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Shipping News: Passenger ship and cruise news from around the world
SHIPPING NEWS Jan - June 2004
Ferry Passengers Saved
May 23: A nightmarish three-week ferry journey finally ended May 21st for over 300 people, who were
allowed to disembark at an Ivory Coast port. The vast majority of the passengers were Liberian
refugees who had paid approximately $150 each to sail back to Liberia after the collapse of the
regime of former President Charles Taylor. The ferry DONA ELVIRA sailed on May 3, from Lagos,
Nigeria, and stopped in Ghana to pick up more passengers on its way to the Liberian capital Monrovia.
The journey was expected to take three days. The ferry suffered engine failure off the port of
San Pedro in western Cote d'Ivoire and was then driven out into the Atlantic by high winds. The
vessel was finally rescued by the French warship Le HENAFF, which towed it into Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
and sent aboard emergency supplies of food and water. There was no sanitation or medical treatment for
the sick and exhausted people on board. The ferry was reportedly rusty and unsafe for such a
journey with no lifeboats or life-saving equipment. The passengers' entry into Ivory Coast followed
three days of negotiations between the UN refugee agency UNHCR and authorities. After the ship landed
its passengers, they were transferred to a transit centre in the centre of the city, for medical
treatment after which the UNHCR planned to fly them to Monrovia.
Tanker and Car Carrier Collide
May 23: A collision between oil tanker Mt KAMINESAN loaded with 279,949 tonnes of crude oil
and car carrier MV HYUNDAI No 105 carrying 4,190 South Korean and Japanese cars occurred
south of Singapore. Reports state that the car carrier sank with no loss of life and that
no oil was spilled from the tanker. It was also reported that before the collision, warnings
were given to both vessels by the vessel traffic information service and that the vessels
communicated with each other. The 1987-built MV HYUNDAI No 105 was bound for Germany,
carrying the small passenger car Click, and sports utility vehicles Santa Fe and Sorento for
exports to Russia, Finland, Germany and other European countries.
DIAMOND PRINCESS Dinged
May 23: Princess Cruises' DIAMOND PRINCESS, with 2,600 passengers on board, was pushed into the end
of a pier at Odgen point, Victoria, BC, by high winds as she was attempting to dock just after 6PM
on May 21. The Captain then aborted the planned mooring procedure and tied up across the outer end
of Pier A, and waited for the winds to stop gusting. After an inspection, the ship continued on her
cruise. No special dry-docking was indicated.
QE2 Fire
May 18: German press reports a small fire broke out on board Cunard's QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 while
she remains in drydock at Lloyd Werft, undergoing a refit. The blaze was quickly extinguished
as over a dozen fire fighters from Bremerhaven responded to the alarm. The refit is not expected
to be delayed and QE2 is due to sail on her "Northern Delights" cruise from Southampton to Oslo,
Copenhagen and Amsterdam, May 22.
Aloha To SKY
May 17: NCL's NORWEGIAN SKY arrived at San Francisco today for conversion to PRIDE OF ALOHA.
She anchored south of the Bay Bridge to wait for the drydock to be vacated by fleet mate
NORWEGIAN STAR. PRIDE OF ALOHA's first cruise to Los Angeles is scheduled for June 7.
DISNEY MAGIC To Land
May 17 : Disney Cruise Line has announced that for the first time in its history, a
Disney ship will be based in Los Angeles for cruises to Mexico in summer 2005. DISNEY
MAGIC will operate the new itinerary from May 28 through August 13, 2005, scheduled to
coincide with the 50th anniversary of Disneyland, which opened in July of 1955. DISNEY
MAGIC will sail to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.
Also based on the West Coast next year will be the new 2,670-passenger DIAMOND PRINCESS, with sister ship SAPPHIRE PRINCESS, to be home-ported in Seattle for Alaska trips and San Francisco in the fall for Mexico voyages. NORWEGIAN STAR returns from Hawaii to Alaskan waters sailing from Seattle. She will also cruise to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles.
SUNCRUZ Casino boat Fire
May 16: Fire broke out in the engine room of a casino cruise boat carrying about 158
people off Fort Lauderdale, 12 people were treated for minor smoke inhalation. The fire
started about 12:40 p.m. in the engine room of the 160-foot SUNCRUZ, which had sailed at
noon from Martha's Restaurant on the Intracoastal Waterway in Hollywood, Florida for a five-hour
sailing through international waters. The vessel, was three miles south of Port Everglades when
the fire broke out. As smoke billowed through the ship, crew members guided the 114 passengers to
the top deck, where they all donned orange life vests. Firefighters from Broward Sheriff's Office
Fire-Rescue boarded the SUNCRUZ while still at sea and sealed the engine room. A tug towed the
vessel into Port Everglades, where the passengers were evacuated. The cause is under investigation.
Grounded Alaskan State Ferry
May 14: The Alaska Marine Highway System's ferry LeCONTE struck Cozian Reef about 30 miles north of Sitka
on May 10 while en route from Angoon to Sitka. All 86 passengers and 23 crew members were evacuated. The
ferry remains stuck on the reef, while salvage crews work to stabilize the ship. Fuel and other oil products
were being removed. Three anchors, fore and aft, are keeping the ferry pinned to the rocks. The LeCONTE ran
aground on a well-marked navigational hazard. Three people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The Coast Guard and the State Department of Transportation are investigating the grounding. Fifteen vehicles,
most of them owned by Alaskans, remain on board. A plan to salvage the $30 million ferry, is underway however,
the hull was badly gashed and were the ship to slip off the reef it would sink, according to reports.
The salvage company, Crowley Marine, submited a plan for refloating the ferry. UPDATE: Stranded cars could
begin coming off the state ferry LeCONTE today, and the salvage vessel AMERICAN SALVOR is expected to
arrive Saturday to work to get the ferry out of Peril Strait. Plans call for the cars to be off-loaded to a barge.
WILDERNESS ADVENTURE Holed
May 13: 19 passengers and 3 crew members were evacuated from the WILDERNESS ADVENTURE after the vessel was
reported to have struck ice and taken on water in Tracy Arm, Alaska. The passengers and crew were transferred
safely onto another cruise ship after the incident. U.S. Coast Guard officials reported that ice punctured a
3-inch hole into the hull. A pump was successful in keeping water out of the ship, which was returned to Juneau,
Alaska for repairs.
RUBY Rubs Out STAR?
May 13: CARONIA (ex VISTAFJORD) is now rumored to become Saga Holiday's SAGA RUBY, not SAGA STAR, as earlier reported.
Breaking News
May 13: Brokers representing both PRINCESA VICTORIA (ex DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, VICTORIA, THE VICTORIA)
and RED BOAT (ex EUGENIO C, EUGENIO COSTA, EDINBURGH CASTLE, THE BIG RED BOAT II) state earlier
reports regarding both ships are incorrect. PRINCESA VICTORIA did, indeed, leave for the breakers,
but her destination is now said to be Alang, not Chittagong. RED BOAT is supposedly still at her
Freeport moorings as eleventh hour negotiations are underway to sell her for further trading.
MONA LISA Misses The Mark!
May 12: Topaz International's truly gorgeous 1966-built 28,891 gross ton MONA LISA (ex KUNGSHOLM, SEA PRINCESS, VICTORIA)
grounded in thick fog in a canal near Venice's famed St. Mark's Square today. The second major grounding in the ship's
short career for her Greek-based owner was fortunately a near miss, incurring no major damage or injuries to passengers
or crew. The MONA LISA, currently under charter to Germany's Holiday Kreuzefahrten, was soon freed to continue her cruise around Italy.
Toxic ART
May 10: California's Vallejo Times-Herald reported on May 5 that the US Environmental Protection Agency
has prevented ARTSHIP (ex DELORLEANS, USS CRESCENT CITY, GOLDEN BEAR) from leaving her Mare Island berth
due to the amount of toxins found aboard. The historic ship remains tied up in
front of the SS INDEPENDENCE as work on removal of these materials commences.
(Many thanks to Gregory Illi for the update).
New STAR at Saga
May 10: It was revealed yesterday that the CARONIA (ex VISTAFJORD) will be renamed SAGA
STAR when she joins the Saga Holidays fleet.
Breaker Bound
May 6: Today, two of the finest vintage passenger ships in existence departed on their
respective journeys to the scrap yard. The PRINCESA VICTORIA (ex DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, VICTORIA,
THE VICTORIA) left Eleusis for Chittagong, Bangladesh. There are some reports that she may be
purchased when she arrives at Suez to be converted to a floating hotel, with preliminary
work to be done at Dubai. Meanwhile, the troubled RED BOAT (ex EUGENIO C, EUGENIO COSTA,
EDINBURGH CASTLE, THE BIG RED BOAT II) was scheduled to cast her Freeport, Bahamas lines
and make way for Alang, India, today.
SERENADE Sails Onto Maritime Matters
April 29: Louis Cruise Line's SERENADE sails along in a suite of seven pages into
Maritime Matters Contemporary Cruise Ship Chronicles. The former JEAN MERMOZ and
MERMOZ is shown in her prior incarnations and as she looks today in a top to bottom
history and tour by Peter Knego: Click here for SERENADE tour.
Berth Chosen For Grandest Of DAMs
April 29: RDM, the current owners of the REMBRANDT (ex ROTTERDAM), which is to be renamed and restored
to her original dove gray hulled-glory as the SS ROTTERDAM, have announced where the ship will be berthed
when she is utilized as a static attraction, hotel, and museum at Rotterdam. The vessel will be centrally
located in Rotterdam harbor near her old berth and the former Holland America Line headquarters of the
Wilhelminakade at the head of the Maashaven across from the Euromast. Meanwhile, preparations
are being made in Freeport to tow the beloved former ocean liner to Holland for delivery in late
May or June. More information can be found at ssrotterdam.net.
