.
Andrea Doria Rescue: "At least an hour after our arrival on the scene, I saw a dim form of a large ship emerging from the darkness and moving quite rapidly in our direction. There were no lights visible other than the required red and white running lights. The red lights being visible indicated that this ship was going between the "Andrea Doria" and the "Thomas." When it got into position,we could feel the vibrations as the huge ship backed down full astern and came to a stop. For a few seconds, this ship remained almost totally dark. Then, all in unison, every light on this ship must have been turned on including a huge sign in lights that read "Ile de France". At the exact same time, every lifeboat began to be lowered and touched the water at precisely the same moment. The fleet of lifeboats then began moving en masse toward the "Andrea Doria." The arrival of the "Ile de France" was like grand theatrical production. The star of the "Andrea Doria" tragedy, she announced her arrival on the scene in a grand way. It was like she was saying, "I am here and all is under control." The majority of the crew and passengers aboard the "Andrea Doria" were rescued by the "Ile de France."---Memories of the event by Ernest R. Melby, EM1 USN, crew member of the USNS "Private William H. Thomas.
Honestly , I find it kind of heart warming when all the boats respond to help. Something like many people deciding to save lives and help in anyway they can is just- really heartwarming.
I think its something expected of everyone and not just an act of kindness. You must do it. You wouldn't want to be left alone so why would you leave others alone in that situation
I agree. It's horrible that there are situations that necessitate it, but to know everyone comes together in horrific circumstances like those warms your heart and restores some faith in humanity.
@@eetuthereindeer6671 It's an international law of the sea, even in boats the size I own, 6m... You hear a distress call on the radio (or sight a distress flare) and you are legally obligated to assist.
8:35 "Sir! Theres a ship on starboard!" "Turn more starboard! Quickly!" "What? Shouldnt we turn to port?" "NO! STARBOARD! BRACE FOR IMPACT! FOR THE EMPEROR!"
@@clansman89 What? These ships take forever to stop. Braking is not an option. And why would turning one way or the other make any difference in the speed or braking?
The captain was said to be very sensitive to others feelings. He never scolded or upbraided a junior colleague in front of anyone. He’d pull them aside and correct in private in a soft tone. He was widely respected by all crew members. His name was Piero Calamai.
It's not just the loss of passengers that is tragic but the fact that she was called the floating gallery with all of her arts and interior architectures went down with her in that sinking
@@theoristnumber1173 not what he said, in addition to the lost souls, there was a huge marvel of human engineering lost.. if you think that doesnt matter, then Google the Iraqi museum after 2003.
I had an older neighbor who sailed on the Doria a few crossings before she sunk.She said when she heard the news she was as upset about the loss of her native Italy's exquisite national treasure as the loss of life.
Andrea Doria was the finest Italian ship back in the days, she was our pride, a symbol of a growing and strong nation, for us, her sinking was a tragedy.
This was like when you see someone walking your way, you go to the left to avoid them and they go to the right to avoid you and you end up bumping into each other.
@@GalenMarekOfficial there are rules for avoiding collisions now - apparently there were not in 1956. Anyway, people can make dumb mistakes and break rules and cause crashes. Happens every day with cars, ships much less though because there are fewer ships than cars and far more stringent rules on who can captain a ship than who can drive a car around. It is not until tragedy strikes, though, that safety rules are introduced - remember that safety regulations are written in blood.
@@brokenwave6125 There are. Both ships should have turned to starboard to enable a "port to port" crossing. "RULE 14 Head-on Situation (a) When two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other. (b) Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights and by day she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel. (c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly. " This had been the rule in force for decades at the time of the Andrea Doria sinking. We've had them for more than a century now. Source: United States Coast Guard Inland and International Maritime Navigation Rules. www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/navrules/navrules.pdf
I was an 11 year old passenger on the Stockholm when the collision occurred. My mother kept telling me to stay awake because this was history happening but I could not. I missed the Ille De France but did see the Andrea Doria, laying completely on her side, sink. If you like details there is an ebook titled "Collision Course" about these ships that is an excellent read. The Stockholm is now MS Athena and is a cruise ship. I'm thinking maybe I should take a cruise on her. The Stockholm survived because she had an icebreaker bow.
Unfortunately "Collision Course" had been written as an "instant book" before the forensic were completed, and it's reconstruction had been disproved by later findings. First John Carrothers, forensic naval engineer, and then Captain Robert J. Meurn of the United States Merchant Marine Academy concluded that Carstens-Johannsen, third officer of the Stockholm, misread the radar. Samuel Halpern concluded that both ship's crews interpretations of the radar signals were wrong, but those of AD were more correct and that Carstens-Johannsen's starboard steering just two minutes before the crash did put Stockholm on a collision course with AD, no matter what Calamai could have done at that point. Only the point of impact would have changed: "These last four scenarios show that once Stockholm’s 24-degree turn to starboard was completed, a collision was unavoidable." In an impact, the ramming ship always has a better fate than the rammed one. Stockholm's bow had been crushed like a can by the impact, but a ship can easily remain afloat with a dozen meters of bow missing. It can't with a dozen meters of flank missing.
MS Athena is now MV Astoria. Perhaps take your mother aboard her again and see if she recognizes your lucky ship! Might I say the prow restoration went rather well!
I was not sure if she was still sailing after all this years, she is now named the mv astonia. I knew she had gone through many name changes as well as being rebuilt or any modifications. She will always remain after all this years, still be the fleet of the Swedish shipping line.
it's also been neglected to mention that the Stockholm was also built with a bow meant to brake heavy ice in the North Atlantic. This also contributed to why it nearly cut the Andrea Doria in half. Both companies ended up paying each other the same amount of money in the end after all was said and done from what I heard on a tv program about this accident.
I find it almost haunting how the Andrea Doria seemed to cling on until all her passengers (that were still alive) were off the ship before she finally sank. Similar to the Oceanos later on in the 90s, although they miraculously had 0 casualties.
The good news is that the fatality rate was very low, and mostly involved passengers on both ships who were in cabins in the parts of the two ships at the point of collision.
The Andrea Doria did not seem to have a good plan of helping their trapped passengers. My grandparents and a great aunt were on the ship. My grandmother and aunt were lost. Though they promised my grandfather when they would not let him stay and try to break down the door to their cabin that they would send help, they never did. He could hear them screaming but was forced by the crew to exit that area. He was one of the last to get on a lifeboat, waiting for his wife and sister-in law.
It's pretty common among Mariners, even if they are in Navy's that are at war with each other. They all have a common enemy in the ocean and they have all thought extensively of what it would be like to be left out there to dïe. Even the forces of Japan, the worst war crïmïnals during the second world war, very often stopped to save enemy sailors... Although what came after was of course not remotely commendable in those particular examples.
In all seriousness, the Ille de France and others being able to quickly respond probably saved hundreds of lives. This could have easily been another Empress of Ireland or even Titanic level disaster. Thankfully it wasn't (though it's still horribly tragic that dozens perished).
@@thunderbird1921 but all that died, died during the crash of the two ships, not because of the sinking, so at least we know they all died quick and painless deaths when compared to drowning.
I'm older than I care to admit, having seen this makes me appreciate just how maritime law can work really well when it needs to. By the numbers type of rescue from all those involved, a logistical nightmare in a way but with the best possible results. My admiration & respect to all those involved in the rescue.
@@nexorider17 It’s pretty cool when he tells the story. He starts with them boarding the Andrea Doria in Naples and goes thru the whole crossing and the collision.
During the collision, the Stockholms bell got stuck in andrea doria and went under with it. The bell was rescued recently and in 2015 was returned to her. The ship still in service under the name "MV Astoria"
Damn, im such a sucker for this kind of stories. It just fills me with joy, and hope when people respond in such numbers when needed the most. Im really glad, that even in trubled times like these, people treat each other like people, that we are still capeble of chosing other human, over monetary gain
My great grandparents sailed aboard this ship twice - to and from Italy to visit family in the 50s (30 or so years after they had emigrated to the US) just prior to the ship sinking. We have a their beautiful chest with the original Andrea Doria luggage stickers on it.
well look, britannic lost 35 people, why was it a tragedy? Reason: the ship was so unexpected to sink and those 35 people lost are 35 people who took their lives for the ship. So now can you see why it is a tragedy?
@@paullim8491 Again. It's just a joke. It's from an episode of the "Seinfeld" television program. (NBC.) The one where George Costanza has to compete with an Andrea Doria survivor.
The Andrea Doria was a modern "beautiful ship" at the time, smooth lines .. low single stack etc. Stockholm was reinforced front end (that is the wrong term) as it originally was designed to go through ice. It is incredible hard to believe, but it is STILL around and in use as the Astoria! I found that out last year and it floored me, it must have been extremely well built.
