Facts from database

Anniversary of Ships launched on this day 4 October

Name	Imocode	Launched	Builder
Tuscania 1939	IMO.0000000	1921	Fairfield SB & E, Govan, Glasgow
Starke	IMO.5338957	1930	Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel
Saebo 1980	IMO.8962084	1949	Kristiansands MV A/S, Kristiansand
Tahitien 1972	IMO.5348744	1952	Arsenal de Brest, Brest
Schiermonnikoog 1986	IMO.0000000	1956	SW Friesland, Lemmer
Thor Viking 1973	IMO.6501056	1958	Falkenbergs Varv AB, Falkenberg
IWTA Comilla	IMO.	1963	Abeking & Rasmussen, Lemwerder
Caronte	IMO.7351264	1973	Soc Esercizio Cantieri Sud, Naples
Viking Valiant 1989	IMO.7358298	1974	Aalborg Vaerft A/S, Aalborg
Kronprins Harald 1987	IMO.7400778	1975	Werft Nobiskrug GmbH, Rendsburg
Yamal	IMO.9077549	1989	Baltijsky Zavod SY, St Petersburg
Star Clipper	IMO.8915445	1991	Scheepswerven Van Langerbrugge, Ghent
Isle of Inishmore	IMO.9142605	1996	van der Giessen de Noord BV, Krimpen/Ijssel
Hiiumaa	IMO.9481805	2010	Western Baltiya SB, Klaipeda (hull)//Fiskerstrands Verft A/S, Fiskarstrand
Matre	IMO.9866108	2019	Crist SA, Gdynia/Vard Langsten, Tomrefjord
Hella	IMO.9871268	2021	Sembcorp, Singapore

Some interesting facts from this database:

The longest name in database ?

Governor Emerson C Harrington II from 1938 to 1954

The second longest name in database ?

Ciudad de Santa Cruz de la Palma was borne by two ships, one built in 1972 the other in 1975 (from 1981 to 1998)

The ship that has retained the same name the longest ?

Juno since 1874

The oldest ship still active ?

Enkopin built in 1868

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: between 2003 and 2023 the actress was 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 MSC Seascape (by video) 2022 MSC Virtuosa 2021 MSC Euribia 2023

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 (225282gt)launched 21/11/2008 at STX Europe, Turku

Largest cruise ship to traverse Panama Canal

Norwegian Bliss (168,028gt) on 14/5/2018 (Caribbean to Pacific) and 13/11/2018 (Pacific to Caribbean)

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