Sepia Saturday; 146; Ships;

The fate of the Galileo Galilei;

Is it not bad Karma to change a ships name?

Galileo Galilei; 1974

5 weeks from Genoa to Sydney, supposed to be its  last voyage to Australia.

At that time  there were 1000 passengers  plus the crew on the ship.

I, thinking about  "Sepia Saturday 146";

SS 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.  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. 

It was thought her last trip to Australia was in October 1974.

 She  continued  to operate as a cruise ship. 1977 she was withdrawn from service. 

 Shortly after in October 1977 she returned to her builders for a lengthy reconstruction.  On 24 March 1979 the Galileo Galilei 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However, already in September of the same year the Galileo Galilei was withdrawn from service and laid up again.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 the Chandris Group. The ship was again rebuilt, this time with additional cabins on her forward deck. 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 multi-million 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

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

http://maritimematters.com/2010/02/a-cruise-to-remember-the-sinking-of-the-sun-vista

On the afternoon of May 20, 1999 the Luxury Cruise Ship the Sun Vista was returning to Singapore after a typical cruise to Phuket, Thailand when a malfunction in the engine room switchboard started a small fire. Due to factors yet explained, the fire could not be contained and spread throughout the ship. A distress call was finally sent about 6:30 PM. Meanwhile, the passengers were instructed to go up on deck and prepare to abandon ship. All 472 passengers and 672 crew managed to leave the ship. The Sun Vista slowly sank deeper and deeper by the stern for seven hours. Finally at 1:22 AM May 21, 1999 she died and sank about 60 nautical miles south of Penang Island and 50 nautical miles west of Port Weld in the Strait of Malacca in 200 feet of water. A passing freighter finally rescued the passengers after spending five to eight hours in the lifeboats. There were no fatalities and only minor injuries.

Links

http://drmike.smugmug.com/gallery/1268825#!i=59665014&k=h6GMsX3 photos

http://maritimematters.com/2010/02/a-cruise-to-remember-the-sinking-of-the-sun-vista

http://www.sunvista.ukf.net/sunvista.htm

Perhaps you are ready for a cruise,  follow the Link  Sepia Saturday 146; and enjoy!

©Photos Ts