Oceanliner Memorabilia and Art Auction
April 28: The Wayne LaPoe Collection of Oceanliner Memorabilia and Art
to be auctioned at Christies in New York, June 16: Click here for
www.christies.com
Alang Bits and Pieces
April 28: Some updates on "progress" at a few of the demo yards at Alang.
APOLLO (ex EMPRESS OF CANADA, MARDI GRAS, STAR OF TEXAS, LUCKY STAR, OLYMPIC 2004, APOLLON) has been cut back to the bridge structure. Large sections of her promenades have been sliced away from her midships flanks and most of her stern decks are now gone, but her funnel remains untouched.
HARMONY I (ex STATENDAM, RHAPSODY, REGENT STAR, SEA HARMONY) has been beached. Local traders are due to inspect her in the next week.
GENOA (ex SYLVANIA, FAIRWIND, DAWN PRINCESS, ALBATROS) is still structurally intact, although she has been dragged further up onto the embankment and has many large holes cut into her hull for offloading of parts and fittings.
MAYAN EMPRESS (ex WINSTON CHURCHILL) has been sliced back to her superstructure and has large sections of her flanks gouged out along with most of her stern.
One remaining strip of stern keel of BIG BOAT (ex TRANSVAAL CASTLE, SA VAAL, FESTIVALE, ISLAND BREEZE, THE BIG RED BOAT THREE) is all that is left of this once gallant ship.
Chittagong Gong Tolls...
April 28: Chittagong, Bangladesh, is giving Alang, India a run for its shipbreaking buck. With OCEANBREEZE
(ex SOUTHERN CROSS, etc.) on the beach and underway, the pioneering 10,558gt EMPRESS (ex SUNWARD, ILE DE BEAUTE,
GRAND FLOTEL, SAUDI MOON I, OCEAN SPIRIT, SCANDINAVIAN SONG, SANTIAGO DE CUBA) is due on the muddy banks
imminently following her final departure from Singapore on April 15. As the SUNWARD, the EMPRESS introduced
a new Scandinavian "style" to cruising and led to the expansion of Norwegian Caribbean (now Norwegian Cruise)
Lines and its fleet of massive new ships. Also headed for Bangladesh is the dowager Louis Cruise Lines ship
PRINCESA VICTORIA (ex DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, VICTORIA, THE VICTORIA).
Bad Day On BLACK PRINCE
April 27: Fred Olsen's BLACK PRINCE, on her first journey after engine repairs in Hamburg, Germany, broke down
just off Southampton docks this morning. She was expected at the port to pick up 412 passengers today for
a mini-cruise to Ireland and the Channel Islands. She was with out power and her time at Southampton was put back to 7pm.
MSC Expanding
April 27: Italian-owned MSC Cruises recently purchased financially troubled Festival Cruises'
EUROPEAN VISION in April, and will introduce the ship to the MSC fleet in the next few months. The EUROPEAN
VISION and her sistership EUROPEAN STARS are near sister ships of existing new MSC vessels, MSC LIRICA (2003),
and MSC OPERA (2004). Two additional Panamax Ships of 95,000 tons are currently on order for MSC.
It is rumoured that their oldest ship, the former Matson Liner/PFEL/Aloha Pacific liner S.S. MONTEREY
(ex FREE STATE MARINER) will be retired at the end of the current European cruise season.
easyRENAISSANCE!
April 26: easyGroup acquired the 1990 Italian-built, 4,077gt NEPTUNE 2 (ex RENAISSANCE 2) which was immediately
moved to Singapore for refurbishment into a quality 180-passenger capacity vessel. This new cruise
company will begin operations in the West Mediterranean in spring 2005.
Louis Laps Up Sun Cruises
April 25: Louis Cruise Lines has purchased the three ship Sun Cruises fleet from Mytravel for an undisclosed sum.
SUNBIRD (ex SONG OF AMERICA) will ultimately be renamed THOMSON DESTINY and chartered to UK-based Thomson Holidays.
SUNBIRD, SUNDREAM (ex SONG OF NORWAY) and CAROUSEL (ex NORDIC PRINCE) will be transferred to Louis operation and
subsequently short term chartered to Sun Cruises in the interim.
In the interim, Louis has announced an exciting itinerary for three of its classic ships while its dowager PRINCESA VICTORIA (ex DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, VICTORIA, THE VICTORIA) is prepared for her final voyage to Bangladeshi breakers. SERENADE (ex JEAN MERMOZ, MERMOZ), AUSONIA, and SAPPHIRE (ex ITALIA, OCEAN PRINCESS, SEA PRINCE, PRINCESA OCEANICA, etc.) will undertake cruises this summer from Limassol to Egypt, the Greek Islands, Syria, and Lebanon. CALYPSO, THOMSON SPIRIT (ex NIEUW AMSTERDAM, PATRIOT), and THE EMERALD (ex SANTA ROSA, DIAMOND ISLE, REGENT RAINBOW, etc.) enjoy respective charters to Mano and Thomson while PRINCESA MARISSA (ex PRINS HAMLET, etc.) continues on her Egypt cruise program. PRINCESA CYPRIA (ex PRINSESSE MARGRETHE, etc.) is laid up at Eleusis with an uncertain future.
ĘDutch Diva Welcomes WESTERDAM
April 25: Holland America's WESTERDAM was named by Dutch actress Renee Soutendijk in Venice, Italy. The ceremony
took place on the "Festa del Boccolo," or St. Mark's Day, the holiday celebrating the patron saint of Venice. In
its time honored tradition, every woman received a red rose and Renie Soutendijk christened the ship in fitting
style, with a rose being launched toward the bow to signal the breaking of a champagne bottle against the WESTERDAM's
name on her hull. Prior to the naming ceremony, colorfully costumed performers from a 16th century-style
Venetian carnival troupe performed for 1,500 guests. The 1,848-passenger WESTERDAM embarked on her maiden
voyage, an inaugural 12-day cruise from Venice to: Dubrovnik, Santorini, Rhodes, Pythagorion, Athens, Katakolon,
Kusadasi, Turkey, and Valletta.
PST Gets A New Name
April 25: New York's once grand Passenger Ship Terminal, built between 1932 and 1935, and last renovated in the 1970s,
has become over burdened on cruise ship turnaround days. The facilities, which were designed to accommodate
1,000-passenger ships, now struggle with the traffic created by 3,000-passenger cruise ships. Nearly 900,000
peoople passed through the buildings in 2003, (compared with 425,000 10 years ago). A deal was signed this week
between New York City, Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Lines to revitalize and update the facilities.
The new design calls for separate embarkation and debarkation on different levels, new passenger drop-off and
pickup areas, expanded parking, a new foot-bridge over the West Side Highway, redesigned interiors and an extra
long pier to accommodate Cunard's QUEEN MARY 2. A letter of intent was signed April 19 with Carnival and NCL
agreeing to bring at least 13 million passengers to New York by the year 2017, providing the city with $200
million in port fees. In return, New York pledged $150 million on top of a previous $50 million commitment
to modernize the existing terminal, which will be renamed the New York Cruise Terminal. A new berth will
also be built along the Brooklyn waterfront.
Queens Leave New York
April 25: Last night saw an unusual event in New York Harbour. Cunards' QUEEN MARY 2 and QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 both
departed their Hudson piers to moor off the Statue of Liberty and set sail for England under a sky full of fireworks
and a shoreline agog with thousands of cheering onlookers. This event marked the official handing over of the "baton"
from the 1969-bulit QE2 to the new QM2 as the premier transatlanic ship. The sailing is the first-ever tandem crossing
of the Atlantic by two Cunard liners. They are expected to arrive in Southampton May 1.
SUNBIRD's Destiny
April 22: Sun Cruise's 1982-built SUNBIRD (ex SONG OF AMERICA) will be transferred to Thomson Cruises under
charter from Louis after the Cypriot company agreed to buy the vessel together with two other cruise ships
from the troubled MyTravel group. She will be renamed THOMSON DESTINY in 2005.
JEWEL OF THE SEAS Shines
April 22: Royal Caribbean International took delivery today of the 2,112-passenger JEWEL OF THE SEAS
in a ceremony at Eemshaven, Netherlands. Built at the Meyer Werft Yard in Papenburg, Germany, she will start her
inaugural cruising season in Northern Europe from Harwich, England after a naming ceremony in Southampton.
The latest Radiance-class vessel, she will sail from Boston, MA for cruising to Canada and New England in
September and in November she moves to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, offering cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
OLYMPIAs Speed Into New Careers
April 21: The Blohm and Voss built former ROC high speed vessels OLYMPIA VOYAGER (ex OLYMPIC VOYAGER) will go to
Iberojet for Spanish cruise service and OLYMPIA EXPLORER (ex OLYMPIC EXPLORER) will sail for Pittsburgh-based
Semester-At-Sea, replacing current ship, the historic SS UNIVERSE EXPLORER (ex BRASIL, VOLENDAM, etc), which will
likely follow her former sister NEW ORLEANS (ex ARGENTINA, VEENDAM, ENCHANTED ISLE, etc) to Alang.
QM2 Approaches Big Apple
April 21: QUEEN MARY 2, expected to receive a big welcome in New York, has had the media buzzing
with her erratic progress on her fist transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York. As she
sailed out of the Solent, a passenger who had fallen badly had to be taken ashore by tender.
Then, during the first two days at sea, the ship battled fierce weather in the form of two force 10
storms bringing 30-foot waves and 60 mph winds, forcing Captain Warwick to slow the liner to avoid damage.
