The Fleets
The Europa-Canada Linie was formed in Bremen in 1955 and was a joint subsidiary of the Nederlandsch Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij (NASM) or Holland America Line (HAL) and the Koninklijke Rotterdamsche Lloyd (KRL) both of Rotterdam to transport emigrants from Germany to North America.
The Holland America Line became sole owner in 1963. The line was renamed ECL Shipping Co. in 1966. The Company owned only two passenger vessels, the SEVEN SEAS first chartered in 1955, then purchased in 1956 and sold in 1966 to Stichting Studentenhuisvesting at Rotterdam for use as a floating hostel ship.
The RYNDAM was transferred from the HAL in 1966 and already due to falling back of the passenger trade and not to come up to the financial expectations in 1967 transferred back to the HAL. The Company also chartered the KRL motorship WILLEM RUYS for two voyages in 1958. The Europa-Canada Linie ceased operations in 1967.
Many thanks to Henk Jungerius and Ted Finch for their assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Routes
- Bremerhaven-Rotterdam-Le Havre-Southampton-Quebec-Montreal
- Bremerhaven-Zeebrugge-Southampton-Quebec-Montreal
- Bremerhaven-Rotterdam-Le Havre-Southampton-Saint John-Halifax-New York
Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryndam | 1951 | Built by Wilton Fijenoord, Schiedam | Launched as Dinteldijk (combi freighter) completed as passengership named Rijndam, 1954 renamed Ryndam, 1966 rebuilt and transferred from HAL to German subsidiary Europa-Canada Linie, Bremen, 1967 transferred to Trans-Oceaan, Rotterdam renamed Waterman, 1967 reverted to HAL renamed Ryndam, 1972 sold to Epirotiki Steamship Navigation Company, Piraeus, Greece, rebuilt 9,114gt, 1973 sold to World Wide Cruises, Panama renamed Atlas, 1981 to Hellenic Company for Mediterranean Cruises SA, 1988 sold to Pride Cruise line, Nassau used as casino ship renamed Pride of Mississippi,1991 sold to Gulfside Casinos Inc., Galveston renamed Pride of Galveston,1993 used as a stationary floating casino renamed Copa Casino, 2003 sunk in tow to breakers. | 15,015 |
| Seven Seas | 1941 | Built by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Chester, Penn. | ex- Mormacmail built for Moore McCormack standard ship type C3, 1941 taken over by US Navy and converted into an escort carrier renamed Long Island, 1946 laid up, 1947 sold to Portland Oregon Shipbreakers and resold in 1948 to Caribbean Land & Shipping Corp. (T. Gotaas & Co.), Colon, Panama and converted into a passenger ship renamed Nelly, 1953 renamed Seven Seas, 1956 sold to Europe Canada Linie GmbH, Bremen, Germany not renamed, 1966 sold as a student hostel at Rotterdam, later to Verolme United Shipyards as a hostel ship for workers, 1977 scrapped at Ghent Belgium. | 11,086 |