Built as a ro-ro passenger ferry under yard No 288 by Cantier Nav. dell Tirreno e Riunite at Riva Trigosco, Italia for K/S A/S Southward (Klosters S/A) in Oslo.
05 June 1971 launched as the SOUTHWARD.
Tonnage 16,607 grt, 8,390 net, 2,388 dwt., dim. 166.4 x 22.76 x 6.50m. (draught)
Powered by four Fiat SGM 10 diesel engines, 13,400 kW. (18,000 bhp.), twin shafts, speed 21.5 knots.
Accommodation for 732 passengers.
November 1971 delivered to owners.
30 November 1971 christened in Miami, she was the first European cruise vessel christened in the USA.
Thereafter used in the cruise trade to the Caribbean.
1987 Registered for Kloster Cruise, Nassau, Bahamas.
1995 Sold for US$24 million to the British Airtours Sun Cruises, Nassau, Bahamas and renamed SEAWING. During the Northern winter cruises in the Caribbean, while during the summer months she will make cruises from Majorca, Spain.
2000 Chartered by Royal Olympic Cruises, thereafter based in the Mediterranean.
2004 Sold to Louis Hellenic Cruises Ltd., Limassol, Cyprus.
May 2005 renamed in PERLA.
May 2008 chartered by Golden Star Cruises and renamed THE AEGEAN PEARL.
28 July 2008 when moored in Piraeus the ZENITH collided with her, in which THE AEGEAN PEARL received little damage.
2010 Tonnage given as 16,710 grt, 7,241 net, 2,388 dwt. Owned by Perla Navigation Ltd. and managed by Core Marine Limited both in Piraeus. She is registered in Greece, homeport Piraeus. IMO No 7111078.
Maximum 1095 passengers.
June 2010 is reported that she will be sold for further trading.
2010 Renamed RIO, homeport Valletta, Malta.
2012 Sold to East Mediterranean Cruises Ltd., Valletta, Malta.
2013 Renamed in VENUS and registered in Togo, most probably for her voyage to the scrapyard.
28 March 2013 arrived at Aliaga, Turkey for scrapping.
Netherlands Antilles 1984 1G sg862, scott?
Source:
http://www.faktaomfartyg.com/soutward_1971.htm and various other web-sites.