It appeared that the new megaliner would miss her spot on morning television, when it was revealed that she
had begun to make up for lost time. Fog slowed her once again, and a false report suggested she would be a
day late. However, she is now expected to reach New York a mere fifteen minutes late tomorrow, April 22.
QM2 should pass under the Verazzano Narrows bridge at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. The US Weather Bureau's
marine forecast called for light winds, drizzle and patchy fog overnight and early Thursday. QM2 is to
replace the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 in regular transatlantic service between New York and Southampton.
OCEAN EXPLORER I For Scrap?
April 20: The 1944-built, SS OCEAN EXPLORER I, (laid down as GENERAL R. M. BLATCHFORD, launched as GENERAL W.P. RICHARDSON,
later LA GUARDIA, LEILANI, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, ATLANTIS, ESMERALDA, EMERALD SEAS, FANTASTICA, FUNTASTICA, TERRIFICA, SUN
FIESTA, SAPPHIRE SEAS) is to be scrapped, according to reputable maritime sources, after years of lay up at Elusis,
Greece. She is currently moored next to OCEAN COUNTESS at Ikonio in Perama Bay. See Maritimematters information page
on her OCEAN EXPLORER I
WARATAH Search Recommenced
April 19: The novelist Clive Cussler has funded an expedition to search for the wreck of the WARATAH, a Blue Anchor
Line passenger ship which vanished during a storm on July 27, 1909, halfway through her voyage from Australia to
England while rounding South Africa. No trace of the 211 people aboard, the cargo, or the vessel were ever found.
The expedition, sailing this week from Durban on a four day voyage, will search near the mouths of the Xora and Bashee
Rivers off the Transkei coast. The area was chosen based on a pilots 1962 sighting of a "passenger ship below the sea".
The 16-person expedition, using a converted fishing trawler, will trail a sonar device to create an image of the
seafloor over an area of about 30 Square miles. Named after a flower which is the emblem of New South Wales, the
465-foot WARATAH was built by Barclay Curle & Company in Scotland in 1908, for the emigration route to Australasia.
She was lost on the return leg of her maiden voyage.
Dutch Diva Welcomes WESTERDAM
April 9: Holland America announced today that its third Vista Class vessel will be named by
none other than Renee Soutendijk, acclaimed international actress and movie star. Likened by
many to be a "modern Dutch Dietrich" for her charismatic beauty and presence, Soutendijk is
known for her work with famed director Paul Verhoeven and her performances in his celebrated
films, "Spetters" and "The Fourth Man". The naming ceremony will take place in Venice, Italy
on 25 April. The WESTERDAM will join nearly identical sisters OOSTERDAM and ZUIDERDAM.
The NOORDAM will follow in 2006.
New Vista for "Vista" QUEEN
April 5: Cunard Line's QUEEN VICTORIA, currently under construction in Italy,
will now not join the Cunard fleet after all. Instead, she will transfer to the P&O
fleet under the new name ARCADIA. Carnival Corporation, which owns both lines, made the annoucment
in London today. The ARCADIA is scheduled to enter service in April 2005. The announcment went
on to say that a more luxurious version of the QUEEN VICTORIA (which will still be built with
Carnival's Panamax "Vista" class hull specifications), will be ordered and also built by
Fincantieri, for delivery in January 2007. One of the reasons given for the switch
is the success of QUEEN MARY 2, and specifically, the demand for her suites. The design of the
new 2007-QUEEN VICTORIA will be more consistent with the "grand ocean liner" style of QUEEN MARY 2,
according to Pamela Conover, Cunard's president.
P&0/Princess Shuffle: ARTEMIS For ADONIA/SEA For ROYAL
April 5: Carnival-owned P&O's 1998-built ADONIA (ex SEA PRINCESS) will be transferred back to Princess in
May 2005 and re-renamed SEA PRINCESS. She will be dedicated to the UK cruise market, operating from the
UK in summer and Caribbean in the winter. To fill the gap in P&O Cruises' fleet, the 1984-built
ROYAL PRINCESS (christened by HRH Princess Diana) will be transferred from Princess after conversion
to a British-style vessel and will be given the new name ARTEMIS (Goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology --
aka DIANA in Roman mythology) in May 2005.
Chittagong Calling
April 2: With OCEANBREEZE (ex SOUTHERN CROSS, CALYPSO, AZURE SEAS, OCEANBREEZE) on the beach and demolition well underway,
the Bangladesh breakers at Chittagong seem to have whetted their appetite for classic passenger ships.
It has been revealed in maritime cirles that Louis Cruise Lines has sold their classic PRINCESA
VICTORIA (ex DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, VICTORIA, THE VICTORIA) for scrapping. Currently idle at Eleusis Bay in a raft
of passenger ships, the doomed PRINCESA is due to depart in a few days.
Tandem QUEENs
April 2: New York and Southampton will witness a rare pairing this Spring: On April 25th, both QE2 and QM2
will dock in New York. After a dramatic firework-lit send off both ships will sail within sight of one
another across the Atlantic, arriving in Southampton together May 1st. This event marks the official
handing over of the transatlantic passage from QE2 to QM2, which is scheduled to undertake 26 crossings next year.
NORWAY Vanishes
April 1: S/S NORWAY, (ex FRANCE) once the longest liner in the world - vanished in cyberspace today.
Norwegian Cruise Line have aparrently removed the ship from their fleet list at NCL.com.
See March 17th for full details.
Alang-ward: Dam!
March 31: Under the name HARMONY I, the listing 1957-built former STATENDAM, RHAPSODY, REGENT STAR, SEA HARMONY
departed Eleusis under her own power on 14 March for dismantling at Alang. She passed through the Suez Canal
on 20 March. The once pristine ship had not sailed since the collapse of Regency Cruises in 1995 and lay
at anchor in increasingly decrepit condition until rising steel prices prompted her departure.
OLYMPIA Twins Auctioned
March 26: OLYMPIA EXPLORER, anchored off Long Beach, was auctioned on Wednesday
March 24 as was her sister, OLYMPIA VOYAGER, anchored off of Miami, on Friday, March 26.
Each of the 25,000-ton, 836-passenger sisters were built at a cost of $175 million. The German
mortgage holding bank KFW was reported to have paid $82.7 million for the first vessel and $97.2 million for the second.
The company's creditors seized both the ships when the Royal Olympia Cruises failed to make payments
on the $250 million loan on the vessels. The Greek Maritime Court of Appeal gave the company six months
to work out arrangements with creditors.
QUEEN VICTORIA To Be Named In Southampton
March 25: Ending speculation, Cunard announced that its newest cruise ship, QUEEN VICTORIA, will be named
in Southampton, England rather than Liverpool which had been hoping to host the event. Cunard, in a further
change of plans, will not base the ship in Southampton, but instead will offer itineraries from the Mediterranean
and the Caribbean. Liverpool had hoped a new cruise ship facility would be ready in time, but delays ended
the bid to host the event for the new ship. The naming will take place in Southampton in April 2005.
Brittany's Bridge To Spain
March 25: Brittany Ferries new cruise-ferry PONT-AVEN sailed from Plymouth, England today on her maiden
voyage at 4:30PM bound for Santander on the north coast of Spain. Her cruising speed of 27 knots
will allow her to reduce the sailing time between the UK and Spain from 24 hours to only 18 hours.
The new ship incorporates many features more commonly found in a cruise ship rather than a ferry: a
wrap around promenade deck; a swimming pool with retractable roof; panoramic lifts; two cinemas; a
glass-topped five deck atrium; several restaurants and bars; as well as luxury cabins with balconies.
PONT-AVEN was built at Meyer Weft, Germany and launched September 13, 2003. Specifications: Length:
184.3m Beam: 30.9m, Gross Tonnage: 41,700 tons, Service Speed: 27 knots. Passenger Capacity: 2,400
Garage Capacity: 650 cars and 20 truck trailers, Cabins: 650.
Alang Aftermath (updated)
March 22: The onslaught of new passenger ship tonnage destined for demolition at Alang has
ebbed for the time being, although the MANAR, originally the 6,008 gt 1967-built ULSTER PRINCE,
has arrived and will be beached tomorrow, according to local sources.
Work is well underway on a number of favorites on the beach. S SOLAR, best known as STELLA SOLARIS, lies at the far eastern end of the beach. In what may be romanticized as a tribute to her beautiful streamlined profile, the cutting has left her midships superstructure intact. No less than seven twenty foot wide slivers of deck tower over her ravaged hull, which is missing bow and stern. The remaining decks are wide open on either side and exposed. Atop the gutted remains, her raked mast and shapely, finned funnel still stand unscathed.
Her little sister, the S OCEAN, the one-time chic STELLA OCEANIS, is almost finished. A small portion of her keel plates remain. The rest of her is piled up on the beach being cut into smaller pieces for the steel mills.
APOLLO, originally the EMPRESS OF CANADA, is basically bow and sternless and a large piece of her midships structure has been cut away. With few ships enroute, the demand for her berth is perhaps less urgent, so the work seems to have slowed to a moderate rate.
Off her starboard side, the MAYAN EMPRESS, the former WINSTON CHURCHILL, is now bow and sternless.
The once ravishingly sleek ASSEDO, the former SHOTA RUSTAVELI is missing most of her foredecks. Much of the ship is now cut open to the elements, and, she, too, is both bow and sternless.
NEW ORLEANS, originally the ARGENTINA, is 50% gone. Work has eliminated her foredecks and cutting of the superstructure underneath her radio mast has begun. Most of her stern is also gone, having been cut all the way forward to her uptakes, leaving her shaft tunnels exposed. In what seems to be a new patttern of dismantling, several large pieces have been gouged out of her sides.
