Rochdale One
A former cruise ship that was converted into student accommodation in Amsterdam before being sent for scrapping in 2013.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Rochdale One was a small cruise ship built in 1977 at the Ateliers et Chantiers Dubigeon-Normandie shipyard in Nantes, France. It was constructed for service in the Soviet Union and originally entered operation under the name Ayvasovskiy. The vessel was operated by the Danube Shipping Company, primarily on routes in the Black Sea and Mediterranean. With a gross tonnage of approximately 7,600 GRT, a length of 121.5 metres, and a draught of 4.5 metres, it was relatively compact for a cruise ship and had capacity for about 328 passengers. The ship changed names and roles several times during its working life. In 1997, it was chartered by the German travel company Phoenix Reisen and renamed Carina. In 2000, it was sold again and became Primexpress Island. Operating from Cyprus, it was used as a floating casino rather than as a conventional cruise ship. That phase ended when the vessel was arrested in the port of Limassol in 2001 because of unpaid bills. The ship was subsequently acquired through cooperation among three Dutch housing associations: Algemene Woningbouw Vereniging, commonly known as AWV, DUWO, and Woningstichting Rochdale. Their objective was to help address Amsterdam's severe shortage of student housing. Before reaching the Netherlands, the vessel was towed to Greece for conversion into an accommodation ship. It arrived in Amsterdam on 8 July 2004 and was renamed Rochdale One. From 2004 through 2009, Rochdale One provided housing for 194 students. Its Amsterdam use represented a notable adaptive-reuse project: a former passenger vessel was repurposed as temporary residential infrastructure rather than returned to conventional maritime service. After the student-housing operation ended, the ship was laid up. In August 2011, it was towed to 's-Gravendeel in the Netherlands and later sold to a Lebanese company. In February 2012, it was towed onward to Tripoli, Lebanon. A proposed sale to Russian buyers did not succeed in 2013. The vessel subsequently sailed to Aliağa, Turkey, a major ship-breaking centre, where it was intended to be scrapped. The Rochdale One name therefore belongs to the final operational chapter of a ship whose history extended from Soviet-era cruising, through German charter operation and use as a Cypriot floating casino, to student accommodation in Amsterdam and eventual disposal.
History
Rochdale One began life as a cruise ship built in 1977 by Ateliers et Chantiers Dubigeon-Normandie at Nantes, France. Constructed for the Soviet Union, the vessel was named Ayvasovskiy and operated by the Danube Shipping Company. Its cruising activity was concentrated in the Black Sea and Mediterranean. The ship measured about 7,600 GRT, was 121.5 metres long, drew 4.5 metres, and could carry approximately 328 passengers. These dimensions made it a relatively small cruise ship compared with many later vessels. The ship's commercial identity changed in the late 1990s. German company Phoenix Reisen chartered it in 1997 and renamed it Carina. In 2000, following another sale, it became Primexpress Island and operated from Cyprus as a floating casino. The casino phase ended when the vessel was arrested at Limassol in 2001 over unpaid bills. Its next use was substantially different. Three Dutch housing associations—Algemene Woningbouw Vereniging, DUWO, and Woningstichting Rochdale—cooperated to obtain the ship as part of an effort to relieve Amsterdam's shortage of student accommodation. It was towed to Greece, where it was converted into an accommodation vessel, then brought to Amsterdam. The ship arrived on 8 July 2004 and took the name Rochdale One. Between 2004 and 2009, Rochdale One housed 194 students. This period made the vessel notable not for cruising but for adaptive reuse in urban housing. Once that service ended, the ship was laid up. In August 2011 it was towed to 's-Gravendeel in the Netherlands, after which it was sold to a Lebanese company. The ship reached Tripoli, Lebanon, in February 2012. An attempt to sell the vessel to Russian buyers failed in 2013. Rochdale One then sailed to Aliağa, Turkey, where it was destined for scrapping. Its documented history consequently spans several distinct functions and ownership contexts: Soviet-era cruise service, German charter operation, a Cyprus-based floating casino, Dutch student housing, and final movement toward ship recycling.
- 2013
Sent toward Aliağa for scrapping
[1]Following a failed sale attempt to Russian buyers, the ship sailed to Aliağa, Turkey, for scrapping.
- 2012
Towed to Tripoli
[1]The vessel was towed to Tripoli, Lebanon, in February.
- 2011
Towed to 's-Gravendeel
[1]After its lay-up period, the ship was towed to 's-Gravendeel in the Netherlands and later sold to a Lebanese company.
- 2009
Student-housing service ended
[1]The vessel's use as housing for 194 Amsterdam students ended, after which it was laid up.
- 2004
Arrived in Amsterdam as Rochdale One
[1]Following conversion in Greece, the ship arrived in Amsterdam on 8 July and began serving as student accommodation.
- 2001
Arrested at Limassol
[1]The vessel was arrested in Limassol because of unpaid bills.
- 2000
Converted to floating-casino service
[1]After a sale, the ship became Primexpress Island and operated from Cyprus as a floating casino.
- 1997
Chartered by Phoenix Reisen
[1]The ship was chartered by German company Phoenix Reisen and renamed Carina.
- 1977
Built in Nantes
[1]The vessel was completed by Ateliers et Chantiers Dubigeon-Normandie in Nantes, France, for service in the Soviet Union.
Products and positioning
Not a consumer brand; Rochdale One was the name of a multi-purpose passenger vessel that later served as student accommodation.
Student accommodation vessel · 2004
Rochdale One
A former cruise ship converted into a residential vessel for Amsterdam's student-housing shortage. Under the Rochdale One name, it operated from 2004 to 2009 and accommodated 194 students. The project was organized through cooperation among AWV, DUWO, and Woningstichting Rochdale.
Cruise ship · 1977
Ayvasovskiy
The ship's original name after construction in 1977. As Ayvasovskiy, it was operated by the Danube Shipping Company, mainly in the Black Sea and Mediterranean, with capacity for approximately 328 passengers.
Floating casino · 2000
Primexpress Island
The name used after the vessel was sold in 2000 and operated from Cyprus as a floating casino. This phase ended when the ship was arrested at Limassol in 2001 over unpaid bills.
Brand decisions
2013
Proceed to ship recycling after failed saleOtherBackground
An attempt to sell the vessel to Russian buyers did not succeed.
Action taken
The ship sailed to Aliağa, Turkey, for scrapping.
Aftermath
The vessel's operational history ended with its movement to a ship-breaking centre.
2004
Repurpose the cruise ship as student housingStrategyBackground
Three Dutch housing associations cooperated in response to Amsterdam's severe shortage of student accommodation.
Action taken
The vessel was acquired, converted in Greece, towed to Amsterdam, and renamed Rochdale One.
Aftermath
It housed 194 students from 2004 until 2009 before being laid up.
Recent events
- 2013
Rochdale One is sent toward Aliağa for scrapping[1]
Other
After an unsuccessful effort to sell the ship to Russian buyers, Rochdale One sailed to Aliağa, Turkey, for scrapping.
- 2011
Rochdale One is sold after being laid up[1]
Other
Following the end of its Amsterdam accommodation service and a period in lay-up, the vessel was towed to 's-Gravendeel and subsequently sold to a Lebanese company.
- 2004
Rochdale One is towed to Amsterdam for student accommodation[1]
Other
After conversion work in Greece, the former cruise ship arrived in Amsterdam on 8 July 2004 to begin its role as housing for students.
Sources1 sources
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