MINGHUA / SEA WORLD, ex ANCERVILLE

by Martin Cox (updated December 2005)

Built as ANCERVILLE
Compagnie de Navigation Paquet, Marseilles
Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire
14,224 grt
551 x 72 ft
2 12-cyl diesels, Burmeister & Wain from builders
Twin Screw, 22 1/2 knots
Passengers: Four class: 22 de luxe, 149 comfort, 342 tourist, 243 standard

Launched April 5, 1962 by the French president Charles de Gaulle, she entered service September 5, with a cruise to Canary Islands, before her maiden voyage Marseilles - Dakar. She was noted for her decor and appointments, twin funnel and unusual layout with most public rooms aft and cabins forward. She sported three pools: Comfort-class pool and lido on Boat Deck, Tourist-class pool aft on A Deck, and Standard class (4 - 10 berth cabins) with a pool on the fore deck. Her service route saw her sail from Marseilles, France, to Casablanca, Morocco to the Canaries and on to Dakar, Senegal. Teamed up with with S.S. LYAUTEY, these two Paquet vessels maintained an approximately weekly service, while ANCERVILLE sometimes operated as a one-class cruise ship. In 1970, ANCERVILLE was transferred to Novelle Compagnie de Paquebots, Marseilles.

In April 1973 ANCERVILLE was purchased by The People's Republic of China, renamed MINGHUA and placed in China and East Africa service. After 1981, under management of Burns, Philp & Co Ltd., she commenced cruising from Australia, with accommodations for 380 passengers in one class.

SEA WORLD opens at Shekou 1983

In 1983 the vessel was berthed at Liuwan Bay, at Shekou near Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong province, part of a "special economic zone". Once renovated the shipboasted; 253 hotel rooms, Chinese and Western restaurants, an English Bar, Bamboo Grove Bar, Music Dance Hall, swimming pool, health centre, children's recreation centre and the China Folk Customs Exhibition Centre. Renamed by the Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping as SHEKOU SEA WORLD, the ship became part of a plaza of shops, hotels and restaurants in the town centre of Shekou, a radical first of its kind for China.

In 1984 MINGHUA was registered under Guangzhou Ocean Shipping, and by 1986 the vessel had appeared in registers as an hotel ship, finally by 1991 the name MINGHUA was erased from Lloyd's Register. During her time berthed at "Sea World Plaza", the surrounding seaward area was land filled to construct a large golf course. This left the ship entirely landlocked with soil bulldozed right up against hull. Shrubs were planted along the waterline while the coastline had been moved a quarter of a mile away, and the ship left sitting in a lawn.

MINGHUA, at Shekou, China in November 1999. Photo and copyright Martin Cox

Rumours of management difficulties topped off by a serious fire in the engine room saw the ship closed down in 1998. The exterior of the vessel was maintained but the interior was shuttered and left neglected with a lone watchman living aboard. Despite the name change to SEA WORLD, the letters depicting MINGHUA remain in gold painted letters in both English and in Chinese characters on the bow and stern.

Sea World Plaza, Shekou in 2001. Photo by James Yin.

In November 2001, investigative borings were taken in the soil surrounding the ship, and in a report from the Shenzhen Daily, dated November 19, 2001, it was indicated that the "Shekou Industrial Zone" has begun reconstructing the vessel once again into a recreation centre. Plans called for seawater to once again be channeled around the hull, the construction of a 1,000 square metre lobby, a 2,000 square metre cafe-lounge and a large swimming pool. The design called for a 3-D cinema, Western style bars, and a nightclub. The 70 million-yuan investment was intended to be completed by the end of 2002.

In December 2001, it was announced that Shekou Industrial District will cooperate with LiFengTong Investment Company to develop MINGHUA for the second time. A release noted that after reconstruction, MINGHUA will house a coffee lounge, a movie theatre and a bar as well as gymnasium with a pool pool called Sea World Club.

Overview of MINGHUA and Sea World Plaza, Shekou in 2002. Photo by James Yin.

Guangdong news reported that in December 2003, that the first phase of the "Sea World park" renovation were finished and a fireworks display on Christmas Eve marked occassion as well as the 20th anniversary of the naming of Sea World by the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. The developer of the project, China Merchants Real Estate Co. which undertook the large scale renovation around the ship, also constructed a 12,000 sqm bar street called Sea World Cafe Bars which has become popular for both Chinese and expatriates to socialize. The Sea World Cafe Bars consist of brand-name bars, cafes and Western eateries, including Kosmo Coffee, SPR Coffee, Nutaste Coffee, Chinabeach Bar, McCawleys Irish Bar, Italian Bar, Sun Bar, Amigos Restaurant and TCBY, and many more. Further bars, restaurants and shops will be built in the second phase of the renovation project. These are expected to open in the middle of 2004 when the interior hotel renovations inside MINGHUA will also be completed.

MINGHUA and Sea World Plaza, Shekou in 2005. Note the enlarged windows. Photo by David Brandt, courtesy of Tim Brandt.

In November 2005, the Shenzhen Daily reported that "Minghua... will return to glory Dec. 16. With millions spent on its new identity, the Minghua now harbors a four-star hotel, a Brazilian BBQ restaurant, a Western restaurant, a wine bar and cigar house, a coffee shop and boutique."

"Following the two-year transformation project, the Shenzhen tourism authority and investors hope the ship and its surrounding area will become a destination akin to Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong. The area already is already known for its 20 international restaurants, including French, Russian, Indian, Brazilian, German, Southeast Asian and American cuisines."

Special thanks to Peter Knego, and to James Yin of Shekou and Tim and David Brandt.