Meanwhile, the removal of fittings and fixtures from SALONA, once Cunard's lovely and final FRANCONIA, has been going at a rapid rate. No report yet as to whether cutting has begun on this remarkable but decayed beauty or her former sister, the GENOA (originally the SYLVANIA), which is beached a half mile eastward beyond the NEW ORLEANS and the quickly disappearing supertanker HELLESPONT GRAND.
Aliaga Acetylene
March 22: Local contact/enthusiast/photographer extraordinaire, Selim San, reports
the beach at Aliaga is literally "on fire" with the following gathering of demo ferries:
TIRANA ex LINDA SCARLETT, MARMARI (1961/1954 gt) Illyria Lines, arrived 13 March 2004
BOSPORUS ex KONINGEN FABIOLA, BERGAMA (1962/4727 gt) Anatolia ferries, arrived on 11 March 2004.
Already under demolition:
IVE, ex VEGAMIRAGE Fades Out
March 23: Tidings do not bode well for Florida-based Ocean Club Cruises with the
sale of their laid up cruise ship MIRAGE I (ex BOLERO, etc) for $8.5 million to
Iramsco Shipping of Israel. Many thanks to Pete Eisele for the news.
BLUE HORIZON Fire
March 22: A fire in a refrigerated truck on the vehicle deck of the ferry BLUE HORIZON
sailing between Bari, Italy and Igoumenitsa, Greece broke out at 11.40 PM, March 19. The ship was forced to return to
Brindisi, Italy. Automatic sprinklers extinguished the fire and none of the 273 passengers or 90 crew members was injured.
BLUE HORIZON arrived in Patras yesterday without passengers for repairs.
PRIDE OF AMERICA's Price Rising
March 19: Maritime circles have put the figure for the repair and
salvaging of NCL-America's PRIDE OF AMERICA at US $225million. The ship remains
in dry-dock at Bremerhaven after sinking in a gale.
The PRINCESS Comes Across
March 19: CARIBBEAN PRINCESS, Princess Cruises newsest cruise ship was delivered today in Monfalcone,
Italy by Fincantieri and will sail tomorrow. She is expected at Ft. Lauderdale on April 1
for the naming ceremony with actress Jill Whelan (who played "Love Boat's" Captain Stubing's
daughter on the TV show). Whelan will also get married on board the ship that same day. The 113,000
gt CARIBBEAN PRINCESS is designed specifically for Caribbean cruising, and is the first vessel
Princess Cruises will base in the Caribbean year-round. The ship comes with a few unique
features, including an outdoor movie theater. CARIBBEAN PRINCESS sails on her inaugural Caribbean
cruise on April 3 for a roundtrip voyage to the Western Caribbean.
NCL Annouces LEO Renaming
March 17: SUPERSTAR LEO will be renamed NORWEGIAN SPIRIT
after a remodeling and will be deployed into the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet in 2005. Following
SUPERSTAR LEO's previously announced summer Alaska cruises from Seattle, WA the ship will sail
to Miami, FL for two new Caribbean itineraries. This plan was announced at the SeaTrade Conference
in Florida as part of Star Cruise's strategy to operate their largest, newest vessels for
the NCL brand in North America, while redeploying mid-sized ships to Asia to develop new
markets. The NORWEGIAN SEA will leave its homeport of Houston and sail to Asia and be
replaced by the larger NORWEGIAN DREAM.
The Final Fjord?
March 17: Norwegian Cruise Line's laid up NORWAY is, indeed, finished as announced by
NCL's website, "Veitch announced that regretfully the S/S Norway would not return to the North American cruise market.
The company continues to evaluate appropriate options for the vessel". It was decided not to re-engine the ship due to the
expense. It is reported that plans for her use as a static hotel ship are being examined but that she will not be docked
in the US. The former FRANCE, once the longest liner in the world, has been laid up at Bremerhaven, Germany since July
following a fatal engine room explosion in Miami, FL on May 25th, 2003.
PRIDE OF AMERICA Update
March 13: NCL's PRIDE OF AMERICA remains at Bremerhaven after sinking in a gale
and suffering extensive damage. After the ship was refloated last month, insurance
adjusters and Lloyd Werft are assessing damages. NCL report that internal wiring
and engines were damaged. No date has been announced for her completion, but speculation
suggests eight months to a year. Parts and equipment will have to be fabricated for
a second time, and estimating their delivery has proven difficult. A further wrinkle
is the bankruptcy proceedings that Lloyd Weft initiated last month claiming NCL
owes US$48 million. PRIDE OF AMERICA is now in drydock. Her hull was undamaged
and six of the diesel engines have been restarted.
ROC Ships On Block
March 12: Auction dates have been announced for OLYMPIA EXPLORER and OLYMPIA VOYAGER, both formerly
operated by Royal Olympia Cruises. OLYMPIA EXPLORER will be auctioned at Long Beach, CA on March 24,
while OLYMPIA VOYAGER will be auctioned March 26 in Miami, FL. Royal Olympia and two subsidiary companies
that own the two speedy vessels reached a settlement with German lenders in January to allow the lenders
to repossess the ships. Meanwhile, ROC's TRITON started previously planned three and four day itineraries
on March 8 after a decision by the Greek Maritime Court of Appeals allowed Royal Olympia to continue
operations under a court-appointed administrator for six months.
DIAMOND Sets Record
March 11: Princess Cruises newest and largest ship, the 116,000-gt DIAMOND PRINCESS, arrived at her homeport
of Los Angeles March 10. The 2,670-passenger vessel is the largest cruise ship based at the port, as well
as the largest cruise vessel to sail the West Coast. Her seven-day roundtrip Mexican Riviera cruises begin
on March 13. On May 1, she moves to Seattle for seven-day roundtrip Alaska Inside Passage sailings,
returning to L.A. in September.
GOLDEN BEAR at Mare
March 11: On February 23 it was reported that ARTSHIP / GOLDEN BEAR (ex DELORLEANS, USS CRESCENT CITY),
was towed away from her berth in Oakland, California, having been sold for scrap following a tussle between
the Artship Foundation and the Oakland City Council. It was believed that the ship was headed for Brownsville,
Texas. However, ARTSHIP is now temporarily moored next to INDEPENDENCE at Mare Island, CA (the former
naval shipyard). She will be towed to the beach at Alang, India for scrapping and not Texas, as
previously reported.
Keeping the Faith In XANADU 2
March 10: XANADU 2 (ex WAPPEN VON HAMBURG, DELOS, POLAR STAR, PACIFIC STAR, XANADU, EXPEX, FAITHFUL) still lies at her
Southwest Marine (Terminal Island, CA) berth, but has been sold to new owners, Fantasea Cruise, who intend to rebuild the
ship as a floating condominium. According to company president, Larry Plymale, she will likely undergo sandblasting,
hull, deck, and steel work at her present berth, all due for completion in 14 to 16 months. Up to four cabins will
be merged to form larger "condo" units which will be furnished by each respective owner. XANADU 2 will sail on her
first voyage around the world in an easterly direction from Myrtle Beach, SC to the Bahamas, South America, Africa,
and onwards, calling at a new port every four to six weeks. Prices will begin at $175,000 per 120 foot unit.
Fantasea Cruise is also examining options for larger vessels to join the fleet in the near future.
Click here for Maritimematters tour of MV FAITHFUL / XANADU 2
SELANDIA Nightclub?
March 10: The former Danish ferry SELANDIA is at the center of a plan for Barrow's Town Quay. Local business men have formed a company
to bring the 3,400-tonne former passenger and rail ferry to the Buccleuch Docks and open her as a public attraction with bars and restaurants,
in time for the town's "Festival of the Sea" celebrations this summer. The company expects the Barrow Borough Council
to rule on the matter by April 4.
Star-Crossed Former S-CANDI-NAVIAN STAR For Scrap
March 8: The REGAL VOYAGER (former MASSALIA, STENA BALTICA, ISLAND FIESTA, SCANDINAVIAN STAR, CANDI), currently idle
at Charleston, South Carolina, has been sold for a rather pricey US$240 per lightweight ton, bringing her total scrap
value to nearly $1.5 million. The ship, built in France in 1971 as MASSALIA for Nouvelle Cie Des Paquebots (Paquet)
for Marseilles to Canary Island and Morocco ro/ro/cruise service by Dubigeon Normandie S.A. Nantes, is best known
for a tragic fire that claimed 159 lives in 1990 when she was operating as the SCANDINAVIAN STAR on a charter
out of Oslo. Declared a constructive total loss and provisionally renamed CANDI, she was laid up at Southampton
and ultimately rebuilt with much of her passenger accommodation removed and returned to service as the REGAL VOYAGER
in 1994. REGAL VOYAGER is one of three very similar vessels built by the same yard. The other two are currently
laid up following the collapse of their operators: MIRAGE 1 (former BOLERO, SCANDINAVICA, BOLERO, JUPITER, CRUCERO
EXPRESS, SEMINOLE EMPRESS, MAGIC I) is reportedly still at Port Canaveral, FL and THE AZUR (former EAGLE, AZUR, THE AZUR)
is laid up at Gibraltar and set to be auctioned off on Tuesday, 9 March. REGAL VOYAGER will be towed to India,
Pakistan, or China for demolition.
