MS Formosa Queen

Overview

*1970–1997: Song of Norway *1997–2004: Sundream *2004–2006: Dream Princess *2006–2007: Dream *2007–2008: Clipper Pearl *2008–2009: Clipper Pacific *2009–2010: Festival *2010–2011: Ocean Pearl *2012–2013: Formosa Queen

owner	1970–1997: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines 1997–2004: Airtours Sun Cruises 2004–2006: Tumaco Navigation 2006–2007: Lance Shipping 2007–2009: Pearl Owner Ltd. 2009–2012: International Shipping Partners *2012–2013: Formosa Queen Corp.‡R1R‡
operator	1970–1997: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines 1997–2004: Airtours Sun Cruises 2004–2007: Caspi Cruises 2008: Peace Boat 2009: Caspi Cruises 2010–2011: Quail Travel Group *2012–2013: Asia Star Cruises
builder	Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Finland
yard number	392‡R2R‡
launched	2 December 1969‡R2R‡
completed	1970
acquired	5 October 1970‡R2R‡
in service	7 November 1970‡R2R‡
out of service	2013
registry	1970–1997: Oslo, 🇳🇴 Norway 1997–2004: Nassau, 🇧🇸 Bahamas 2004–2006: Limassol, 🇨🇾 Cyprus 2006–2009: Nassau, 🇧🇸 Bahamas 2009–2012: Majuro, 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands 2012–2013: Panama, 🇵🇦 Panama
identification	Call sign: 3FLU9 * → 373524000
fate	Scrapped in 2013.

MS Song of Norway (later Sundream, Dream Princess, Dream, Clipper Pearl, Clipper Pacific, Festival, Ocean Pearl, Formosa Queen) was one of the first ships purpose-built as a cruise ship. She was the first ship of Royal Caribbean International when she entered operation in 1970. She was sold for scrap in 2013 and broken up in 2014, after serving her last years as a gambling ship.

Statistics

The vessel originally had a gross tonnage of 18,000 tons, and could carry 724 passengers. Following the 1978 refit, she was lengthened by 85 feet, to provide for 1024 passengers and increasing her size to 23,000 gross tons.

History

The vessel was constructed in Helsinki, Finland in 1970. Named Song of Norway, she was the first ship built for cruise line Royal Caribbean International. The vessel was lengthened in 1978, due to the high demand for cruising, and sailed on seven- and fourteen-day cruises out of Miami. As Song of Norway she was the first vessel to service the Royal Caribbean proprietary resort of Labadee, Haiti. In 1996, surpassed by the significantly larger ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet, the ship was sold to Sun Cruises, part of the Airtours/

2005 refitting

In early 2005 Sundream was being refitted in Piraeus under the name Dream Princess. The ship was sailing on four-night cruises from Haifa to Alanya, Rhodes and Larnaca. Some itineraries also included Marmaris and Santorini. In January 2006 the vessel was used to house students from Tulane University after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.[8]

September 2007 listing

On September 18, 2007, while anchored in the port of Rhodes, the cruise ship developed a 10 degree list. She was immediately evacuated and four officers who were on duty at the time of the incident were detained. The crew was accused of deliberately grounding the vessel to prevent further listing and an ultimate sinking. Divers investigating the incident discovered that hatchways in the hull, designed for discharging untreated waste into the ocean, had been crudely plugged with chunks of wood, to prevent the discharge. That kept the waste on board. Failure to pump the waste in a timely manner resulted in the listing of the vessel.[9]

The list was eventually corrected but on 18 November 2007, due to strong winds, Dream Princess came loose of her moorings and collided with an adjacent cargo ship causing minor damages in both vessels. The coast guard managed to tow the cruise ship back to the dock using tug-boats.[10]

Dream Princess remained in the port of Rhodes for nearly two months until her seaworthiness was re-established. On November 28, 2007, she was towed to the port of Kuşadası.

2008 problems

On July 16, 2008, the Clipper Pacific was detained in New York by the United States Coast Guard for numerous safety violations including a leaking hull. She remained in New York and was not allowed to leave until repairs were made.[11] Further extensive repairs were made in dry dock in Tampa, Florida, where inspectors found new safety problems.[12][13]

The ship was next detained for a couple of days in August 2008 in Seward, Alaska for significant code violations.[13]

In late 2008 she was laid up in Istanbul, Turkey for engine repairs.

MS Formosa Queen

Statistics

History

2005 refitting

September 2007 listing

2008 problems

Final years

Gallery

External links

References