SS Galileo Galilei
4°37′1″N 99°54′6″E / 4.61694°N 99.90167°E[1]
.jpg) SS Galileo Galilei in Sydney
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry | |
| Ordered | 1960[3] |
| Builder | Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy |
| Yard number | 1982[2] |
| Launched | 2 July 1961[2] |
| Acquired | March 1963[2] |
| Maiden voyage | 23 March 1963[2] |
| In service | 23 March 1963[2] |
| Out of service | 20 May 1999[2] |
| Identification | IMO number: 5411254 |
| Fate | Caught fire and sank in the Straits of Malacca on 21 May 1999[2] |
| Notes | Sister ship to SS Guglielmo Marconi |
| General characteristics (as built)[2] | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 213.65 m (700 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 28.71 m (94 ft 2 in) |
| Draught | 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | Twin propellers[4] |
| Speed | 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) (service) |
| Capacity |
|
| General characteristics (following 1984 refit) | |
| Capacity | 1,262 passengers[4] |
| Notes | Otherwise the same as built |
| General characteristics (following 1990 refit) | |
| Tonnage | 30,440 GRT[2] |
| Capacity | 1,428 passengers[4] |
| Notes | Otherwise the same as built |
SS Galileo Galilei was an
Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy for Lloyd Triestino's Italy–Australia service. In 1979, she was converted to a cruise ship, and subsequently sailed under the names Galileo and Meridian. She sank in the Strait of Malacca
in 1999 as the Sun Vista.
History
Ordered by
Mediterranean cruises before departing on its official maiden voyage from Genoa, Italy to Sydney, Australia on 22 April 1963. In November of the same year, she was joined on the route by her sister ship SS Guglielmo Marconi. Originally the ships traveled to Australia via the eastern route, passing through Suez Canal in both directions, but in the later years the return trip to Europe was via the Panama Canal. They also routed to Australia via the Cape of Good Hope in the late 1960s and early 1970s.[4]
The ships were very successful until the
Italia Navigazione, who also owned Lloyd Triestino).[2] However, already in September of the same year the Galileo Galilei was withdrawn from service and laid up again.[4]
In 1983, the vessel was purchased by
Chandris Group. The ship was again rebuilt, this time with additional cabins on her forward deck,[4] and her name shortened to Galileo.[2] In 1984 the Galileo began cruising on the Caribbean under Chandris Fantasy Cruises brand. After the collapse of Home Lines in 1988 Chandris's executives decided to create a new upmarket brand to take over the market segment occupied by Home Lines. With this in mind the Galileo underwent a multimillion-dollar refit at Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany between October 1989 and February 1990. Most of her interiors were rebuilt, and externally her rear superstructure enlarged. On 1 March 1990 she emerged as the stylish SS Meridian, the first ship of the new Celebrity Cruises brand, cruising on the Caribbean and the Boston/New York–Bermuda service.[4]
In 1997, following Royal Caribbean International's acquisition of Celebrity Cruises, the ship was sold to Sun Cruises, which operated her as SS Sun Vista. On 20 May 1999, the vessel suffered an engine room fire, which cut all power and caused her to sink in the Strait of Malacca on 21 May 1999 at 0121 hrs. All 1,090 passengers and crew were safely evacuated.[4][5]
Media
In 1999, Sun Vista was featured in the Indian
romantic drama film Mann
.
References
- ^ "SS Sun Vista 1999". Wreck Site. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Asklander, Micke. "T/S Galileo Galilei (1963)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 December 2007.
- ^ a b c Goossens, Reuben. "Lloyd Triestino's Galileo Galilei & Guglielmo Marconi". ssMaritime. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Knego, Peter. "Sun Vista (ex-Galileo Galilei, Galileo, Meridian)". Maritime Matters. Archived from the original on 16 December 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ "More than 1,000 saved after luxury liner sinks near Malaysia". CNN. 21 May 1999. Archived from the original on 21 March 2004. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
External links
Media related to IMO 5411254 at Wikimedia Commons- The sinking of the Sun Vista
