Facts from database

Anniversary of Ships launched on this day 23 January

Name	Imocode	Launched	Builder
Esbjerg 1944	IMO.5074513	1929	Helsingor Jernskibs & Maskinbyggeri, Helsingor
Fort Townshend 1952	IMO.5299096	1936	Blythswood SB Co Ltd, Scotstoun
George W Goethals 1950	IMO.0000000	1942	Ingalls SB Corp, Pascagoula
Uige	IMO.5372537	1954	SA John Cockerill, Hoboken
Manx Maid	IMO.5219931	1962	Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead
Ajisai Maru	IMO.5006516	1962	Sanoyas Dockyard Co Ltd, Mizushima, Kurashiki
Okesa Maru 1979	IMO.6416756	1964	Niigata SB & R, Niigata
IWTA Jamuna	IMO.	1964	SW DW Kremer & Sohn GmbH, Elmshorn
Ofelia 2012	IMO.6809771	1968	Krogerwerft GmbH & Co, Rendsburg
Baruka	IMO.7823059	1980	J W Cook & Co (Wivenhoe) Ltd, Wivenhoe
Bursea 1989	IMO.8017267	1981	Sing Koon Seng (Pte) Co Ltd, Singapore
Strand	IMO.8112639	1982	Sterkoder Mek Verk A/S, Kristiansund
Ishitegawa 2019	IMO.8616946	1987	Kanda Zosensho KK, Kure
Frans Suell 1994	IMO.8917601	1991	Brodosplit-BSO, Split
Europa 1993	IMO.8919805	1993	J L Meyer Werft, Papenburg
Sea Princess 2003	IMO.9150913	1998	Fincantieri SpA, Monfalcone
Dedetas 1	IMO.9604641	2004	Turkoglu Gemi Insaa, Altinova, Yalova
Ile de Groix	IMO.9372987	2008	Alsthom Leroux Naval, Lanester, Lorient
Sabuk Nusantara 38	IMO.9712797	2013	PT Daya Radar Utama, Jakarta
Lite Ferry Nine	IMO.9886299	2019	Haidong Shipyard Factory, Taizhou, Zhejiang
SH Diana	IMO.9921740	2023	Helsinki Shipyard OY, Helsinki
Celebrity Ascent	IMO.9838400	2023	Ch de l'Atlantique, St Nazaire

Some interesting facts from this database:

The longest name ?

Governor Emerson C Harrington II built in 1913

The second longest name ?

Ciudad de Santa Cruz de la Palma was borne by two ships, one built in 1972 the other in 1975

The ship that has retained the same name the longest ?

Juno since 1874

The oldest ship still active ?

Juno (1874)

The ship that was never completed after 27 years ?

Stena Baltica. Construction as ferry (IMO7907685), commenced in 1985 in Poland, stopped in 1986. In 1989 towed to Perama, Greece for completion as cruise-ship Regent Sky, but building stopped in 1995. Owner bankrupt and ship (completed to deck 7) seized by banks in 1996 but never completed. Eventually laid up 2004, abandoned and in July 2011 towed from Eleusis to Aliaga for demolition. She outlived one sistership; two still active in 2018.

The ship with the most name changes ?

Nils Holgersson (1962) had a 17th name of Sama 1, before being demolished in 2000

The most common prefix to a name ?

Ferry

The face that has launched the most ships ?

Sophia Loren: since 2002 the actress has been official godmother to all MSC cruise ships. MSC Lirica 2003, MSC Opera 2004, MSC Musica 2006, MSC Orchestra 2007, MSC Fantasia 2008, MSC Poesia 2008, MSC Splendida 2009, MSC Magnifica 2010, MSC Divina 2012, MSC Preziosa 2013, MSC Meraviglia 2017, MSC Seaside 2017, MSC Seaview 2018, MSC Bellissima 2019, MSC Grandiosa 2019, MSC Seashore 2021

What links Festival Cruises and MSC ?

Before the company failed in 2004, two ships were built and options for two more ships were cancelled. The 'options' were completed for MSC as MSC Lirica in 2002 and MSC Opera in 2005.

Is that all ?

The two earlier ships completed for Festival Cruises were European Vision in 2001 and European Stars in 2002 and became MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia in 2004.

First transit of the North West Passage by passenger ship ?

Was in 1984 by Lindblad Explorer from east to west between 20 August-29 September.

The second transit ?

Was in 1985 by World Discoverer from west to east

Largest ship to traverse Corinth Canal (East to west) ?

Braemar on 9 October 2019

Largest 20th-century passenger ships ?

Queen Elizabeth completed 1940 at 82998grt. Sank 1972.
France completed 1962 at 66348grt. Demolished 2007.
Sovereign of the Seas completed 1988 at 73192grt.
Carnival Destiny completed 1996 at 101353grt. First to exceed 100000grt.

First ship to exceed 200000gt

Oasis of the Seas launched 21/11/2008 at STX Europe, Turku