As mooted in a previous news report, the former Kungsholm (above) now looks set to be coming home to Sweden (Gothenburg) in the summer of 2015, almost 50 years after her maiden voyage to New York in April in 1966.

The achievement is down to Finnish businessman Johnny Sid and M/S Kungsholm AB, whose purpose is to save and preserve the ship. The ship was built by John Brown & Co. Ltd. in Clydebank, Glasgow and launched 13th April 1965. She was delivered to Swedish American Line AB on 17th March 1966. The maiden voyage from Gothenburg to New York took place on 24th April 1966.

The ship went on to become the Sea Princess, Victoria, Oceanic II and Mona Lisa. Since 2010 she has been the floating accommodation ship Veronica, although still officially named Mona Lisa, owned by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Final funding is still an issue but the vessel can occupy a berth at Cityvarvet in Gothenburg subject to any shipbuilding activities.