Yes the Stockholm have gone through many name changes, and redesigned over the years. What a grand sturdy lady, she is the ms Astoria. She did have a reinforced prow since her travels took her through the Baltic. Can you imagine any other cruise company other that the Swedes, designed such a beautiful ship in the day.
@@Luka2000_ For this, Ill assume you were born in 2000, making you either 18 or 19 years old, World War II started in 1939 and ended in 1945, making your dad at least 91 and at most 98. Now, the RMS Titanic sank in 1912. Your grandfather could have been any age by this time, but what matters is that he survived, which he obviously did. Assuming your grandfather and grandmother got marrier in, lets say 1919 at age 23, this would make your grandfather 16 at the time of the Titanic sinking. Your grandfather would have to have your dad at the latest 1927 to be able to enlist in the army, making your dad 91 today. This leaves you, who I assume is 19, this meant your dad would have children extremely late in life, in his 70's. I doubt your mother and father would all of the sudden change their mind and want children. I'm gonna say this is a lie.
It boggles my mind that the Stockholm *still exists.* You’d think functional ocean liners were as dead as doornails, *especially* ones that have been around for more than 70 years.
In August 1982,when the Vistafjord Baltic Cruise I was on docked in then-Leningrad, the Stockholm, then the Volkerfreundschaft, was tied up at the far end of the huge harbor. It wasn't within walking distance, and all day I wondered how I could get to walk the decks of the ship that did in the Doria. (It was seeing the Kungsholm & Gripsholm sail from Pier 97 every chance I could get that triggered my lifelong love of ships.) That night, passengers from both ships were bussed to a performance of a Siberian dance troupe, and I wondered what would happen if I "accidentally" got on the wrong bus. I decided that between the watchful eyes of the Intourist minders and East Germans' reputation as informers, I probably wouldn't get anywhere near the gangplank. And even if I did make it onto the ship, what if she sailed for the next port as soon as everyone was safely aboard? Which was exactly what happened. Strolling out on deck after a late dinner, what did I see but the Volkerfreundschaft slowly steaming out of the harbor.
One of my elementary class schoolmates, his sister, and their mother, was onboard the Andrea Doria and they were returning from Italy. Fortunately, they all survived. I remember watching this event on TV with my family. Then I saw my classmate being interviewed after they came ashore. I was relieved when I knew they were all alright.
Andrea Doria: Ile De France, please come over! Ile De France: I can't, I have passengers to be send in France. Andrea Doria: I'M SINKING!! Ile De France: Hang on, I'm coming.
*i know it's a joke but some random viewer might not get it At first the "Île de France" heard there was many ships assisting the rescue therefore it's assistance wasn't required. It's a bit later it heard none of the ship on scene had neither the capacity nor enough rescue boats to safely and fastly Rescue everyone. Hence ... *GOTTA* *GO* *FAST*
@@chibani- they could have still tried to help the more help to get the ppl off the sinking ship the less deaths before they found out the boats couldn't hold enough
It would also be a good idea if you mentioned Linda Morgan, the "miracle girl", which was on a starboard side cabin and when Stockholm crashed her cabin, instead of dying like her family and everyone else who died from the collision, she ended up in the Stockholm's ruined bow section. Also, the sinking of the Doria was the last major sinking involving ocean liners.
@@stevek8829 well, it was built as an ocean liner, but during the fateful voyage she was operating as a cruise ship. Also I said the Andrea Doria was the last MAJOR disaster including ocean liners. But thanks for telling me about Lakonia, I didn't know the liner and I looked into it.
Andrea Doria wreck: "Ciao compagni relitti!" Titanic wreck: "I cannot understand a word your saying." Brittanic wreck: "Me neither." Empress Of Ireland wreck: *Sad wreck noises*
Having read about the M/S Estonia, I was expecting far worse given the time period, the Atlantic sea could have some rough seas, and how life boats are worse than life rafts in rough seas. 😬 It's actually pretty wholesome to get such a happy ending given the circumstances.
The Estonia was a terrifying case honestly, all round from conditions to actions and even the rescue was terrible, one man threw himself off the helicopter after being rescued due to a panic attack
Here's a few other interesting facts. The Stockholm was a nimble ship with diesel engines that were almost as effective in reverse as forward. The Andrea Doria used steam turbines which are les than 30% effective in reverse. So her captain decided to turn and maintain power instead of reversing. The captain did not ballast the empty fuel tanks because of the cost and time to clean the tanks before taking on more fuel.If she had done so,, her vulnerable bottom may have been spared. The Stockholm, being a Sweedish design, had a reinforced bow for ice encounters. This certainly had an effect on the damage to the Andrea Doria. The Andrea Doria was a sister ship to the Cristiforo Columbo, which I had the pleasure to sail.
Ngl I welled up a little when I heard about the giant Il de France, protecting the stricken ship and turning all her lights on. It's refreshing to hear a good news story. It would make a great movie.
When I was 11 i went with my parents on the Isle De France from NY to England for a month. We were in Southampton waiting for the Isle de France to return us to NY. The ship was on its way to Southampton when this happened so we were delayed by a day. As we passed the spot of the sinking the ships horn blew a long blast.
Gus W Whoo is that the best retort you got? So hey clown, while Ile de France was built as a three funneled ship, she only had two in 1956. That is fact. But then again, every ship is Titanic to you right?
*George Costanza:* "Holding up Kramer's book" According to this, it took 10 hours. It eased into the water like an old man into a nice warm bath - no offence.
When I was in high school (1994-1999), I read 'Saved! The story of the Andrea Doria... the greatest sea rescue in history' by William Hoffer. It was one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. Since I see it's available on Amazon, maybe I'll buy it. I remember there was a Spanish-speaking girl on the A.D. who ended up on the Stockholm's bow when they separated.
The Andrea Doria disaster is well known in automotive circles, for the Chrysler Norseman concept car (which was designed in-house but built by Ghia in Turin) was aboard the Andrea Doria. As a result, barely anyone outside Ghia, the longshoremen that loaded it and the ship's crew ever got to see it "in-the-metal."
I was 10 when the Andrea Doria went down. I went with my grandfather and father in my Grandfather's fishing boat and we went to help with the rescue. We plucked one middle age man out of the ocean and took him to shore. He didn't speak any English and we didn't speak any Italian, but he was grateful. By the time we got back to the sinking ship, the rescue was well under way and most of the people needing saving had already been taken care of.
So you somehow intercepted a distress call and sailed 100 miles off shore to to the exact location of the ship and managed to somehow get 1 single person off of the huge ship and not a single soul involved ever told anyone about it until just now on a youtube video decades later.... seems legit
In times of adversity, does the human spirit shine its brightest. Hearing about all those ships that came to the rescue is a testament not just to the professionalism of their crews, but the humanitarian nature of everyone who very well knew that there was also a risk to their own ships, but the chance that they could save lives, was more important.
It's nothing to do with the human spirit, it's international maritime law! The fact that the Ill de France even considered not participating in the assistance is inexcusable! Despite doing the right thing in the end, the Captain of Ill de France should have been disciplined for even thinking he could ignore the call!
Who said they considered not to respond? They just inquired if they were needed before blindly following a call. When they realised they were, they went and helped.
The Stockholm is still around today and was actively used up until 2020 due to the pandemic. It is now under the name of MV Astoria. When it was refitted by the Italians into a modern cruise ship it was discovered that the ship was in remarkably good condition except for the American bow that was fitted after the accident. Therefore most of the structure is original from Götaverken in Sweden, with most changes made above the promenade deck.
I could imagine little children who were to young to understand how grave the situation was, being just excited to know that they will now aboard a bigger, more mighty looking ship
Titanic : we are sinking Olympic : I am coming Titanic don't worry. Carpathia : me too Titanic II : I can't come. Titanic : come fast. Olympic : OK. Carpathia : Olympic, you can go to your destination, I will save the Titanic Olympic : ok Titanic : my sister is coming yay. Mauretaina : oh no. I am comingggggggg. Iceberg : sorry Titanic. Titanic : that's OK. Titanic break in half. Titanic : Olympic, where are you? Carpathia : full speed aheaddddd. Titanic stern sink started. Titanic : Olympicccc . Titanic finally sank. Titanic : why did olympic didn't came for help? After sometime Carpathia Arrive Carpathia : hello guys I have arrived. Carpathia : sorry, olympic can't reach on time.
