Clipper Pearl (ship)
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 Sundream in Tallinn Harbour, 2001 |
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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | 1970-1997: Song of Norway 1997-2004: Sundream 2004-2006: Dream Princess 2006-2007: Dream 2007-present: Clipper Pearl |
| Owner: | 1970-1997: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines 1997-2004: Airtours Sun Cruises 2004-2006: Tumaco Navigation 2006-2007: Lance Shipping 2007-present: International Shipping Partners |
| Operator: | 1970-1997: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines 1997-2004: Airtours Sun Cruises 2004-2007: Caspi Cruises |
| Builder: | Wärtsilä Helsinki New Shipyard, Finland |
| Yard number: | 392[1] |
| Launched: | 2 December 1969[1] |
| Acquired: | 5 October 1970[1] |
| In service: | 7 November 1970[1] |
| Homeport: | 1970-1997: Oslo,  Norway1997-2004: Nassau,  Bahamas2004-2006: Limassol,  Cyprus2006-2007: Nassau, Bahamas[1] |
| Status: | Currently immobilized in the port of Kusadasi |
| General characteristics (as built)[1] | |
| Class and type: | Cruise ship |
| Tonnage: | 18416 GRT |
| Displacement: | 3202 metric tons of deadweight (DWT) |
| Length: | 168.32 m (552.23 ft) |
| Beam: | 23.96 m (78.61 ft) |
| Draught: | 6.70 m (21.98 ft) |
| Installed power: | 4 × 9-cyl, Sulzer-Wärtsilä diesels, combined 14560 kW |
| Speed: | 20,5 knots |
| Capacity: | 724 passengers |
| General characteristics (currently)[1] | |
| Class and type: | Cruise ship |
| Tonnage: | 23005 GRT |
| Displacement: | 4525 DWT |
| Length: | 194.32 m (637.53 ft) |
| Beam: | 23.96 m (78.61 ft) |
| Draught: | 6.70 m (21.98 ft) |
| Installed power: | 4 × 9-cyl, Sulzer-Wärtsilä diesels, combined 14560 kW |
| Speed: | 20,5 knots |
| Capacity: | 1196 passengers |
| Crew: | 423[2] |
Clipper Pearl (formerly Song of Norway, Sundream, Dream Princess, Dream) was one of the first modern cruise ships, first entering operation in 1970.
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[edit] History
The vessel was constructed in Helsinki, Finland in 1970. Named Song of Norway, she was the first ship built for cruise line Royal Caribbean International. The vessel was lengthened in 1978, due to the high demand for cruising, and sailed on seven- and fourteen-day cruises out of Miami.
In 1996, surpassed by the significantly larger ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet, the ship was sold to Sun Cruises part of the Airtours/MyTravel (which has now merged with Thomas Cook AG), who operated the vesel under the name Sundream.
In October 2004 she was sold, refitted and became MS Dream Princess for Caspi Cruises (Israel) and operated the 2005 season from Haifa.
In November 2007 the ship was sold to the Miami, Florida based company International Shipping Partners, Inc. and was renamed to Clipper Pearl.[3]
The vessel is currently positioned in Kusadasi, Turkey where she is being upgraded.
[edit] Statistics
The vessel originally had a gross tonnage of 18,000 tons, and could carry 724 passengers. Following the 1978 refit, she was lengthened by 85 feet, to provide for 1024 passengers and increasing her size to 23,000 gross tons.
[edit] 2005 refitting
In early 2005 Sundream was being refitted in Piraeus under the name Dream Princess. The ship was sailing on four-night cruises from Haifa to Alanya, Rhodes and Larnaca. Some itineraries also included Marmaris and Santorini. In January 2006 the vessel was used to house students from Tulane University after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. [4]
[edit] September 2007 listing
On September 18, 2007 and while anchored in the port of Rhodes the cruise ship developed a 10 degrees list. It was immediately evacuated and four officers who where on duty at the time of the incident were detained. The crew was accused of deliberately grounding the vessel to prevent further listing and an ultimate sinking. Divers investigating the incident discovered that hatchways in the hull designed for discharging untreated waste into the ocean, had been crudely plugged with chunks of wood, to prevent the discharge. That kept the waste onboard. Failure to pump the waste in a timely manner, resulted in the listing of the vessel. [5]
The list was eventually corrected but on 18 November 2007, due to strong winds, Dream Princess came loose of its moorings and collided with an adjacent cargo ship causing minor damages in both vessels. The coast guard managed to tow the cruise ship back to the dock using tug-boats. [6]
Dream Princess remained in the port of Rhodes for nearly two months until her seaworthiness was established. On November 28, 2007 it was towed to the port of Kusadasi.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g (Swedish) Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Song of Norway (1970), retrieved 22. 11. 2007
- ^ http://www.shipparade.com/az/Clipper_Pearl/Clipper_Pearl.htm Ship characteristics from ShipParade.com
- ^ http://www.isp-usa.com/news/A071127.pdf
- ^ Song of Norway Cruise Ship Postcards
- ^ Dream Princess Listing Near Dodecanese Island Of Rhodes Greece - September 18, 2007
- ^ Heavy rains cause problems throughout Greece
[edit] Gallery
 Dream anchored in the Port of Rhodes on November 2007. Protective nets have been placed around the hull to prevent oil leakage. |
 The damaged stern of Dream after her collission with an adjacent vessel on November 18, 2007. |
