Century-old steamers inspire nostalgia in Stockholm's waters

VAXHOLM, Sweden — Sitting in an armchair on the sun-soaked bridge of the vintage Stockholm steamer SS Storskaer, 84-year-old Stieg Dingertz, dressed to a tee, savours a special day out on the Baltic sea.Some 60 years ago, the naval engineer was at the forefront of a movement to save the Swedish capital's steamers, deemed outdated and ready for replacement by a modern fleet to navigate the city's sprawling archipelago.Now, he watches with satisfaction as 10 century-old white steamships adorned with multicoloured flags gather in the quaint harbour of Vaxholm for their annual parade."This one was destined to be abandoned. We had to fight for it" to be kept in service, he said of the Storskaer, a classic 320-passenger model built in 1908."It's very important that they continue to serve regular routes so that they don't become museum ships," the former city counselor added.The elegant silhouettes of the white steamers, with their tall black chimneys, French-polished mahogany guardrails and birch trunks serving as fenders have been a fixture here for more than a century.They still ply the waters for both tourists and Stockholmers alike.Aboard the Storskaer, Stockholmer Bo Hurell, a 79-year-old advertiser, is en route to Vaxholm for an annual lunch with former classmates in the tourist town's hotel, a ritual for the last 55 years."Since 1955 we've been taking the Storskaer. It's convenient. It always leaves Stockholm at noon and always arrives at the same time," he says, leaning on the guardrail and sipping aquavit.The steamer's slow pace gives plenty of time to enjoy the area's natural beauty, passing island after island, spotting the occasional typically Swedish red-and-white painted cottage.Inside, the steamers retain the old-style decor of varnished wood panelling and crimson velvet armchairs."It's an authentic atmosphere that carries you back to a century ago," said the Storskaer's young captain Johann Baeckstroem, in officer's uniform complete with bow-tie and white cap.For tourist Ling Kin Pong, a 22-year

Add comment

Nick
Content

Submit