But there's more. Even after so many days after brittanic sank. In 2022 Titanic II : I am going to New Yorkkkkk. Titanic II : RIP Titanic. U 20 : what! Another titanic? Olympic 2 : I don't care about Lustainia Britanic II : yeah.
my grandfather worked as a doctor on the swedish ship "stockholm" mentioned here. he always bragged about that job, it was the most glamorous one he had in hes life! he got to eat with the captain every night and it was a constant party as it looked, hes wife followed him on the journeys for free, back then that was normal they even recorded some of this on a filmcamera fro mthe 50s, in colour.
@@idontknowwhatimdoinghere "Initial D" song. It's a reference to the ships goin' balls to the wall to get there quickly. th-cam.com/video/atuFSv2bLa8/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=musoforlyf
Reminds me of the RMS Empress of Ireland. If you can find it, "The tragic story of the Empress of Ireland and other great sea disasters" is an interesting read. Great video - as always, info and animation were great :D
My grandpa was on that ship on its maiden voyage, and he took the sistership of the Andoria back to Italy before taking the Andoria second time back to New York, where he still lives to this day
I was obsessed with this book called ghost liners when I was younger and this was the one that intrigued me the most of all of them (titanic, titanic, lusitania, empress of Ireland and andrea doria were the ships covered I believe). Thanks for this awesome video! It brought me back
This seems like a failure of communication between vessels. I know, in the aviation world, there was a similar version of this happening. In that instance, a Russian jet airliner and a DHL 757 cargo jet both detected each other. The both took evasive action to avoid a mid air collision. Unfortunately, the actions both took were to descend. They did not realize what the other jet was doing until it was too late. As a result the two jets collided and crashed thereafter killing everyone on board both planes.
I watched the air crash investigation episode on that one, I cannot mind which way around it was but one of the pilots followed the warning system on board and the other pilot was told by ATC to decend, there was only one ATC in the tower at the time and was having to deal with all other traffic which meant he couldn't monitor the situation with the collision course. If I remember correctly the other ATC guy was on his break when it happened. Good episode lol
@@tsm688 in theory they shouldn't need to communicate if they follow the colregs, which i believe require that vessels always turn to starboard to avoid a collision. (Basically both go right and it should be fine) However, extenuating circumstances can change this requirement but the default is to evade to starboard (right). The aviation industry is different because it has basically always had radios, especially in the age of passenger jets so it seems like sufficient communication should always be possible to avoid a collision. (And even more important, when airplanes collide the casualty rate is basically always insanely high.)
In the summer of 1956, I was staying at my Aunt Kitty's house in Philadelphia. My Young lady cousin Patsy, who lived 3 miles away in Philly, was there, too. Kitty had a very nice radio upstairs. We heard something about the collision and then stayed up most of the night, glued to the speaker. My cousin Patsy died last year but I am still here to remember that night. It's a major memory, that one, that pops up from time to time.
Some old woman that lived next door to me in Burbank , California in the early 70’s was a survivor of the Stockholm , she said she was outside walking from her cabin to a friend’s when the ship hit. She was thrown to the deck and broke her left arm. She even showed pictures of her trip aboard the ship
I heard a story about a freighter crewman that had hurt his back and was taken off his ship. He was waiting to cross back on another ship when a spot on the Doria came up. He took it at the last minute and therefore was not on the passenger list. Since he was down in a belly cabin by himself and never left it due too his injuries he was left and forgotten.He woke when he tumbled out of bed from the list and ended up in the water on the cabin floor.He clawed his way up to the main deck, "remember she's listing badly so not an easy task especially with a bad back". Once there he had to make his way from the high side around to the back holding the railing all the way. At the back he saw the main deck was almost at the water on the low side. He used the pool cover to kind of slide into the water at this point which also gave him something to hold onto. He called to one of the lifeboats to come get him but they looked at him and then looked away. He called to them again and they looked and looked away. He then realized they were to scared to come get him as the ship was above him and could rollover at any minute. He screamed at them,called them every name in the book and said they would all go to hell if they left him to die. They finally caved and rescued him thankfully. Almost as crazy a story as the little girl one.
I read a book on this subject 50 years ago. It included that while both ships, upon recognition of a meeting engagement, should have turned to starboard for a "port-to-port" passage, Andrea Doria instead turned to port-resulting in a collision.
Unfortunately "Collision Course" had been written as an "instant book" before the forensic were completed, and it's reconstruction had been disproved by later findings. First John Carrothers, forensic naval engineer, and then Captain Robert J. Meurn of the United States Merchant Marine Academy concluded that Carstens-Johannsen, third officer of the Stockholm, misread the radar. Samuel Halpern concluded that both ship's crews interpretations of the radar signals were wrong, but those of AD were more correct and that Carstens-Johannsen's starboard steering just two minutes before the crash did put Stockholm on a collision course with AD, no matter what Calamai could have done at that point. Only the point of impact would have changed: "These last four scenarios show that once Stockholm’s 24-degree turn to starboard was completed, a collision was unavoidable."
@@neutronalchemist3241 Ah, I fell for the fallacy that all you read is truth and the last word. Thanks for taking the time to provide important additional information.
Just a sticky point; "Ile de France" was a two stack liner in 1956, and it was larger, but not gigantic as depicted. "Andrea Doria" was a very large ship in it's own right.
@@Davidkxf registered tonnage is an apples go apples comparison. Displacement and maximum load would be more accurate but those weren't given in the video. What's your damage?
Frankly, I didn't get the impression that the video was trying to imply that the Ile de France was a lot bigger than the Andria Doria - just that it was a helluva lot bigger than all of the other responding ships, including the Stockholm.
I’ve been obsessed with the titanic and cool ship facts forever and I’ve always found this story interesting, another tragedy was the empress of Ireland in the Saint Lawrence, it was small but deadly and very interesting as it’s the Canadian channel and there’s lots of history. Anyway love this video and love your work keep it up 🥳
I am really happy that you recommended this video, as the sinking of Andrea Doria is an important story for my family. My grandfather was in fact a marconist officer on board the ship and he sent SOS after the collision. His name was Carlo Bussi
When I was a kid, I read a book called "Collision Course", about this very topic. Well worth a read, goes into a lot more detail than can ever be possible on YT. Written by a journalist who attended the hearings at the time, and interviewed many of the people involved.
Unfortunately "Collision Course" had been written as an "instant book" before the forensic were completed, and it's reconstruction had been disproved by later findings. First John Carrothers, forensic naval engineer, and then Captain Robert J. Meurn of the United States Merchant Marine Academy concluded that Carstens-Johannsen, third officer of the Stockholm, misread the radar. Samuel Halpern concluded that both ship's crews interpretations of the radar signals were wrong, but those of AD were more correct and that Carstens-Johannsen's starboard steering just two minutes before the crash did put Stockholm on a collision course with AD, no matter what Calamai could have done at that point. Only the point of impact would have changed: "These last four scenarios show that once Stockholm’s 24-degree turn to starboard was completed, a collision was unavoidable."
I was about 5 years old and vividly remember when the Andrea Doria went down and the pictures of the hull of the Stockholm. My grandfather was on the Andrea Doria on the crossing just before this one. I will never forget seeing him and my uncle off on other ships up until about 1960 and being scared stiff on the decks looking down at the water. There was a lot of priceless art on the Andrea Doria.
@@Mondo762 and the reason the Andrea Dora had air in her empty fuel tanks was to expedite refueling when she reached port. It was a common practice to only flood the empty fuel tanks if they were entering rough waters. (It provided stability) Because the radars turned with the ships, initially to both radar operators it looked like the other ship had turned away. As a ship turns to the right EVERYTHING on the old style radar screen appears to turn to the left. So as the Dora turned south the other ship appeared to move north on the radar screen. By the time the radar operators realized that both ships had turned South it was too late. It was bad luck of epic proportions.
Glenn Chartrand - As a retired engineer with over 30 years in the US Merchant Marine I can tell you introducing sea water into fuel tanks is asking for trouble. Water in the fuel can cause loss of fires in the boilers, which can lead to loss of propulsion and generators. That leaves you with a dead ship.
Thanks for sharing this video! My grandmother, aunt and uncle were aboard the Stockholm when this accident happened, so it was certainly something that was known about in my family.
Hi sir. Another interesting lesson. Never knew about this accident.. Thanks for teaching.. I like the animation and wave sound... It gives feeling like iam staying near the sea.. Thank you...🙏👍😊
The Andrea Doria's captain, 58-year-old Piero Calamai, had determined to go down with the ship, however crew members eventually convinced him to abandon the sinking vessel. However, he still made sure he was the last one off. He retired after the disaster and reportedly asked repeatedly "Are the passengers safe? Are the passengers off?" on his deathbed in 1972. It's incredibly sad honestly.
