ROYAL VIKING STAR cruise vessel

[aukepalmhof]

Built under yard no 395 by O/Y Wärtsilä yard at Helsinki, Finland for Det. Bergenske D/S at Bergen, Norway. She was the first of three sisterships.
12 May 1971 launched under the name ROYAL VIKING STAR.
Tonnage 21.847 gross. Dim. 177.7 x 25.2m.
Passenger accommodation for 539 passengers. Crew 326.
Powered by four 9 cyl. Wärtsilä diesel engines, 18.000 bhp., speed 21 knots, service speed 18 knots, twin screws.
26 June 1972, delivered, managed by the Royal Viking Line.

After delivery used in world wide cruising, but mainly from the USA to the Caribbean.

30 August 1981 arrived by the A.G.Weser Seebeckwerft at Bremerhaven, Germany for lengthening, a new prefabricated amidships section with a length of 27.7 meter was fitted in.
22 Nov. 1981, sailed from yard, her tonnage increased to 28.087 gross, 16.242 net, 5.656 dwt., dim. length 205.5 meter.
Passenger accommodation for 812 passengers.

May 1984 the Royal Viking Line was taken over by the Norwegian Caribbean Lines at Oslo, Kloster Group) Bahamas.
20 May 1991, the ROYAL VIKING STAR transferred to the Norwegian Caribbean Lines, and renamed WESTWARD. Used in the Miami to Bermuda 3 to 4 day cruises.
1994 Renamed by the Kloster Royal Cruise Line in STAR ODYSSEY and extensively refurbished.
09 May 1994, she made her first cruise under that name from Aruba to San Francisco.

1996 Sold to Ganger Rolf ASA og Bonheur ASA (Fred Olsen & Co.) Bahamas, 08 Oct. 1996 handed over to the Fred Olsen Cruise Line. She underwent a £4 million overhaul at the A&P Yard at Southampton.
She is now used mostly for British cruising public, with an accommodation for 898 passengers in 429 cabins. She was renamed BLACK WATCH.
Her tonnage is given as 28.429 gross. 11.527 net, 5.656 dwt. Accommodation for 761 passengers in 435 cabins. Crew 320.
15 Nov. 1996, she made her first 24 day cruise to New England

On a voyage from Irklion for Malta, with on board 500 passengers, she developed serious machinery problems on 01 March 1997. Two engines had failed at Marmaris on 26 Feb. 1997 and the ship was heading for Malta where repairs could more easily made. Arrived Malta 02 March 1997 where the cruise was terminated and repairs commenced.

2001 Registry changed to Bahama flag, with homeport Nassau.
20 April 2005 arrived by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg for a refit.
29 June 2005 in service again

http://www.equasis.org gives for 2012, same owner. IMO No 7108930.
Tonnage now 28.670 gross, 11.527 net, 5.656 dwt.

Malta 1974 5c sg528, scott485, (the other vessel is the WASHINGTON.)
Pitcairn Island 1991 80c sg396, scott351
Ecuador 2001 0,68 USD sg?, scott? (she is the smallest cruise liner on the stamp, the other larger cruise vessel is the ROYAL PRINCESS see index for her details and history)

Marine News. Great Passenger Ships of the World vol. 6 by Arnold Kludas. De Blauwe Wimpel.