Facts from database

Anniversary of Ships launched on this day 8 December

Name	Imocode	Launched	Builder
Vasari 1921	IMO.0000000	1908	Sir Raylton Dixon & Co Ltd, Middlesborough
Batoebahra 1959	IMO.5281295	1947	Werf de Noord JC Smit NV, Alblasserdam
Alta 1968	IMO.5012773	1949	Trosvik Verksted A/S, Brevik
Gullfoss 1974	IMO.5138046	1949	Burmeister & Wain M & S, Copenhagen
Royal Iris	IMO.5301332	1950	Wm Denny & Bros, Dumbarton
Broen 1966	IMO.5053662	1951	Frederikshavn Vaerft & Tordok A/S, Frederikshavn
Vittore Carpaccio 1990	IMO.6403008	1963	C N Apuania, Marina di Carrara
Bewa Discoverer 1976	IMO.7349053	1973	Schichau Unterweser, Bremerhaven
Isle of Mull	IMO.8608339	1987	Appledore Ferguson Ltd, Port Glasgow
Tetide	IMO.8809074	1988	C N de Poli SpA, Pellestrina
Majestic	IMO.9015735	1992	Nuovi Cantieri Apuania, Marina di Carrara
Rainbow Bell 2005	IMO.9135262	1995	Mitsubishi H I, Shimonoseki
Ferry Toshima 2019	IMO.9211743	1999	Sumitomo HI, Uraga Yard, Yokosuka
Stena Traveller 2011	IMO.9331189	2006	Baltijsky Zavod SY, St Petersburg (hull)//Fosen Mek Verk A/S, Rissa
Loch Shira	IMO.9376919	2006	Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow
Tomrefjord	IMO.9895484	2020	Sedef Gemi Endustrisi AS, Istanbul

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