He even said he used to love the sea but now he hates it. He still a genius though.
Now that is a true captain.
@@concept5631 Indeed. Unlike those on the Costa Concordia and MV Sewol.
That is a true captain. He cared for his crew, the passengers and the ship before he even thought about his own life.
InfinityDestroyer ROFP it’s so nice that he offered to die for others and make sure everyone was safe.
One of the young female passengers on the Andrea Doria went to sleep in her cabin, she awoke to a tremendous crash of the two ships only to discover that both her and her bed were now aboard the Stockholm. During the collision her cabin was enveloped by the Stockholms bow Sadly her mother who also was in the cabin was killed, but the young lady survived..
Her father was a newscaster. He reported the sinking without letting the audience know that his daughter was believed to among those killed
I thought this story was apocryphal like the Angels of Mons but having checked Wikipedia it turns out it may be true, they even give her name :-
"On the top deck of Stockholm, one of the crew came across Linda Morgan, who had been thrown from her bed on Andrea Doria as the two ships collided and landed on Stockholm's deck, suffering moderate but not life-threatening injuries. "
@@vinm300 She's very real, and is married to a former Mayor of San Antonio, Phil Hardberger. As such, she was First Lady of San Antonio from 2005-2009.
Thanks for the interesting addition.
Yep
When captain wants to help:
*forced to abandon ship*
When a captain doesn’t want to help:
*runs away and is ordered to board again*
@@SteveGad And the MTS Oceanos.
And sadly the Sewol
@@ZaydinTTV no, the Oceanos's crew just left not just the captain
If you researched rather than spout nonsense, Capt. Schettino was ordered by Costa Cruise lines NOT to return to the ship
@@steve75112 r/woosh
Really love how a big ship decided to help the one in need and turn on all of the lights.
If there's a movie about it, I would think the light scene would be very emotional.
If a movie about does happen we don't need a fake love story to make the movie more "interesting"
@@RealVidjag Hollywood loves their fake love stories too much though. Titanic, Pearl Harbor, both films ruined by dumb love stories. On another note if you want to watch a good Pearl Harbor film, watch "Tora! Tora! Tora!"
cr4zyj4ck Titanic was made far better because of the love story, without that it’s just a 2 hour disaster movie.
Rule of the seas. Anyone and everyone able to help a vessel in distress is obliged to do so. If you were sinking in the Atlantic Ocean with over 1,500 people under your command, you’d want every ship you can get coming your way.
@@JNDlego57 sadly there are still captains ( professional and pleasure ) that don't obey the laws. The vast majority do but some will ignore the problem.
The amount of ships that responded was insane
The port of New York is a very busy as are the other ports in New England. There would always be a lot of ships in that area.
Its cause Andrea Doria had 11 hours for rescue to arrive.
One of the laws of the sea is that anyone able to assist a vessel in distress is obliged to do so. You wouldn't consider it insane if they were proceeding to YOUR aid.
@@kevinxxx1387 i know this. But am i not allowed to be at awe by how many responded i simply find it fascinating
@@Its_shiki_time4876 Of course you are, and if you had I'd have agreed. I was...put off by "insane".
6:53 - “less than three hours later, the Il De France arrived on the scene” I admit, I am a 40+ year old man, still I started to cry. Imagine what it means to be on a battered, sinking ship with all those smaller vessels around it, and all of a sudden this giant emerges from the mist, to save you.
Must've been quite the sight indeed. 🥲
Nowadays this could be even cooler, because Symphony of the Seas could come to help:)
I actually got emotional as well and almost began crying for some reason
Image how spectacular was the moment when the switched on all the lights
Imagine symphony on the titanic omg
Stockholm is still used today. As a cruiseliner under another name. Seen it here where I live. Interesting stuff.
MV Astoria since March 2016
@@FirstDagger let me ask, it's true that MV Astoria Stockholm was build to break ice, so when hit Andrea Doria produce double damage to his flank, due to reinforced steel
front needed?
@@sibbolo9204 Actually Stockholm's bow was crushed like a can by the impact, but in those scenarios the rammed ship has always far worse damages than the ramming one, since a ship can loose a dozen meters of the bow and remain afloat, but can't have another ship enter in his flank for a dozen meters and remain afloat.
www.galatamuseodelmare.it/contrib/uploads/2017/01/Andrea-Doria_Calamai.jpg
@@sibbolo9204 The Stockholm has a reinforced bow to deal with light ice that can be encountered in the north Atlantic. But it can not break heavy thick ice like an ice breaker ship can.
I saw it laid up in Genoa (there's an irony) ~1990. One of my shipmates was an expert on ocean liners; he recognized the ship from across the harbor(!) and led several of us over to take a look.
Andrea Doria Rescue:
"At least an hour after our arrival on the scene, I saw a dim form of a large ship emerging from the darkness and moving quite rapidly in our direction. There were no lights visible other than the required red and white running lights. The red lights being visible indicated that this ship was going between the "Andrea Doria" and the "Thomas." When it got into position,we could feel the vibrations as the huge ship backed down full astern and came to a stop. For a few seconds, this ship remained almost totally dark. Then, all in unison, every light on this ship must have been turned on including a huge sign in lights that read "Ile de France". At the exact same time, every lifeboat began to be lowered and touched the water at precisely the same moment. The fleet of lifeboats then began moving en masse toward the "Andrea Doria." The arrival of the "Ile de France" was like grand theatrical production. The star of the "Andrea Doria" tragedy, she announced her arrival on the scene in a grand way. It was like she was saying, "I am here and all is under control." The majority of the crew and passengers aboard the "Andrea Doria" were rescued by the "Ile de France."---Memories of the event by Ernest R. Melby, EM1 USN, crew member of the USNS "Private William H. Thomas.
That must have been an amazing sight. I felt a little swell of pride for the ship when I watching this video, and I'm not even French.
*Cue All Might Theme* Everything is fine. Why? I am here!
If only the Ile de France was in Paris on June 14, 1940 when Hitler waltzed right down the Champs-Élysées.
What a fantastic quotation ! Thank you R Daniel, i had goosebumps reading !
Al Czervik Paris is inside Ile de France !
Honestly , I find it kind of heart warming when all the boats respond to help. Something like many people deciding to save lives and help in anyway they can is just- really heartwarming.
Even the ile de France who could have kept going on but turned around instead to help a ship
I think its something expected of everyone and not just an act of kindness. You must do it. You wouldn't want to be left alone so why would you leave others alone in that situation
I agree. It's horrible that there are situations that necessitate it, but to know everyone comes together in horrific circumstances like those warms your heart and restores some faith in humanity.
@@eetuthereindeer6671 It's an international law of the sea, even in boats the size I own, 6m... You hear a distress call on the radio (or sight a distress flare) and you are legally obligated to assist.
@Beverly Archer no, they couldn't have just kept going, you are legally obliged to help a ship in distress
"The andrea doria started it's voyage towards new york"
"The Stockholm started it's voyage"
Oh god. I see where this is going.
Lmao same i was "ah shi welp F"
was i the only one who thought the Ile de France was gonna crash into both when he started to go in depth about its details?
ethan bailey no i did
ethan bailey Same hahaha. The ship details and the ‘something is going to happen’ music got me as well
Jesus Christ you are saying oh god? God what is this?
8:35 "Sir! Theres a ship on starboard!" "Turn more starboard! Quickly!" "What? Shouldnt we turn to port?" "NO! STARBOARD! BRACE FOR IMPACT! FOR THE EMPEROR!"
It's a braking manoeuvre I think. Had he turned to port his speed would had been even greater and damage more devastating.
Stap ruining the joke reeee
Better to scrape each other than to collide at 90 degrees.
You turn port to avoid the ship and the two ships would pass each other
@@clansman89 What? These ships take forever to stop. Braking is not an option. And why would turning one way or the other make any difference in the speed or braking?
The captain was said to be very sensitive to others feelings. He never scolded or upbraided a junior colleague in front of anyone. He’d pull them aside and correct in private in a soft tone. He was widely respected by all crew members. His name was Piero Calamai.
I always felt so bad for that guy.
Chad captain
That's how you're supposed to handle juniors. It's still weird how rare that mindset is in the civilian world.
It's not just the loss of passengers that is tragic but the fact that she was called the floating gallery with all of her arts and interior architectures went down with her in that sinking
That must have been a big loss
“Art is good and now it’s gone also so sad that people died but what about all the art that was lost”
@@theoristnumber1173 not what he said, in addition to the lost souls, there was a huge marvel of human engineering lost.. if you think that doesnt matter, then Google the Iraqi museum after 2003.
@@theoristnumber1173 A lot of it has been brought up from the wreck.