Deco Dilemma VICTORIA's Secrets SUPER FERRY 14 Aftermath Royal Olympia in Court LASSCO in LA Times Commodore's Passing DIAMOND, Dragons, Drums, and Dances MIRACLE Is Born WIND Blows Past Frying Pan Into The Fire Aliaga Saga Ferry IVE (8,881 gt, 1975, ex FALSTER, EUROPA, VEGA) of Ventouris Lines arrived on 19 January. Italian roro ferry VOMERO arrived on 31 January. ANA (7,963 gt, 1972, ex QUEEN CORAL, RIF, HANAA) pass roro cargo ferry arrived on 2 February. VERGINA (4,668 gt, ex YUFA, CRETA SKY, VERGINA SKY) m.pass.roro ferry arrived on February 18 and was delivered
to Huzur Gemi Sokum LTD shipbreakers.
March 8: Famed streamline ferry KALAKALA's move to Everett, Washington may be put on ice as ongoing negotiations
with union officials from Everett Shipyard, Everett city officials, and the ship's new owner, Steve Rodrigues, continues.
The plan was to move KALAKALA from Lake Union last week to a new location at Neah Bay on the Olympic Peninsula to await
a three year refurbishment and an ultimate delivery to a permanent berth at Everett.
March 8: According to Southampton press reports, QUEEN VICTORIA (currently under construction at
Fincantieri and not due for a year) is a hot topic in the rumour mill. Cunard Line initially
reported that the QUEEN VICTORIA would be based in Southampton for dedicated UK cruising but
are now reportedly planning a new stategy for the future QUEEN. Though Cunard have made no
announcement, it is speculated that QUEEN VIC will spend her winters in the Caribbean and summers
in the Mediterranean, giving Southampton a miss.
March 1: 134 people remain missing after an explosion and fire racked the 510-foot
Philippine ferry SUPER FERRY 14 last Friday. Officials have played down claims of
responsibility from by the Abu Sayyaf group of Muslim guerrillas. The passenger list,
however, bore the name of a man whom the rebels claim had set off a bomb about an hour
into the ship's overnight crossing from Manila to the city of Bacolod with nearly
900 passengers and crew on board. The SUPER FERRY 14 was not overloaded and has been
in service for only three years.
March 1: Financially troubled Royal Olympia Cruises was granted six months to find a compromise with its
creditors by the Greek Maritime Court of Appeal. Royal Olympia's subsidiaries that own the ships ODYSSEUS,
TRITON, WORLD RENAISSANCE and OLYMPIA I were included in the reorganization proceedings. If the company
can secure working capital, these vessels may be operated for six months with a possible extension of
three further months. This proceeding did not include the newer vessels OLYMPIA VOYAGER and OLYMPIA EXPLORER
or the OLYMPIA COUNTESS all of which were seized by creditors in separate cases.
February 29: In today's Los Angeles Times, staff writer Cecilia Rasmussen highlights the
1920's history of the Los Angeles Steamship Co:
click here for LA Times article.
The exhibition "Hollywood to Honolulu" curated by Martin Cox and Gordon Ghareeb runs through July at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro.
February 28: Maritime Matters regrets to announce the death of Rear Admiral Lerroy J. Alexanderson,
USNR, former Commodore of United States Lines and final captain of the SS UNITED STATES. Alexanderson,
who died in Hampton, VA, remained enthusiastically in support of the onetime speed giant's preservation.
It is particularly sad that he will not be on hand to experience this event should the ship's current
owners, NCL, go forth with their plans to rebuild the famed 1952-built ship which has remained laid up
since her premature retirement in 1969. Alexanderson was born on 27 June 1910 in Sheep's Head Bay,
Brooklyn, NY the sone of Swedish immigrants. He attended the New York Merchant Marine Academy at
Fort Schuyler, now known as the State University of New York, Maritime College, Fort Schuyler, graduating
in 1930. He was commissioned in both the Naval Reserve and Maritime Service, serving with the
Isthmian Line, Panama-Pacific, and Moore-McCormack Lines, before joining United States Lines.
In 1938, he volunteered for active duty at the Navy's call for 'seasoned merchant marine officers'
and was assigned to the destroyer escort, USS MELVILLE, where he served in both the North and South
Atlantic. He captained the USS LIVINGSTON and the USS GAGE, a Victory-ship (currently in the
James River Reserve Fleet). On April 1, 1945, the GAGE landed elements of the 6th Marine Division
on the west coast of Okinawa. Following decommissioning of the GAGE in 1947, Alexanderson returned
to the United States Lines. He served as an officer aboard several of the ships of the US Lines
before being assigned as Executive Officer, and later, Captain of the SS AMERICA in 1955. In 1964,
he became captain of the SS UNITED STATES, which held the Hales Trophy for the fastest transatlantic
crossing. In 1966, Alexanderson was appointed Commodore of the entire United States Lines Fleet.
He continued as the Master of the United States until its retirement in 1969. As Fleet Commodore,
he continued to serve for seven more years as the Captain of the container ship, AMERICAN LEGION.
In 1976, due to the illness of his wife, Dorothea, he came ashore after forty years at sea.
At the time of his retirement, he was the only Reserve Officer of Flag Rank within the US Merchant
Marine, having been promoted to Rear Admiral in 1959. Following the Dorothea's death in 1979,
he moved to Hampton, VA, near the UNITED STATE's layup berth. In 1983, he married Elizabeth Meade
Dougherty who survives him along with a brother, Howard Alexanderson of Utica, NY; two daughters,
Barbara Helmus of Garden City, NY and Linda Butler of Charlottesville, VA; a son, John Alexanderson
and wife, Nancy, of Concord, MA; a step-daughter, Linda Dougherty Smith and husband, Watson, of
Summit, NJ; a step-son, William J. Dougherty of Hampton; a sister-in-law, Estelle Meade Lawson,
of Newport News, VA; 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
February 27: A traditional dragon dance, a drum demonstration and a sake barrel-smashing ceremony marked
the delivery of the 113,000-ton, 2,670-passenger DIAMOND PRINCESS February 26 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
(MHI) shipyard in Japan. This was the first time Princess Cruises has built a ship in Asia and DIAMOND PRINCESS
is the first giant cruise vessel Mitsubishi has constructed. Among other mid-sized passenger ships, MHI built
the 584 passenger ASUKA in 1991; the 404 passenger NIPPON MARU in 1991; and the 940-passenger CRYSTAL HARMONY
in 1990. Princess CEO Peter Ratcliffe said the decision to go to Japan was prompted by a desire to diversify
shipbuilding locations, however, Mitsubishi is not actively pursuing additional cruise ship orders. A shipboard
fire on the partially constructed vessel in 2002 prompted MHI to switch delivery schedules and ship names
and bring on additional workers to complete the vessels on time. The seriously damaged DIAMOND PRINCESS
swapped names with the SAPPHIRE PRINCESS now due in May. Princess expects another cruise ship, the CARIBBEAN
PRINCESS, to be delivered by Italian yard Fincantieri in April.
February 27: Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Finland delivered the $375 million, 2,124-passenger CARNIVAL MIRACLE in a
traditional handing over ceremony in Helsinki. This will be Carnival Cruise Lines 20th "Fun Ship" the sixth Spirit-class
vesses of new Panamax-size cruise ships for Carnival Cruise Lines (4 ships) and Costa Crociere (2 ships).
The first ship in the series, COSTA ATLANITCA, was delivered in year 2000. CARNIVAL MIRACLE was officially named February 27, 2004,
by former Army private Jessica Lynch, after which is was schedule to depart on its inaugural three-day voyage from Jacksonville.
The ship was floated out from the covered newbuilding dock in June 2003 and the successful sea trials took place in November.
At the completion party held onboard Carnival Miracle at the Helsinki yard already on January 17.
February 27: Yet another last minute reprieve dashed. BARCELONA (ex INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE, VASCO DA GAMA, SEAWIND CROWN) did, indeed,
avert the shipbreakers at Alang. Seen passing through Singapore roads early this month enroute to Guangzhou, China, it was
claimed by her delivery crew at the time that she was resold to become an hotelship. The deal never materialized and she
was promptly handed over to the Pan Yu Shipyard near Guangzhou for demolition.
February 27: Alang is not the only place where the scrappings have heated up. Aliaga, Turkey has claimed some
interesting tonnage of recent. Selim San reports the following vessels have hit the beach:
Manila Ferry Suffers Explosions and Fire
February 26: The 10,192-ton SUPER FERRY 14 was one hour into a crossing from from Manila, Phillippines when at 1:00AM
an explosion rocked the ship which was carrying over 900 passengers and crew. One was reported killed and between
seventy three and two hundred were reported missing, so far 633 were reported rescued. The ferry was bound for Bacolod City and
was supposed to proceed to Cagayan de Oro City. SUPERFERRY 9, MV FORTUNE EXPRESS, MV PRINVESS IVY, and Philippine Navy vessels
and Coast Guard patrol boats picked survivors from the sea. The Captain ordered all passengers and crewmen
to abandon ship at 1:29AM, as the ship burned. SUPERFERRY 14 had been in service for three years.
GOLDEN BEAR / ARTSHIP To Be Scrapped
February 24: Oakland, California's 1939-built GOLDEN BEAR / ARTSHIP (ex DELORLEANS, USS CRESCENT CITY, GOLDEN BEAR) has been sold for scrap for
$200,000 and towed away on February 23. Artist Slobodan Dan Paich had envisioned a one-of-its-kind floating art gallery and
performance center when he began the Artship Foundation project. Oakland Port officials and the Artship Foundation had reached an
impasse in negotiations. The ship arrived at the port's Ninth Avenue Terminal in 1999 with promising future but
never it generated the financial resources necessary for the upkeep of a vessel. Port of Oakland Commission eventually
voted to end a lease it had with the foundation allowing the foundation to berth ARTSHIP at the Ninth Avenue Terminal demanding that
$10 million worth of repairs were necessary. The Artship Foundation never agreed with the port's conclusion on the price
tag to make the ship safe for the public. Oakland's city leaders disagreed, and the port sued the foundation to evict it
from the ship and the dock.
