Třinec — Marcor Bulk I
It was the pride of Czechoslovakia’s maritime fleet. Now, the cargo ship Třinec, the last surviving Czechoslovak ocean vessel, is set to be scrapped. The ship was named Trinec until 1998. Later it was renamed Marcor Bulk I and used as floating storage, moored in Rotterdam, Waalhaven.
Despite being landlocked, Czechoslovakia had a strong presence on the world’s oceans. Since the interwar period, ships under its flag sailed global trade routes. The state-owned company Czechoslovak Ocean Shipping was founded in 1959 and expanded steadily. After the fall of communism, it was privatized in 1992, becoming Czech Ocean Shipping in 1994. By 1998, operations ceased, and the fleet was sold.
The History of Třinec
Třinec, a B447-type bulk carrier, was built in 1975 in Poland by ‘Stocznia Szczecińska im Adolfa Warskiego’. The shipyard was among the largest in Europe. The vessel measured 199 meters in length and 24.5 meters in width, equipped with a Sulzer 7RD76 engine producing 11,200 horsepower. It completed 197 voyages before it was taken out of active service.
In 1998, after Czechoslovakia’s shipping operations ended, the ship was sold to a Dutch company. It was renamed Marcor Bulk I and moored in Rotterdam’s Waalhaven. There, it served as a floating transshipment station for bulk goods.
A Forgotten Time Capsule
Now, with a land-based storage facility replacing it, Marcor Bulk I is set to be scrapped. Yet, inside, much of its original interior remains untouched—furnished cabins, crockery, working overalls, and old newspapers from its seafaring days.
Maritime enthusiasts from Veletov’s Maritime Museum in the Czech Republic are working to salvage parts of the vessel, including the funnel, bow, and captain’s bridge. The industrial town of Třinec, which provided materials for the ship’s construction, hopes to reclaim its anchor as a tribute to the ship’s legacy.
The Třinec is a rare glimpse into a forgotten piece of maritime history. Soon, however, this ghost of the sea will disappear forever. I photographed the Třinec — Marcor Bulk I in 2016.