I had an older neighbor who sailed on the Doria a few crossings before she sunk.She said when she heard the news she was as upset about the loss of her native Italy's exquisite national treasure as the loss of life.
Andrea Doria was the finest Italian ship back in the days, she was our pride, a symbol of a growing and strong nation, for us, her sinking was a tragedy.
"Dannati svedesi" /s
@@Epir1 "Odugliga italienare"
One wonders if a replica could be built as like a memorial/museum
I hate you tragedy for us Americans. We never saw her
@@pranavsunder And Ile de France, the " Saint Bernard of the Atlantic " , has been since long date scrapped ... What a pity .
Andrea Doria: *starts sinking*
every ship within 500 miles: GO GO GO
No shit sherlock
Ha ha?
@@kubahabet6155 my point it its ridiculous how many ships went.
@@acebalistic1358 nice
@@acebalistic1358 What's ridiculous? Five ships responded. The rule is any ship close enough that can help must respond.
This was like when you see someone walking your way, you go to the left to avoid them and they go to the right to avoid you and you end up bumping into each other.
You would think there would be a standard "always turn port" or "always turn starboard" rule if a collison is imminent.
+AvariceUntied only that more people died ^^
@@brokenwave6125 Right? My thoughts exactly.
@@GalenMarekOfficial there are rules for avoiding collisions now - apparently there were not in 1956.
Anyway, people can make dumb mistakes and break rules and cause crashes. Happens every day with cars, ships much less though because there are fewer ships than cars and far more stringent rules on who can captain a ship than who can drive a car around.
It is not until tragedy strikes, though, that safety rules are introduced - remember that safety regulations are written in blood.
@@brokenwave6125 There are. Both ships should have turned to starboard to enable a "port to port" crossing.
"RULE 14
Head-on Situation
(a) When two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly
reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision each shall alter her
course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.
(b) Such a situation shall be deemed to exist when a vessel sees the other
ahead or nearly ahead and by night she could see the masthead lights of
the other in a line or nearly in a line and/or both sidelights and by day she
observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel.
(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether such a situation exists she
shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly.
"
This had been the rule in force for decades at the time of the Andrea Doria sinking. We've had them for more than a century now.
Source: United States Coast Guard Inland and International Maritime Navigation Rules. www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/navrules/navrules.pdf
I was an 11 year old passenger on the Stockholm when the collision occurred. My mother kept telling me to stay awake because this was history happening but I could not. I missed the Ille De France but did see the Andrea Doria, laying completely on her side, sink. If you like details there is an ebook titled "Collision Course" about these ships that is an excellent read. The Stockholm is now MS Athena and is a cruise ship. I'm thinking maybe I should take a cruise on her. The Stockholm survived because she had an icebreaker bow.
Unfortunately "Collision Course" had been written as an "instant book" before the forensic were completed, and it's reconstruction had been disproved by later findings.
First John Carrothers, forensic naval engineer, and then Captain Robert J. Meurn of the United States Merchant Marine Academy concluded that Carstens-Johannsen, third officer of the Stockholm, misread the radar. Samuel Halpern concluded that both ship's crews interpretations of the radar signals were wrong, but those of AD were more correct and that Carstens-Johannsen's starboard steering just two minutes before the crash did put Stockholm on a collision course with AD, no matter what Calamai could have done at that point. Only the point of impact would have changed: "These last four scenarios show that once Stockholm’s 24-degree turn to starboard was completed, a collision was unavoidable."
In an impact, the ramming ship always has a better fate than the rammed one. Stockholm's bow had been crushed like a can by the impact, but a ship can easily remain afloat with a dozen meters of bow missing. It can't with a dozen meters of flank missing.
The Stockholm's currently the MV Astoria, and has been since 2016. She'll be sailing the Sea of Cortez this winter.
Did you get the apartment George wanted?
runningfromtheherd wait YOU WERE ON THE STOKHOLM HOW OLD ARE YOU???!!!!!!!
MS Athena is now MV Astoria. Perhaps take your mother aboard her again and see if she recognizes your lucky ship! Might I say the prow restoration went rather well!
Fun Fact - At 74 years old the Stockholm, now known as the MV Astoria is still used as a cruise liner today..she's the oldest operating Ocean Liner
Geez... she’s a old but gold gal
Cruise ship*
She was put down for scrapping in 2021. Rest easy, lady.
I was not sure if she was still sailing after all this years, she is now named the mv astonia. I knew she had gone through many name changes as well as being rebuilt or any modifications. She will always remain after all this years, still be the fleet of the Swedish shipping line.
@@falconeshieldnah she was just docked due to Covid. Her owners are hoping to put her back into service
it's also been neglected to mention that the Stockholm was also built with a bow meant to brake heavy ice in the North Atlantic. This also contributed to why it nearly cut the Andrea Doria in half. Both companies ended up paying each other the same amount of money in the end after all was said and done from what I heard on a tv program about this accident.
BREAK not brake
I think both ships were insured by the same companies so they ended up settling to avoid lengthy and expensive payouts.
I find it almost haunting how the Andrea Doria seemed to cling on until all her passengers (that were still alive) were off the ship before she finally sank. Similar to the Oceanos later on in the 90s, although they miraculously had 0 casualties.
“Ah, the Andrea Doria. That was a terrible fire.”
“It was a shipwreck, George.”
Not funny. Be quiet.
@@bodychoke its quite funny, stop being a party pooper
bodychoke Humour is subjective.
George is getting upset!
oh DREAM OH DREAM
The Jack and Rose story may not work here.
“I’ll never let go Jack.”
“Just climb the ladder down, I’m already in the life boat.
That cracked me😂😂😂😂
Following scale not having to bribe the First Officers for a Life Boat
Lmao
The good news is that the fatality rate was very low, and mostly involved passengers on both ships who were in cabins in the parts of the two ships at the point of collision.
The Andrea Doria did not seem to have a good plan of helping their trapped passengers. My grandparents and a great aunt were on the ship. My grandmother and aunt were lost. Though they promised my grandfather when they would not let him stay and try to break down the door to their cabin that they would send help, they never did. He could hear them screaming but was forced by the crew to exit that area. He was one of the last to get on a lifeboat, waiting for his wife and sister-in law.
@@carmelaohare0102 Ouch! That's awful! >_
All the ships that helped in the rescue. Very classy of them.
Il de France:I’m coming! Andrea Doria!
@@mjhingmartinez2302 Stockholm: I may be damaged, but I can still help. *lowers lifeboats*
It's pretty common among Mariners, even if they are in Navy's that are at war with each other. They all have a common enemy in the ocean and they have all thought extensively of what it would be like to be left out there to dïe. Even the forces of Japan, the worst war crïmïnals during the second world war, very often stopped to save enemy sailors... Although what came after was of course not remotely commendable in those particular examples.
I find it beautiful
Imagine if the video was two seconds long and all it said was “it sank”
It'd still be fact
R/technicallythetruth
that is me on the test
🤣
It would still be a fact
Andrea Doria: Help!
Every ship in a general vicinity: I must go. My people need me.
In all seriousness, the Ille de France and others being able to quickly respond probably saved hundreds of lives. This could have easily been another Empress of Ireland or even Titanic level disaster. Thankfully it wasn't (though it's still horribly tragic that dozens perished).
@@thunderbird1921 but all that died, died during the crash of the two ships, not because of the sinking, so at least we know they all died quick and painless deaths when compared to drowning.
Vicinity? What’s that?
@@serenissimarespublicavenet3945 They either died because of the impact between 2 ships or just died because they're too lazy to walk.
I'm older than I care to admit, having seen this makes me appreciate just how maritime law can work really well when it needs to. By the numbers type of rescue from all those involved, a logistical nightmare in a way but with the best possible results. My admiration & respect to all those involved in the rescue.
My dad was on the Andrea Doria when it sank. My dad, grandparents, and my 2 uncles were immigrating to the US. My dad was 16 years old.
Damn man your lucky who has parents thats actualy a part of history mate
@@nexorider17 It’s pretty cool when he tells the story. He starts with them boarding the Andrea Doria in Naples and goes thru the whole crossing and the collision.
Glad they made it.
Why didnt they try southern border?
"The Andrea Doria started its voyage."
"The Stockholm started its-"
Empress of Ireland: Ah shit, here we go again.
Gray
That was Storstad.
Not funny. Be quiet.
@@starcooger1112 I know, the scenarios are just pretty similar.
@@bodychoke Angry, much?
bodychoke please be nice
During the collision, the Stockholms bell got stuck in andrea doria and went under with it.
