Built as an inland river passenger ship by the yard of the Donaudampfschifffarth-Gesellschaft in Korneuburg for the Östrreichische Bundesbahnen (Austria Railways).
Built in sections, where after the sections by rail were transported to Bregenz, and there in a dry-dock assembled.
Tonnage 241 ton. Dim. 54.40 x 7.40 x 1.41m.
Fitted out with two diesel engines each 300 hp, speed 25.8 km.
Passenger accommodation for 700 passengers.
11 July 1928 commissioned under the name OESTERREICH (Austria). Homeport Bregenz.
She was used in the passenger service on Lake Constance, and the first passenger vessel fitted out with a diesel engine.
During the winter season of 1931/32 and 1932/33 her stability improved by fitting her out with bilge keels and her galleries widened.
1938 All Austria ships were taken over by the Deutsche Reichsbahn (German Railways), after the annexation of Austria by the German state.
Her homeport became Lindau.
1944 Confiscated by the German Army and thereafter used as a torpedo air defence test ship for the German Air Force at Immenstaad. At that time she carried also AA guns.
17 May 1945 seized by the French occupation force at Rorschach, towed to Immenstaat.
1946 As a floating wreck she was towed by the French Navy to Kressbronn.
1948 Handed back to the Österreichischen Bundesbahn (ÖBB) (Austrian Railways) and on 18 June by the AUSTRIA to Bregenz towed and laid up till 1950.
After a rebuilding of three years on the Lindauer yard in Bregenz came she again in service on 25 July 1953 under the name ÖSTERREICH.
From 2006 is she owned by the Vorarlberg Lines-Bodenseeschfffahrt.
Tonnage 366 ton.
Powered by two diesel engines each 380 hp.
Accommodation for 600 passengers.
Source: http://www.bodenseeschifffahrt.de/Brege ... reich.html http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_%C3%96sterreich
http://www.bodenseeschifffahrt.de/Artik ... ich80.html
The Austria Post gives the following by the issues.
Day of the Stamp 2009
The history of the MS Österreich dates back to the 1920s. The ship was ceremoniously launched on July 29, 1928, followed by the maiden voyage, while two decades later the elegant ship, having been brought to safety to the town of Staad towards the end of the Second World War by plucky sailors, was released by the French occupying forces and returned to Bregenz. Of course, by then it was a rundown wreck, since during the war it had been used for training and experimental purposes. It was only after a long period of restoration that the ship underwent its second highly acclaimed maiden voyage in the summer of 1953. The MS Österreich with its three salons has a capacity of 600, including seating for 230 inside. Catering for the passengers comes from the ships own kitchen, which supplies one restaurant and two on-board buffets.
Although shipping on Lake Constance appears today to be a nostalgic affair, there has nevertheless been a fundamental change in its functions as compared with the early years, above all during the last three decades. While it was once the means of transport that maintained the trading and transport links between the towns on the lakes shore, shipping today is largely an excursion operation that depends on the season and the weather. As such, however, it has in the course of time become an important tourist attraction for Bregenz and the province of Vorarlberg. Above all holidaymakers and summer guests as well as day-trippers from the local area make Lake Constance with its impressive shore landscapes and charming towns an extremely popular destination
Austria 2009 2.65 + 1.30 Euro sg?, scott?