SS POSEIDON Capsizes Again?
February 22: Hollywood Reporter reveals that director Wolfgang Peterson (2000's "The Perfect Storm" and 1981's "Das Boot")
will make another seafaring thriller. The acclaimed filmmaker will remake the 1972 "The Poseidon Adventure". The original film
centers on a passenger liner that is capsized by a huge tsunami. A priest (Gene Hackman) leads a mixed band of survivors on
a journey through the upturned ship.
High Alang-xiety!
February 22: The status of passenger shipping at Alang this month remains both staggering and impressive.
The Indian metal industry, in great need of recyclable steel and with little available container and tanker tonnage,
has claimed an extraordinary amount of redundant liners, cruise ships, and ferries. From east to west, here is
the latest about the passenger ships gathered on the banks of Alang.
From the verdant agricultural land near the beach, STELLA SOLARIS looks in fine form with her superstructure and funnel glistening in the afternoon sunlight. However, an unobstructed view finds her without bow and stern as the last of her Italian designed fittings are removed to clear the way for more cutting.
A mile to the west, the last remants of BIG BOAT's (ex TRANSVAAL CASTLE, SA VAAL, FESTIVALE, ISLANDBREEZE, etc) aft machinery areas are being reduced to memories. She is ninety percent gone.
A (breaker's) yard or two off BIG BOAT's port side, GENOA (ALBATROS) towers above the beach with rafts alongside for the removal of her fittings. The Phoenix Seereisen logo on her funnel has been removed, but she glistens as though awaiting orders for her next cruise.
The nearby NEW ORLEANS (ex ENCHANTED ISLE) is bowless and sternless. Cutting has claimed part of her forward superstructure and much of her side plating. Work on her appears to be thirty percent complete as huge chunks of her hull and structure lay alongside awaiting further cutting.
The freshly arrived SALONA (FEDOR SHALYAPIN) beached on Wednesday, 11 February. Her magnificent lines and Cunard pedigree (ex IVERNIA, FRANCONIA) have not been diminished by the Ukrainian barnacles and mildew that have since smothered her hull and superstructure. Ironically, she is quite close to her former Cunard sister, GENOA (ex SYLVANIA, FAIRWIND, etc.).
Work on ASSEDO (ex SHOTA RUSTAVELI), still far out on the beach, has proceeded rather urgently in the past few weeks. With nearly all of her fittings in the hands of local traders, the removal of her bow, stern, and most of the forward superstructure has exposed her sheered skeleton. ASSEDO is a mile or so away to the west of SALONA.
MAYAN EMPRESS (ex WINSTON CHURCHILL) is still perfectly intact -- externally. Many of her fittings are in the removal process. She is another mile or so west of ASSEDO and right next to APOLLO (ex EMPRESS OF CANADA, MARDI GRAS, etc.), whose demo. is well underway. Bollards and equipment are laid out along the outer yard as wood decking and most of the cabin fittings and public room furniture have been carefully removed and sold to the traders. Her bow has been shorn off to the upper forward superstructure just below the wheelhouse.
Farther west, another mile or two, the SANTORI (ex SPERO, SAPPHO) lies in a cluster of different merchant ships. Still basically intact, she has been stripped and holes have been cut into her forward superstructure.
On her own toward the very western end of the beach, little STELLA OCEANIS is now just a chunk of blue hull. In the yard off her bow, large portions of her funnel and superstructure are being cut down. She is probably sixty percent complete and because of her size, should be completely gone by early March.
ROGALIN was finished off earlier this month and NOURA-1 seems to have gone awol. She has not been sighted by our local contacts.
PRIDE OF AMERICA Refloated
February 17: Smit Salvage refloated the PRIDE OF AMERICA at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany following its sinking
in a gale on January 14. Insurance adjusters and the Lloyd Werft are assessing the damage since the partially completed
vessel has been resting on the bottom with its three lowest decks submerged ever since. The ship's engines and electrical
wiring were immersed in salt water for a month. The yard announced that the hull is not
damaged and the ship will be completed. Neither NCL nor Lloyd Werft has commented on European press reports that suggested
that the ship may have sunk because it was moored incorrectly, with hawsers holding the ship too tightly to the dock so that in the gale
the ship listed allowing water to enter through open portholes.
WINDSOR CASTLE Adrift
February 12: MARGARITA L (ex WINDSOR CASTLE) broke her port anchor chain during a snowstorm, drifting without crew
until she went aground in shallow water off Salamis Island. The ship was undamaged and was refloated on the February 19th,
and tugs returned to her moorings at Eleusis Bay.
The Lingering FAITHFUL
February 6: As of today, the MV FAITHFUL/XANADU 2 remains at her Terminal Island berth in
Los Angeles Harbor. The 1955-built former excursion and cruise ship can now been seen in her entirety in Maritime Matter's
latest ship tour.
OCEAN COUNTESS
February 6: Trevor Jones from Durban reports that OCEAN COUNTESS will, indeed, be the name for the recently auctioned
OLYMPIA COUNTESS (ex OLYMPIC COUNTESS, AWANI DREAM II, CUNARD COUNTESS). Workers on scaffolds prepared to paint
the new name on the ship's bows and the recently-seized former ROC vessel was scheduled to depart for Greece tomorrow.
MIRAGE Sale
February 5: Ocean Club Cruises' MIRAGE, which began service in May 2003 from Port Canaveral on two
and three night cruises to the Bahamas and Key West and ceased operations on 10 January, will be sold.
The owner's attorney announced in US Bankruptcy court today that the ship will be auctioned off to
help repay debts in excess of $4.8 million USD.
Minor MAJESTY Fat Fire Extinguished
February 5: Miami press reports a small galley fire on Royal Caribbean International's MAJESTY OF THE SEAS.
No one was hurt and only minor damage was reported. Passengers were summoned to lifeboat stations after
the fire broke just before 5AM, but 20 minutes later all was secure. The fire started in a deep fat fryer in
the Windjammer Cafe. The cafe was then closed due to the damage. The cruise is scheduled to end Friday at Miami.
Kay Korbing 1915-2004 by Bruce Peter
February 3: "It is sad to learn of the recent passing of one of the
giants of Scandinavian ship design - Kay Korbing. Not
only was Korbing a leading interior designer of
numerous highly regarded passenger ship interiors
during the 1960s and 70s, but he was also a respected
architect working on terra firma.
The son of DFDS's technical director and later chairman, J.A. Korbing, Kay studied architecture at the Royal Academy School under Professor Kay Fisker. During the war, he worked in Stockholm, where he designed a beautiful modern church at Stora Essingen. Upon Denmark's liberation, he returned to Copenhagen and an early commission was to rebuild Denmark House in London's Picadilly. Thereafter, he designed many fine ships for DFDS and the famous Illums Bolighus department store in Copenhagen.
Kay Korbing worked in the Danish modernist manner, following the precedents of Kay Fisker and the German-American Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Consequently, he liked to use expensive and well-crafted materials such as hardwood panelling, plate glass, leather, copper and …rrefors crystal for lighting. This and furniture he designed himself were so highly regarded that, as well as being used in ship interiors, they were sold commercially for use on terra firma in Denmark, Britain and the USA.
His most famous ship interiors were the 'first class' spaces forward on the verandah decks of the Sagafjord and Vistafjord. The Garden Lounges on these ships were among the most beautiful spaces ever to go to sea and their planning and layout marked a highpoint for modernism in ship design. Later, he produced interiors for Tor Line, Mercandia and DSB - the Danish State Railway.
Kay was a delightful, genial and modest gentleman - in person every bit as elegant and eloquent as his design work suggested."
From Bruce Peter, author of the new book "Passenger, Ships Scandinavian Style", due soon on Carmania Press.
QE2's Future Fancy
February 3: Southampton's Daily Echo reports that a project has been launched to give
QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 a permanent home on the city's waterfront. Though the transatlantic liner
is still in service, a Southampton-based consortium is putting together an ambitious business
package to buy the ship for the city when Cunard eventually withdraws the vessel from operation.
Shipping historian Terry Yarwood, reportedy is behind the plan, "Southampton just cannot afford
to miss out in ensuring that whenever QE2 comes to the end of her time with Cunard the city must be
in a position to acquire such an icon," said Mr Yarwood, who has sailed on QE2 dozens of times.
A Cunard spokesman said, "A long career stretches ahead of QE2 operating cruises in and out of Southampton
and there is no need to think about her retirement at the moment." Councillor Peter Wakeford, Southampton City
Council's Cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism pledged to follow any bid for QE2 with interest.
Associated British Ports, owners and operators of Southampton docks would not comment.
Facets Of Festival
February 2: While the troubled company's three vintage ships THE AZUR (ex EAGLE), BOLERO
(ex STARWARD) and FLAMENCO (ex SPIRIT OF LONDON, SUN PRINCESS, STARSHIP MAJESTIC, SOUTHERN
CROSS) have been assembled at Gibraltar under arrest, the EUROPEAN VISION has been released
from her detention at Barbados by creditors Alsthom/Credit Agricole.
ROTTERDAM Report
February 2: Plans for the return of the SS ROTTERDAM to Rotterdam for preservation are still
well underway. The ship remains at Freeport with some noticeable cosmetic external weathering,
but inside, all is still in excellent order. The Steamship Rotterdam Foundation has enlisted
former HAL employess to assist in the revitilization of the ship, surveying all aspects from
art to the wiring.