The bell was rescued recently and in 2015 was returned to her. The ship still in service under the name "MV Astoria"
Damn, im such a sucker for this kind of stories. It just fills me with joy, and hope when people respond in such numbers when needed the most. Im really glad, that even in trubled times like these, people treat each other like people, that we are still capeble of chosing other human, over monetary gain
My great grandparents sailed aboard this ship twice - to and from Italy to visit family in the 50s (30 or so years after they had emigrated to the US) just prior to the ship sinking. We have a their beautiful chest with the original Andrea Doria luggage stickers on it.
Less died?!?? Moreeee survived?!!?!??
If any nation can do beautiful, that's Italy!
"There were 1,660 survivors."
"That's no tragedy! How many people do you lose on a normal cruise? 30? 40!?"
?
@@TimDaOne It's a funny "Seinfeld" reference. 🤣
well look, britannic lost 35 people, why was it a tragedy? Reason: the ship was so unexpected to sink and those 35 people lost are 35 people who took their lives for the ship. So now can you see why it is a tragedy?
@@paullim8491 Again. It's just a joke. It's from an episode of the "Seinfeld" television program. (NBC.) The one where George Costanza has to compete with an Andrea Doria survivor.
@@TimDaOne 46 die during the 1956 on anders doria...
The Andrea Doria was a modern "beautiful ship" at the time, smooth lines .. low single stack etc. Stockholm was reinforced front end (that is the wrong term) as it originally was designed to go through ice. It is incredible hard to believe, but it is STILL around and in use as the Astoria! I found that out last year and it floored me, it must have been extremely well built.
Ships can stick round for a long time, if maintained.
I wish Stockholm (or astoria) a long and happy career
Even tho she is advance she have severe Navigational Difficulties
she had a reinforced prow
Yes the Stockholm have gone through many name changes, and redesigned over the years. What a grand sturdy lady, she is the ms Astoria. She did have a reinforced prow since her travels took her through the Baltic. Can you imagine any other cruise company other that the Swedes, designed such a beautiful ship in the day.
Two relatives of mine were on the Dorea when the accident happened. They both survived.
And my grandfather was on the titanic and my father fought in ww2
@@Luka2000_ For this, Ill assume you were born in 2000, making you either 18 or 19 years old, World War II started in 1939 and ended in 1945, making your dad at least 91 and at most 98. Now, the RMS Titanic sank in 1912. Your grandfather could have been any age by this time, but what matters is that he survived, which he obviously did. Assuming your grandfather and grandmother got marrier in, lets say 1919 at age 23, this would make your grandfather 16 at the time of the Titanic sinking. Your grandfather would have to have your dad at the latest 1927 to be able to enlist in the army, making your dad 91 today. This leaves you, who I assume is 19, this meant your dad would have children extremely late in life, in his 70's. I doubt your mother and father would all of the sudden change their mind and want children. I'm gonna say this is a lie.
@@Luka2000_ I feel like a smug bastard for doing this but I still feel good about the amount of effort I put into calling out a simple lie.
@@friendlyfire2615 Whoa. Way to go there, Matlock!
@@friendlyfire2615 pizza:this is big brain time
I just love how the Île de France just dwarfed all the other ships at sight lol
This made me happy :))
yeah ... then they demolished and scrapped the ship ... arseholes ...
Lights like a damn Christmas tree, it must have been
The Ile de France met her own unfortunate demise (as the Claridon) in "The Last Voyage."
@@mrabintom It was gonna be scrapped anyway. The breakers leased it to Metro-Goldwyn.
Thank you. That was very clear. I always wondered about the Andrea Doria. I remember hearing about it on the radio when I was a kid.
Happily Stockholm still sails to this day! Under the name of MV Astoria!!
Sheesh that's an old ship
It should be called stocktoria
That should be it’s new name
@@GhalidiusTrident I know, It's amazing that she still sails today doh! :D
and she sank another vessel!
71 years old!
It boggles my mind that the Stockholm *still exists.* You’d think functional ocean liners were as dead as doornails, *especially* ones that have been around for more than 70 years.
For real!
She was converted into a cruise ship sometime during the 1990s, IIRC
In August 1982,when the Vistafjord Baltic Cruise I was on docked in then-Leningrad, the Stockholm, then the Volkerfreundschaft, was tied up at the far end of the huge harbor. It wasn't within walking distance, and all day I wondered how I could get to walk the decks of the ship that did in the Doria. (It was seeing the Kungsholm & Gripsholm sail from Pier 97 every chance I could get that triggered my lifelong love of ships.)
That night, passengers from both ships were bussed to a performance of a Siberian dance troupe, and I wondered what would happen if I "accidentally" got on the wrong bus. I decided that between the watchful eyes of the Intourist minders and East Germans' reputation as informers, I probably wouldn't get anywhere near the gangplank. And even if I did make it onto the ship, what if she sailed for the next port as soon as everyone was safely aboard? Which was exactly what happened. Strolling out on deck after a late dinner, what did I see but the Volkerfreundschaft slowly steaming out of the harbor.
Unfortunately, she was sold for scrapping in 2021.
One of my elementary class schoolmates, his sister, and their mother, was onboard the Andrea Doria and they were returning from Italy. Fortunately, they all survived. I remember watching this event on TV with my family. Then I saw my classmate being interviewed after they came ashore. I was relieved when I knew they were all alright.
And the Stockholm is still sailing today! As the Astoria I think, I saw her in Zeebruge last week
She is indeed. I was amazed when I found that out
Wow!
Alex J that is a sentence any captain of a ship would not want to here
No. It's called the Lesbiana.
I was on her as the Caribe
Andrea Doria: Ile De France, please come over!
Ile De France: I can't, I have passengers to be send in France.
Andrea Doria: I'M SINKING!!
Ile De France: Hang on, I'm coming.
*i know it's a joke but some random viewer might not get it
At first the "Île de France" heard there was many ships assisting the rescue therefore it's assistance wasn't required.
It's a bit later it heard none of the ship on scene had neither the capacity nor enough rescue boats to safely and fastly
Rescue everyone.
Hence ... *GOTTA* *GO* *FAST*
@@chibani- Good joke btw
@@chibani- they could have still tried to help the more help to get the ppl off the sinking ship the less deaths before they found out the boats couldn't hold enough
Not funny, but true.
@@chibani- I thought this was a scenario at first, but then I realised it was a joke.
It would also be a good idea if you mentioned Linda Morgan, the "miracle girl", which was on a starboard side cabin and when Stockholm crashed her cabin, instead of dying like her family and everyone else who died from the collision, she ended up in the Stockholm's ruined bow section.
Also, the sinking of the Doria was the last major sinking involving ocean liners.
You are forgetting the Costia Concordia.
@@doug112244 I said ocean liners, not cruise ships.
Yes. Her Stepfather and Stepsister were killed. Her mother survived.
You're forgetting the Lakonia in '63. She was on cruise duty but an ocean liner. I'm no expert, that's just off the top.
@@stevek8829 well, it was built as an ocean liner, but during the fateful voyage she was operating as a cruise ship. Also I said the Andrea Doria was the last MAJOR disaster including ocean liners. But thanks for telling me about Lakonia, I didn't know the liner and I looked into it.
The utmost respect for the Captain and crew of the Ile de France, their actions saved many lives that night.
Like hell! The Ile de France considered not assisting at the beginning, that is deplorable!
@@Chris-hx3om Probably until they thought about it for 5 seconds. Imagine not assisting and having to live with that for the rest of your life.
@@Chris-hx3om they were unaware of the scale of the disaster and went to help as soon as they found out. Situational Awareness is everything.
Andrea Doria wreck: "Ciao compagni relitti!"
Titanic wreck: "I cannot understand a word your saying."
Brittanic wreck: "Me neither."
Empress Of Ireland wreck: *Sad wreck noises*
Casual navigator and Atlas Pro uploads a video a couple of minutes apart from each other. Good day.
A couple of the most UNDERRATED channels on earth
@@ksa7740vi definitely 😀👌
Ile de France had 2 funnels at this time. Her pre-WW2 configuration was three smokestacks.
@@TheTriplc Did you not watch the video? The Île de France made an important cameo **EDIT** The man this was replying to has deleted him comment
@@MrTheblackopsdude Wait what did the original comment say?
I've been watching a lot of videos about sinking ships today, and I'm kind of happy that this one was the most tame I watched so far. Good video.
Having read about the M/S Estonia, I was expecting far worse given the time period, the Atlantic sea could have some rough seas, and how life boats are worse than life rafts in rough seas. 😬
It's actually pretty wholesome to get such a happy ending given the circumstances.
