Boats - Sailing - Ships
Dec. 12, 1958 - Launching for the so far biggest European Ship The biggest ship that has ever been built on a European wharf, a turbine tank ship of about 65, 000 tons was launched on Dec. 20th, 1958 in Kiel. In the presence of the Prime Minister of Schleswig- Holstein von Hassel, his Minister of Justice Dr. Leverenz and the Greek ship owner Onassis for whose fleet this ship has been built, Mrs. Marie-Luise Westphal, wife of the director of the Howaldtwerke in Kiel named the newly built ship Olympic Challenger. The tank is 266 metre long, 33 metre broad and leaden it has a draught of 13 metres. A steam turbine of 22, 000 H.P. will give the ship a speed of 17 knots. By this launching, the Howaldtwerke in Kiel managed to get into the group of the best wharfs of the world, with the delivery of 15 ships of a total 206, 000 tons. Keystone picture of Dec. 22nd, 1958
