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HISTORY
SS Galileo Galilei was an
ocean liner built in 1963 by Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico,
Monfalcone, Italy for Lloyd Triestino's Italy輸ustralia 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 Lloyd Triestino in 1960, Galileo Galilei was built in
Italy for the Australian immigrant route. Galileo Galilei was
launched on 2 July 1961. On 23 March 1963, the ship entered
service for Lloyd Triestino, doing 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.
The ships were very successful until the 1973 oil crisis, which,
combined with the increasing prevalence of airliners,
contributed to the decline of ocean liners. Galileo Galilei
returned to Genoa and repaired after she stuck a reef off coast
of West Africa on 13 January 1975. Galileo Galilei continued to
operate on the Italy泡ustralia run until April 1977, at which
point she was withdrawn from service and laid up. Her lay-up was
short, and in October 1977 she returned to her builders for a
lengthy reconstruction into a cruise ship. On 24 March 1979 the
Galileo Galilei finally started cruise service with Italia
Crociere (owned by Italia Navigazione, who also owned Lloyd
Triestino). However, already in September of the same year the
Galileo Galilei was withdrawn from service and laid up again.
In 1983, the vessel was purchased by Chandris Group. The ship
was again rebuilt, this time with additional cabins on her
forward deck, and her name shortened to Galileo. In 1984 the
Galileo began cruising on the Caribbean under Chandris' Fantasy
Cruises brand. After the collapse of Home Lines in 1988 Chandris'
executives decided to create a new upmarket brand to take over
the market segment occupied by Home Lines. With this in mind the
Galileo sent to 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烹ermuda
service.
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 on 21 May 1999 at 0121 hrs. All 1,090 passengers and
crew were safely evacuated.
Name:
1963-1984: Galileo Galilei
1984-1990: Galileo
1990-1997: Meridian
1997-1999: Sun Vista
Owner:
1963-1979: Lloyd Triestino
1979-1983: Italia Crociere
1983-1990: Chandris Cruises
1990-1997: Celebrity Cruises
1997-1999: Sun Cruises
Operator:
1983-1977: Lloyd Triestino
1979: Italia Crociere
1984-1989: Chandris Fantasy Cruises
1990-1997: Celebrity Cruises
1997-1999: Sun Cruises
Port of registry:
1963-1983: Genoa, Italy
1983-1990: Panama City, Panama
1990-1999: Nassau, Bahamas
Ordered: 1960
Builder: Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy
Yard number: 1982
Launched: 2 July 1961
Acquired: March 1963
Maiden voyage: 23 March 1963
In service: 23 March 1963
Out of service: 20 May 1999
Fate: Sunk 21 May 1999
Notes: Sister ship to SS Guglielmo Marconi |