The Estonia was a terrifying case honestly, all round from conditions to actions and even the rescue was terrible, one man threw himself off the helicopter after being rescued due to a panic attack
could not be such heavy seas, was no wind, there was fog and daytime, estonia night and storm
Here's a few other interesting facts. The Stockholm was a nimble ship with diesel engines that were almost as effective in reverse as forward. The Andrea Doria used steam turbines which are les than 30% effective in reverse. So her captain decided to turn and maintain power instead of reversing. The captain did not ballast the empty fuel tanks because of the cost and time to clean the tanks before taking on more fuel.If she had done so,, her vulnerable bottom may have been spared. The Stockholm, being a Sweedish design, had a reinforced bow for ice encounters. This certainly had an effect on the damage to the Andrea Doria. The Andrea Doria was a sister ship to the Cristiforo Columbo, which I had the pleasure to sail.
The way he talk is very calming. I love his voices
Ngl I welled up a little when I heard about the giant Il de France, protecting the stricken ship and turning all her lights on.
It's refreshing to hear a good news story. It would make a great movie.
When I was 11 i went with my parents on the Isle De France from NY to England for a month. We were in Southampton waiting for the Isle de France to return us to NY. The ship was on its way to Southampton when this happened so we were delayed by a day. As we passed the spot of the sinking the ships horn blew a long blast.
Nicely narrated, no weird enunciation and no made up words, thanks!
Ile De France had only two funnels by 1956.
Okay, then let's just show Andrea Doria with 30 funnels.
r/ _wooosh_
Gus W It’s called attention to detail.
@@kevinkim271 Well how about you go make a video with all the attention to details you like in it, you choosing beggar.
Gus W Whoo is that the best retort you got? So hey clown, while Ile de France was built as a three funneled ship, she only had two in 1956. That is fact. But then again, every ship is Titanic to you right?
*George Costanza:* "Holding up Kramer's book" According to this, it took 10 hours. It eased into the water like an old man into a nice warm bath - no offence.
I scrolled through simply looking for such a comment
Much respect. LMFAO! I still got the apartment though because I slipped the super $50.
The Stockholm may not have sunk ya, but I will!
Titanic: yo, we’re sinking
Californian: read
If you are referring to the ship its actually called ' Californian'!
Aiden Tapiz you toke that comment from another video
@@HeaanLasai really what was it named?
@@HeaanLasai that's the dickest move in the book
edit: hmm can't seem to find it on google, though ...
When I was in high school (1994-1999), I read 'Saved! The story of the Andrea Doria... the greatest sea rescue in history' by William Hoffer. It was one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. Since I see it's available on Amazon, maybe I'll buy it. I remember there was a Spanish-speaking girl on the A.D. who ended up on the Stockholm's bow when they separated.
Awesome how all those different ships instantly decided to help and the way they helped saved so many lives!
So it's basically that thing where two people get in each other's way and try to avoid each other but they keep going the same way.
Pretty much
The Andrea Doria disaster is well known in automotive circles, for the Chrysler Norseman concept car (which was designed in-house but built by Ghia in Turin) was aboard the Andrea Doria. As a result, barely anyone outside Ghia, the longshoremen that loaded it and the ship's crew ever got to see it "in-the-metal."
Casual Navigation, Wendover's nautical cousin. I love this channel! It deserves way more subs..
Cheers holymolie. Glad you like it
The Andrea Doria was a beautiful vessel, and the Stockholm nowdays still looks far better than most modern cruise ships.
Yes the Andrea Doria was indeed a beautiful ship, the pride of Italy. Yes the Stockholm still is service, pride of Sweden.
I was 10 when the Andrea Doria went down. I went with my grandfather and father in my Grandfather's fishing boat and we went to help with the rescue.
We plucked one middle age man out of the ocean and took him to shore. He didn't speak any English and we didn't speak any Italian, but he was grateful.
By the time we got back to the sinking ship, the rescue was well under way and most of the people needing saving had already been taken care of.
What harbor did you leave from/take the man to? Very interesting!
AWESOME
I hate it when people lie to get likes
@@luckiic5714 Killjoys are not much loved either.
So you somehow intercepted a distress call and sailed 100 miles off shore to to the exact location of the ship and managed to somehow get 1 single person off of the huge ship and not a single soul involved ever told anyone about it until just now on a youtube video decades later.... seems legit
In times of adversity, does the human spirit shine its brightest.
Hearing about all those ships that came to the rescue is a testament not just to the professionalism of their crews, but the humanitarian nature of everyone who very well knew that there was also a risk to their own ships, but the chance that they could save lives, was more important.
It's nothing to do with the human spirit, it's international maritime law!
The fact that the Ill de France even considered not participating in the assistance is inexcusable! Despite doing the right thing in the end, the Captain of Ill de France should have been disciplined for even thinking he could ignore the call!
Who said they considered not to respond? They just inquired if they were needed before blindly following a call. When they realised they were, they went and helped.
The Stockholm is still around today and was actively used up until 2020 due to the pandemic. It is now under the name of MV Astoria. When it was refitted by the Italians into a modern cruise ship it was discovered that the ship was in remarkably good condition except for the American bow that was fitted after the accident. Therefore most of the structure is original from Götaverken in Sweden, with most changes made above the promenade deck.
I could imagine little children who were to young to understand how grave the situation was, being just excited to know that they will now aboard a bigger, more mighty looking ship
The light restored to their faces... they were gonna live to see another day
Thanks for that video, very interesting. It seems insane that in the 1950s it was not compulsory to thoroughly investigate an accident such as this.
Andrea: Oh no! We’re sinking!
Literally every ship in the world: full speed ahead!
Not funny, but true.
Titanic : we are sinking
Olympic : I am coming Titanic don't worry.
Carpathia : me too
Titanic II : I can't come.
Titanic : come fast.
Olympic : OK.
Carpathia : Olympic, you can go to your destination, I will save the Titanic
Olympic : ok
Titanic : my sister is coming yay.
Mauretaina : oh no. I am comingggggggg.
Iceberg : sorry Titanic.
Titanic : that's OK.
Titanic break in half.
Titanic : Olympic, where are you?
Carpathia : full speed aheaddddd.
Titanic stern sink started.
Titanic : Olympicccc .
Titanic finally sank.
Titanic : why did olympic didn't came for help?
After sometime Carpathia Arrive
Carpathia : hello guys I have arrived.
Carpathia : sorry, olympic can't reach on time.
Sadly, Olympic didn't reach at time.
But there's more.
Even after so many days after brittanic sank.
In 2022
Titanic II : I am going to New Yorkkkkk.
Titanic II : RIP Titanic.
U 20 : what! Another titanic?
Olympic 2 : I don't care about Lustainia
Britanic II : yeah.
Really informative and great graphics and animations! Lots of work obviously went into these. 👍🏻
my grandfather worked as a doctor on the swedish ship "stockholm" mentioned here.
he always bragged about that job, it was the most glamorous one he had in hes life!
he got to eat with the captain every night and it was a constant party as it looked, hes wife followed him on the journeys for free, back then that was normal
they even recorded some of this on a filmcamera fro mthe 50s, in colour.
Andrea doria:is sinking
Every ship ever: GAS GAS GAS!!!
What do you mean “gas gas gas”
@@idontknowwhatimdoinghere "Initial D" song. It's a reference to the ships goin' balls to the wall to get there quickly. th-cam.com/video/atuFSv2bLa8/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=musoforlyf
As a French, i am proud of the île De France which was one of our best luxurious ships ever ! Rip Andrea Doria
La Pintade I'm not French and the actions of the Île De France Captain make me proud.
The Ile De France had to do what she did.
Fantastic video...very educational and informative. Well done.
The Andrea Doria (and her sister ship) were two of the most aesthetically pleasing ships ever built.
Reminds me of the RMS Empress of Ireland. If you can find it, "The tragic story of the Empress of Ireland and other great sea disasters" is an interesting read.
Great video - as always, info and animation were great :D
Except the Empress sank in 15 minutes.
Another great video!! Really enjoyed it and full of information. Keep up the great work.
My grandpa was on that ship on its maiden voyage, and he took the sistership of the Andoria back to Italy before taking the Andoria second time back to New York, where he still lives to this day
I was obsessed with this book called ghost liners when I was younger and this was the one that intrigued me the most of all of them (titanic, titanic, lusitania, empress of Ireland and andrea doria were the ships covered I believe). Thanks for this awesome video! It brought me back
I remember that book! It was such a great introduction into notable shipwrecks!
You said Titanic twice.
I already knew the story of andrea doria but i still love learning new things about her. I still smile hearing about the iel de france showing up
Seeing her coming along side with all of her lights and floodlights illuminating herself and the surrounding water must have been a majestic sight
Id die to see it
Me too
This seems like a failure of communication between vessels.
