RARE TS Hamburg German Atlantic Lines 1969 Travel Agency Lighted Model Display

Description

Awesome, RARE TS Hamburg - German Atlantic Lines 1969 Travel Agency Lighted Model Display. Condition is overall very nice. This particular Travel Agency model was issued on a limited basis to only a very few Travel Agencies in 1969 in preparation for the TS Hamburg’s first cruise. The display is lighted and looks amazing when illuminated. The entire display is plastic. Display measures 40 1/2” by 8 1/2” by 10” tall. The display was made in Germany and is marked accordingly underneath. I’d prefer pick up, however shipping can be arranged with UPS Ground, including insurance.
History and Current Status: The TS Hamburg was ordered as the first German-built major liner in 1966 and launched as the T.S. Hamburg for the Deutsche-Atlantik Linie of Hamburg, Germany, in 1969. She was originally intented for the liner service between New York and Hamburg, but she has operated as a cruise liner since her maiden voyage, which was from Cuxhaven to South American ports. She was making transatlantic crossings only during repositioning voyages. In 1973, when the previous Hanseatic was sold to Home Lines, she was briefly renamed T.S. Hanseatic. However, due to financial difficulties experienced by many cuise lines in 1973, the Deutsche-Atlantik Linie went bankrupt and ceased operations in December, 1973. T.S. Hanseatic was laid up for a short while. After a possible sale to a Japanese firm failed, she was purchased by a New York based comapny called Robin International Corporation on behalf of the SOVCOMFLOT of the Soviet Union on January 25th, 1974 and renamed T.S Maksim Gorkiy.
Between 1974 and 1991, the ship was managed by the Black Sea Shipping Company (BLASCO) of Odessa, mostly under charter to the very succesful tour operator, Phoenix Reisen, of Bonn, Germany. In that sense, she always stayed as a German ship, serving a mostly German clientele. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, she was transferred to SOVCOMFLOT and this move prevented her from being arrested because of the debts of BLASCO later on. In 1991, she was renamed T.S. Maxim Gorkiy and SOVCOMFLOT made a joint-venture with Costa Cruises, called Prestige Cruises, to manage her. The technical management was performed by the Maxim Gorkiy Shipping Company, of Nassau, Bahamas. When the joint-venture was ceased in 1992, SOVCOMFLOT signed an agreement with Acomarit of Geneva, Switzerland, and Unicom Shipmanagement Services of Limassol, Cyprus to operate and supply all SOVCOMFLOT vessels, including T.S. Maxim Gorkiy. In 1999, the technical management was transferred from Unicom to Lothian Shipping Company, Ltd. of London, UK, which is a sister company of SOVCOMFLOT. Her current owner is the Belata Shipping Company of Nassau, Bahamas, for SOVCOMFLOT. She is still making worldwide cruises succesfully, serving a German clientele.