The ship is scheduled to be back in Rotterdam by the summer of 2005. In the interim, plans are to bring her to a dry dock in the Caribbean region for sand blasting, hull maintenance, and painting (returning the ship to her original dove gray color scheme).
The Not So NORDIC EMPRESS
February 2: Royal Caribbean International's 1990-built 48,563 gt 1,602 passenger MV NORDIC EMPRESS will have her
name changed to reflect standard RCI nomenclature when she emerges from the Grand Bahamas Shipyard at Freeport
following a multi million dollar refit in May. In her transition to EMPRESS OF THE SEAS, her fitness
center and spa will be expanded to two decks; new bars (Boleros and Schooners) will be added in lieu of
the High Society Lounge and Carousel Bar, respectively; the Casino will be moved to Deck 6; the showroom
will be refurbished with new soft fittings; an Italian specialty restaurant (Portofino), coffee shop/ice
cream bar (Latte-tudes/Ben and Jerry's), and a new card room will be added; and many modifications
will be made to the accommodation, including the addition of storage space and new bathrooms.
NORDIC EMPRESS was originally designed for Admiral Cruises as the FUTURE SEAS but was acquired by Royal
Caribbean before completion. The ship was built specifically for three and four day cruises,
so the new modifications will make her more suited for the longer itineraries she will offer
this summer when operating from Royal Caribbean's new Bayonne, NJ-based Cape Liberty Cruise terminal.
BARCELONA Blows Past Alang!
January 31: BARCELONA (ex INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE, VASCO DA GAMA, SEAWIND CROWN) apparently skipped
her appointment with the hungry Alang shipbreakers and was seen at 19h00 local time today transiting
the Singapore Strait en route to China. Described accordingly, "The old girl looked quite
stunning as she steamed majestically past in the early evening twilight, lit
up like a christmas tree, including all her dressing lights. From a distance the rust and neglect
were not visible and it appeared for all the world as if she were just on another cruise."
The local corrrespondent was on board the MV LEISURE WORLD (former SKYWARD) visiting with the staff
captain, who raised the BARCELONA's officer of the watch on VHF. He was told the one-time crack
Portuguese liner is heading for a shipyard in Guangzhou, where she will undergo a conversion.
The BARCELONA's officer seemed quite certain the ship will not be going for scrap.
WORLD RENAISSANCE Under Arrest
January 30: Yet another member of the Royal Olympia Cruises fleet, the sleek 11,724 gt 536 passenger
1966-built MV WORLD RENAISSANCE, has been arrested at Piraeus. ROC has appealed for governmental
subsidies to continue operating, but this would be subject to approval by a majority of the company's
creditors. OLYMPIA COUNTESS was just auctioned off in Durban; OLYMPIA VOYAGER is detained at Miami;
OLYMPIA EXPLORER is anchored off Long Beach, CA; and TRITON is at Patras.
MIRAGE Disappears
January 30: Reports from Florida state that Ocean Club Cruises folded its Port Canaveral-based operation
of the 1972-built MIRAGE I (ex BOLERO, SCANDINAVICA, BOLERO, JUPITER, CRUCERO EXPRESS, SEMINOLE EMPRESS,
MAGIC I). The ship has remained at her Port Canaveral berth since 10 January.
Majestic COUNTESS
January 29: Trevor Jones in Durban reports the sale of the arrested 1975-built Royal Olympia Cruises vessel
OLYMPIA COUNTESS (ex CUNARD COUNTESS, AWANI DREAM II) to Majestic International Cruises (who also own or
operate OCEAN MAJESTY, OCEAN MONARCH, and OCEAN EXPLORER I). "The sale took place on board the vessel,
in the Piano Room. The assessed value of the vessel was indicated by the auctioneer Roy Martin of
Admiralty Ship Sales as $12 million. There were only two serious bidders, and bidding topped out
at $6.1 million, well below the $12 million 'reserve'." The second highest bidder was Kyma Ship
Management, owners of THE TOPAZ and MONA LISA.
No-CEANA!
January 28: P&O Cruises 77,499 gt 2000-built MV OCEANA was forced to leave St. Thomas for failing to
provide proper passenger data today. When the ship was unable to list the names and nationalities
of its 2,870 passengers and crew, the Coast Guard ordered the ship to depart, turning away tenders full
of passengers about to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands port. Reportedly, this is the second time the ship
failed to provide a passenger manifest despite a prior warning in May. After anchoring at 7:45 AM,
the vessel (formerly Princess Cruises OCEAN PRINCESS) departed for Antigua at 12:30 PM.
AMBASSADOR For Scrap
January 27: It was announced today that Ionian Transport's recently retired 1958-built 2,210
gt 180 passenger MV AMBASSADOR I will be scrapped. The ship was built as the JEDINTSVO, one
of three similar ships built for Jadrolinija's Yugoslavian coastal service. One of her former
sisters, JADRAN, is now a restaurant ship in Toronto under the name of CAPTAIN JOHN's.
The other sister, JUGOSLAVIA, became Epirotiki's HERMES in 1976 and sails on daily cruises
for ROC subsidiary Olympic Short Cruises to the Saronic Gulf from Marina Flisvos, near Athens.
REGATTA In Full Regalia
January 26: Oceania Cruises' elegant 1998-built 30,200 gt MV REGATTA made her maiden call at Los Angeles
on Monday. The 684 passenger ship held an open house for local travel agents and dignitaries in addition
to hosting an in port overnight introductory function for nearly 400 guests. She will depart at 6:00 PM Tuesday,
returning to Florida via the Panama Canal. REGATTA was originally Renaissance Cruises R TWO and was purchased
by newly-formed Oceania in 2003, at first becoming their INSIGNIA before taking on her current name. One of eight
identical ships built by Chantiers de L'Atlantique, REGATTA will be the subject of a future Contemporary Cruise
Ship Chronicles on Maritime Matters. One of her former sisters, R THREE, can be "toured" on Maritime Matters
as Princess Cruises' PACIFIC PRINCESS 2. For more information on Oceania,
its ships, rates and itineraries, please go to:
www.OceaniaCruises.com
Korea Launches Largest Passenger Ship
January 26: The Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries announced that the NEW GOLDEN BRIDGE 5
is to be launched at the port of Inchon (Incheon). The 28,730-ton vessel measures 195.95 meters in length
and 27 meters in width and will ferry passengers and containers between Inchon and the Chinese city of
Weihai at a maximum speed of 27 knots, covering the route in 16 hours and 30 minutes. This reduces the
travel time of the current ferry by three hours. The new ship can accommodate 450 passengers and 280 containers.
QM2 Completes Maiden Voyage
January 26: Cunard's QUEEN MARY 2, the world's largest ship, completed its maiden trans-Atlantic voyage Monday,
arriving at 7AM at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, two weeks after she left the British port of Southampton. A flotilla
of small boats escorted the ocean liner into Port Everglades, led by a tugboat that shot red and blue water into
the air. A US Navy destroyer and Coast Guard ships accompanied the liner into port. Hundreds of people lined the
shores and nearby high-rises to get a look at the new ship. More than a dozen law enforcement and television
helicopters hovered overhead and a small plane pulling a banner reading "Fort Lauderdale welcomes QM2" circled above.
ALOHA Assumes PRIDE
January 23: Norwegian Cruise Line announced the early introduction of the PRIDE OF ALOHA. The ship will take
over the PRIDE OF AMERICA's published program of seven-day inter-island Hawaii cruises, from July 4th of this year.
Following the damage to PRIDE OF AMERICA at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Germany, there is no new delivery date.
However, an investigation has revealed that the delay will be substantial. PRIDE OF ALOHA, currently sailing as
NORWEGIAN SKY, will undergo a multi-million dollar remodeling in May and will be reflagged into the U.S. registry
to assume PRIDE OF AMERICA's itinerary.
Norwegian LEO
January 22: Star Cruises SUPERSTAR LEO will be transferred to
Norwegian Cruise Line to commence
Alaska sailings from Seattle in May. In response to the fleet "deficit" created by the delayed delivery
of PRIDE OF AMERICA (following last week's mishap at Bremerhaven), the LEO will spend two months in Australia
and one month in Hong Kong before joining the NCL fleet. Another medium-sized NCL vessel will be switched to
Star Cruises Asian service at some point in the near future. This follows Star's sale of the SUPERSTAR CAPRICORN
(ex ROYAL VIKING SKY, etc.) earlier this month.
ROC Anchor Update
January 21: Reports from Florida indicate OLYMPIA VOYAGER will be allowed to proceed from her Ft.
Lauderdale anchorage to a Miami berth for disembarkation of crew and destoring of select items.
Meanwhile, her twin, OLYMPIA EXPLORER is still riding at anchor a half mile or so off the stern
of the QUEEN MARY at Long Beach. Seized fleetmate OLYMPIA COUNTESS is to be auctioned off by
the Durban High Court on 29 January.
Ultra Deluxe Global PRINSENDAM
January 21: In a very active month for local passenger shipping, Holland America Line's
PRINSENDAM (ex ROYAL VIKING SUN, SEABOURN SUN) made her maiden visit to the new Carnival
terminal adjacent to the QUEEN MARY in Long Beach today. The PRINSENDAM looks better than
ever in HAL's midnight blue hull and her internal modifications have been rendered with skill
and respect. The addition of special "HAL-mark" features like the Explorer's Lounge, Ocean Bar,
and Pinnacle Grill have given the ship a much homier feel. PRINSENDAM is also heading west
on her first world circumnavigation, joining CRYSTAL SERENITY and QE2, both of which were
in nearby Los Angeles yesterday. www.hollandamerica.com.