I know, in the aviation world, there was a similar version of this happening. In that instance, a Russian jet airliner and a DHL 757 cargo jet both detected each other. The both took evasive action to avoid a mid air collision. Unfortunately, the actions both took were to descend. They did not realize what the other jet was doing until it was too late. As a result the two jets collided and crashed thereafter killing everyone on board both planes.
That is .. a good point. This was not 1918. They ought to have been able to radio each other with ease.
I watched the air crash investigation episode on that one, I cannot mind which way around it was but one of the pilots followed the warning system on board and the other pilot was told by ATC to decend, there was only one ATC in the tower at the time and was having to deal with all other traffic which meant he couldn't monitor the situation with the collision course. If I remember correctly the other ATC guy was on his break when it happened. Good episode lol
@@tsm688 in theory they shouldn't need to communicate if they follow the colregs, which i believe require that vessels always turn to starboard to avoid a collision. (Basically both go right and it should be fine) However, extenuating circumstances can change this requirement but the default is to evade to starboard (right).
The aviation industry is different because it has basically always had radios, especially in the age of passenger jets so it seems like sufficient communication should always be possible to avoid a collision. (And even more important, when airplanes collide the casualty rate is basically always insanely high.)
@@jasonreed7522 yes, thats right, the only catch, this rule was implemented because and after the doria incident
that sense of unity when everyone responds to help out :3
In the summer of 1956, I was staying at my Aunt Kitty's house in Philadelphia. My Young lady cousin Patsy, who lived 3 miles away in Philly, was there, too. Kitty had a very nice radio upstairs. We heard something about the collision and then stayed up most of the night, glued to the speaker. My cousin Patsy died last year but I am still here to remember that night. It's a major memory, that one, that pops up from time to time.
Dear Fred. STFU
Some old woman that lived next door to me in Burbank , California in the early 70’s was a survivor of the Stockholm , she said she was outside walking from her cabin to a friend’s when the ship hit. She was thrown to the deck and broke her left arm. She even showed pictures of her trip aboard the ship
Ile de france had only two funnels at the time as she had already undergone her post-war overhaul, but a very informative and interesting video.
I heard a story about a freighter crewman that had hurt his back and was taken off his ship. He was waiting to cross back on another ship when a spot on the Doria came up. He took it at the last minute and therefore was not on the passenger list. Since he was down in a belly cabin by himself and never left it due too his injuries he was left and forgotten.He woke when he tumbled out of bed from the list and ended up in the water on the cabin floor.He clawed his way up to the main deck, "remember she's listing badly so not an easy task especially with a bad back". Once there he had to make his way from the high side around to the back holding the railing all the way. At the back he saw the main deck was almost at the water on the low side. He used the pool cover to kind of slide into the water at this point which also gave him something to hold onto. He called to one of the lifeboats to come get him but they looked at him and then looked away. He called to them again and they looked and looked away. He then realized they were to scared to come get him as the ship was above him and could rollover at any minute. He screamed at them,called them every name in the book and said they would all go to hell if they left him to die. They finally caved and rescued him thankfully. Almost as crazy a story as the little girl one.
I read a book on this subject 50 years ago. It included that while both ships, upon recognition of a meeting engagement, should have turned to starboard for a "port-to-port" passage, Andrea Doria instead turned to port-resulting in a collision.
Unfortunately "Collision Course" had been written as an "instant book" before the forensic were completed, and it's reconstruction had been disproved by later findings.
First John Carrothers, forensic naval engineer, and then Captain Robert J. Meurn of the United States Merchant Marine Academy concluded that Carstens-Johannsen, third officer of the Stockholm, misread the radar. Samuel Halpern concluded that both ship's crews interpretations of the radar signals were wrong, but those of AD were more correct and that Carstens-Johannsen's starboard steering just two minutes before the crash did put Stockholm on a collision course with AD, no matter what Calamai could have done at that point. Only the point of impact would have changed: "These last four scenarios show that once Stockholm’s 24-degree turn to starboard was completed, a collision was unavoidable."
@@neutronalchemist3241 Ah, I fell for the fallacy that all you read is truth and the last word. Thanks for taking the time to provide important additional information.
Just a sticky point; "Ile de France" was a two stack liner in 1956, and it was larger, but not gigantic as depicted. "Andrea Doria" was a very large ship in it's own right.
46,000 tons to 30,000 tons...
Lets depict it 4 times bigger.
@@mikebronicki6978 And I suppose you think the gross registered tonnage is the weight of the ship.....
@@Davidkxf registered tonnage is an apples go apples comparison. Displacement and maximum load would be more accurate but those weren't given in the video. What's your damage?
@@Davidkxf One was 791 feet long, the other was 701 feet long.
Safe to say the animation was wildly inaccurate...
Frankly, I didn't get the impression that the video was trying to imply that the Ile de France was a lot bigger than the Andria Doria - just that it was a helluva lot bigger than all of the other responding ships, including the Stockholm.
I’ve been obsessed with the titanic and cool ship facts forever and I’ve always found this story interesting, another tragedy was the empress of Ireland in the Saint Lawrence, it was small but deadly and very interesting as it’s the Canadian channel and there’s lots of history. Anyway love this video and love your work keep it up 🥳
I am really happy that you recommended this video, as the sinking of Andrea Doria is an important story for my family. My grandfather was in fact a marconist officer on board the ship and he sent SOS after the collision. His name was Carlo Bussi
*youtube
When I was a kid, I read a book called "Collision Course", about this very topic. Well worth a read, goes into a lot more detail than can ever be possible on YT. Written by a journalist who attended the hearings at the time, and interviewed many of the people involved.
Unfortunately "Collision Course" had been written as an "instant book" before the forensic were completed, and it's reconstruction had been disproved by later findings.
First John Carrothers, forensic naval engineer, and then Captain Robert J. Meurn of the United States Merchant Marine Academy concluded that Carstens-Johannsen, third officer of the Stockholm, misread the radar. Samuel Halpern concluded that both ship's crews interpretations of the radar signals were wrong, but those of AD were more correct and that Carstens-Johannsen's starboard steering just two minutes before the crash did put Stockholm on a collision course with AD, no matter what Calamai could have done at that point. Only the point of impact would have changed: "These last four scenarios show that once Stockholm’s 24-degree turn to starboard was completed, a collision was unavoidable."
This has always reminded me of the loss of Empress of Ireland.
Empress of Ireland?
@@idontknowwhatimdoinghere look it up.
I was about 5 years old and vividly remember when the Andrea Doria went down and the pictures of the hull of the Stockholm. My grandfather was on the Andrea Doria on the crossing just before this one. I will never forget seeing him and my uncle off on other ships up until about 1960 and being scared stiff on the decks looking down at the water. There was a lot of priceless art on the Andrea Doria.
I assume that this accident was (at least partly) why ballast tanks are connected internally nowadays, and can be filled from each other.
It does show how important cross flooding is
The reason ballast tanks can be filled from each other is to keep from introducing invasive sea life from other places into the harbors.
@@Mondo762 and the reason the Andrea Dora had air in her empty fuel tanks was to expedite refueling when she reached port.
It was a common practice to only flood the empty fuel tanks if they were entering rough waters.
(It provided stability)
Because the radars turned with the ships, initially to both radar operators it looked like the other ship had turned away.
As a ship turns to the right EVERYTHING on the old style radar screen appears to turn to the left.
So as the Dora turned south the other ship appeared to move north on the radar screen.
By the time the radar operators realized that both ships had turned South it was too late.
It was bad luck of epic proportions.
Glenn Chartrand - As a retired engineer with over 30 years in the US Merchant Marine I can tell you introducing sea water into fuel tanks is asking for trouble. Water in the fuel can cause loss of fires in the boilers, which can lead to loss of propulsion and generators. That leaves you with a dead ship.
@@Mondo762 As a marine engineer with 5 years experience from India, I agree.
Your channel is so informative, I don't know why I'm impressed to see that the Morse code at 5:13 is correct
Thanks for sharing this video! My grandmother, aunt and uncle were aboard the Stockholm when this accident happened, so it was certainly something that was known about in my family.
There is something heartwarming about the solidarity between passing ships
“On her way to New York”
I know how this ends and it’s not good!
Thanks so much for putting together and sharing such a comprehensive animation of those tragic events. 😉👌🏼
Hi sir.
Another interesting lesson.
Never knew about this accident..
Thanks for teaching..
I like the animation and wave sound... It gives feeling like iam staying near the sea..
Thank you...🙏👍😊
@Viktor Birkeland why oh why must you be like that?