Alang Bits And Pieces
January 21: APOLLO (ex EMPRESS OF CANADA, MARDI GRAS, etc.) has "fallen under the axe"
according to our correspondent at Alang. Her magnificent bow has been cut off and sent
crashing into the mud to help allow her winching closer to the beach.
Her onetime Carnival fleetmate, BIG BOAT (ex TRANSVAAL CASTLE, SA VAAL, FESTIVALE, ISLANDBREEZE) has been reduced to a small stern section and is in the very final stages of demolition.
Meanwhile, furnishings from ASSEDO, STELLA OCEANIS, and STELLA SOLARIS have been removed and sold to local traders.
Also, a rather shocking and unexpected sight was the 1966-built SANTORI (ex SPERO, SAPPHO, SANTORINI 3), freshly beached and awaiting demolition.
Recent reports state that FEDOR SHALYAPIN (ex IVERNIA, FRANCONIA) has left Iliychevsk for Alang. If this is true, she will join her sister, GENOA (ex SYLVANIA, FAIRWIND, DAWN PRINCESS, ALBATROS).
Meanwhile, SEAWIND CROWN (ex INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE, etc.), MAYAN EMPRESS (ex WINSTON CHURCHILL), and NOURA I (ex FINNPARTNER, etc.) are due or may have already been beached. Details are still sketchy.
VEGA, the 1975-built ro/pax vessel once known as FALSTER, left Eleusis on 17 January for Alang. She was tied alongside the SEA HARMONY (ex STATENDAM, RHAPSODY, REGENT STAR), which is also due to depart for the breakers soon. Many thanks to local correspondent George Grekos for this update.
Maiden World SERENITY
January 19: Crystal Cruises 2003-built MV CRYSTAL SERENITY departed Los Angeles today on her
first world circumnavigation. The beautifully-appointed ship (which arrived at dawn in tandem
with the QE2 and Los Angeles "regular", Royal Caribbean International's MONARCH OF THE SEAS)
will spend the next 106 days heading west via Hawaii, Japan, China, Singapore, India, Africa
and South America. The 1,080 passenger CRYSTAL SERENITY measures 68,000 gt and is a third larger
than her fleetmates CRYSTAL HARMONY and CRYSTAL SYMPHONY. She will be the subject of a future Maritime
Matters Contemporary Cruise Ship Chronicle.
Arrest-ival!
January 19: In what must be the most mind-boggling season in recent passenger ship history,
three of Greco-Italian operated Festival Cruises' newbuildings have been arrested. All Alstrom-built,
the MISTRAL is at Marseilles; the EUROPEAN VISION is in Santo Domingo; and the EUROPEAN STARS has been held at Barcelona.
Some Limelight For The "Other" QUEENs
January 19: As QUEEN MARY 2 speeds across the Atlantic on her maiden voyage, capturing the hearts and minds of
an enthralled public in what is possibly the biggest PR coup in modern ocean liner history, QUEEN ELIZABETH 2
made her annual world cruise visit to Los Angeles today, bringing with her prolific author and ocean liner "legend,"
William H. Miller. Meanwhile, in adjacent Long Beach, the original QUEEN MARY rolled out the red/orange carpet to
celebrate Cunard's rich history with a book signing and lecture by Miller. Ship enthusiasts from across the southland
came to listen to his rousing and anecdotal program entitled "Maritime Royalty: Those Great Cunard Queens" at 7:30 PM
in the Queens Salon. The event, which included hors d'oeuvres and a sampling of fine wines, was heavily and enthusiastically
attended. Several guests then raced to nearby Los Angeles harbor to witness the 10:00 PM sailing of QE2. At 9:59 and
brilliantly lit QE2 cast off her last bow line and backed away from berth 91 with a mighty blast of her whistle.
She sailed serenely forth, backlit by gantry cranes, oil tanks, and a glowing fog. As she approached Ports O' Call
village, she bellowed a set of three deafening blasts, then passed gently into the outer channel and on towards Honolulu.
Nieuw NOOR Nieuws?
January 18: With Holland America's announcement of the 1983-built NOORDAM's impending final season and charter
to Thomson Holidays as THOMSON CELEBRATION (to join sister THOMSON SPIRIT, ex NIEUW AMSTERDAM, PATRIOT),
it should be "official" that the fourth Vista Series ship under construction in Italy will, indeed, be named NOORDAM.
Sunken PRIDE
January 14: Norwegian Cruise Lines incomplete PRIDE OF AMERICA sank at Lloyd Werft shipyard Bremerhaven, Germany this
morning, injuring four people. It is believed that storm-driven waves poured into an opening in the almost finished
vessel and caused her to take on water. A full enquiry will follow. As the ship listed, several large steel structures
collapsed on the quay and a 60-ton crane was toppled, damaging two buildings. The vessel settled to the bottom of the
harbour with the lower three to six decks flooded (including the engine spaces) and came to rest at 12 degree list. Onlookers have
congested nearby streets. PRIDE OF AMERICA was towed to Bremerhaven from Pascagoula, where the hull had been built,
and was slated for completion as a Hawaiian-based U.S. cruise ship in April. Norwegian Cruise Lines is owned by Star
Cruises of Singapore.
BARCELONA Steams Through Suez
January 12: It was confirmed today that BARCELONA (ex INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE, VASCO DA GAMA, SEAWIND CROWN)
passed through Suez today on her way from Barcelona, Spain to Alang, India for scrapping. SEAWIND CROWN
is fully featured on Maritimematters and is one of the fifty passenger ships seen on VOLUME SEVEN of
The World's Passenger Fleet Video Series just released by P.K. Productions.
ALBATROS Salvation Fades, Former Cunarder Beached
January 10: Another eleventh hour reprieve for a doomed liner has proven false. Reports stating ALBATROS
(ex SYLVANIA, FAIRWIND, DAWN PRINCESS) was resold for use as an Asian hotel were premature. After an
analysis of the ex Cunarder's mechanical condition, the deal was called off and the ship was beached
for demolition today at Alang under her delivery name GENOA.
Hotel NORWAY?
January 9: Laid up S/S NORWAY remains laid up at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven and will be used as
temporary housing for workers aboard NCL's PRIDE OF AMERICA (currently under construction and
due this spring) and NORWEGIAN SKY (due to be reflagged to American registry and renamed PRIDE OF ALOHA).
ALBATROS Averts Alang?
January 8: Messages received today state ALBATROS (ex SYLVANIA, FAIRWIND, DAWN PRINCESS) has been
spared the breakers at the eleventh hour for use as an hotel ship in Asia. She was due to arrive
at Alang on Sunday, January 4 for dismantling, but according to Houston-based Marine Transportation
Consultants, the ship has been purchased for this new purpose. Stay tuned for further news on this
dowager. Meanwhile, Phoenix Seereisen's announcement of a "larger, more modern" ALBATROS has just
been made. The new MV ALBATROS will, indeed be the CROWN (ex ROYAL VIKING SEA, ROYAL ODYSSEY, NORWEGIAN STAR),
as previously speculated.
Queen Names QM2 at Southampton
January 8: In a formal ceremony at Southampton, HM Queen Elizabeth II officially named the
QUEEN MARY 2 with the release of a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne, which smashed against
the side of the ship. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen toured the new liner.
Opera singer Lesley Garrett sang "Amazing Grace" and pop singer Heather Small (M-People)
performed her song "Proud." The Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt read
prayers of blessing followed by a fireworks display accompanied by Beethoven's No 9th choral
symphony "Ode to Joy." A large screen broadcasted the events in Mayflower Park.
OLYMPIA COUNTESS
January 7: Royal Olympia Cruises' OLYMPIA COUNTESS was reportedly arrested when she landed at
Durban, South Africa on her New Year cruise to Mauritius and Indian Ocean islands. The arrest
orders were lodged with Durban's High Court. Investigatations were being made over claims
from crew members that they had not been paid for a several of months. Recently passengers
on Royal Olympia's TRITON were transferred to a car ferry to take them to an Italian port
from where they could fly home. OLYMPIA VOYAGER and OLYMPIA EXPLORER's Winter programs have
been cancelled and both ships are under arrest, at Ft. Lauderdale and Long Beach, respectively.
QM2 Breaks Voyage
January 1: QM2 sailed into South Devon's Torbay on the first of three shakedown cruises,
then met the Torbay lifeboat to transfer two women with broken limbs. One broke her hip while
dancing during New Years celebrations and the second broke her leg while boarding the vessel
in Southampton. The QM2 arrived back in Southampton January 2. Both women were understood to
be in a "comfortable" condition in Torbay Hospital, Devon.
Royal Olympia Rumblings
January 1: Reports from around the world do not bode well for Chapter 11-bound Piraeus-based
Royal Olympia Cruises. US-based winter cruise programs for the speedy new OLYMPIA VOYAGER and
OLYMPIA EXPLORER have been cancelled and a Mediterranean Cruise on board TRITON (ex CUNARD ADVENTURER,
SUNWARD II) has been cut short, with 200 passengers being transferred to a Minoan Lines ferry
to complete their trip to Italy where they will be flown home. TRITON has been detained at Patras,
Greece while OLYMPIA EXPLORER lays at anchor a mile or so astern of the QUEEN MARY at Long
Beach, California and OLYMPIA VOYAGER returns to Fort Lauderdale, Florida after a shortened holiday cruise. Royal
Olympia is/was one of the last operators of small to mid sized ships of varying age and
design and was a welcome alternative to the mega ship experience. Sadly, it sold three
of its classics (APOLLON, STELLA SOLARIS, STELLA OCEANIS) to Indian breakers in recent months.
Click here for SHIPPING NEWS from May - December 2003