SuperStar Gemini (2012)
MS SuperStar Gemini is a cruise ship owned and operated by Star Cruises.[9][10] She was built in 1992 by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France as MS Dreamward for traffic with Norwegian Cruise Line. In 1998 she was lengthened at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany and renamed as the Norwegian Dream.[1] In late 2012, she was transferred to the fleet of Star Cruise and renamed SuperStar Gemini.
SuperStar Gemini | |
History | |
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Name: |
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Owner: |
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Operator: |
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Port of registry: |
Nassau, |
Builder: | Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France |
Cost: | $240 million[5] |
Yard number: | C30[1] |
Laid down: | 6 March 1991[6] |
Launched: | 24 February 1992[1] |
Christened: | 5 December 1992[1] |
Acquired: | 4 November 1992[1] |
In service: | 6 December 1992[1] |
Identification: |
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Status: | In service |
General characteristics (as built)[1] | |
Class and type: | Dreamward class cruise ship |
Tonnage: | |
Length: | 190.04 m (623 ft 6 in) |
Beam: | 28.80 m (94 ft 6 in) |
Draught: | 6.80 m (22 ft 4 in) |
Ice class: | 1 C[4] |
Installed power: | |
Propulsion: |
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Speed: | 21 kn (38.89 km/h) |
Capacity: | 1,246 passengers (all berths)[7] |
General characteristics (after 1998 refit)[8] | |
Tonnage: | |
Length: | 229.84 m (754 ft 1 in) |
Beam: | 32.10 m (105 ft 4 in) |
Draught: | 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in) |
Depth: | 17.83 m (58 ft 6 in) |
Decks: | 10 (passenger accessible)[5] |
Capacity: |
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Crew: | 700[5] |
History
Concept and construction
The Dreamward was the first in a pair of two identical cruise ships ordered by Kloster Cruise for Norwegian Cruise Line from Chantiers de l'Atlantique. The sisters were planned with a gross tonnage of approximately 40,000, and maximum passenger capacity of 1246 persons.[1][7] However, they were also designed from the start with the concept of lengthening in mind, making it possible for the company to easily expand their capacity without having to order entirely new ships.[11]
The lengthening was eventually carried out in March—May 1998 at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany, where the ship was cut in half and a new 40-metre (131 ft 3 in) midsection was inserted.[12] In addition to the lengthening, the ship's funnel and radar mast were adapted so that they could be folded down, allowing her to pass under the bridges of the Kiel Canal.[1][5][13] Coinciding with the lengthening the Dreamward was renamed Norwegian Dream.[1] She re-emerged at 50,764 GT[8] and with maximum passenger capacity of 2,156.[5] A documentary film about the lengthening has been broadcast by ARTE Television on 19 January 1999[14]
Service history
The Dreamward was delivered on 4 November 1992. She was named on 5 December 1992 at Port Everglades and started on her first cruise to Bermuda the following day.[1] Subsequently, the ship was used for cruising from New York to the Bahamas and from Florida to the Caribbean.[7] Her sister was a year later named as Windward.[15] Originally both the Dreamward and Windward carried the early-90s Norwegian Cruise Line livery with a white funnel and red and blue decorative stripes on the hull.[7][16] Some time before 1998 they received the new NCL livery with a dark blue funnel and an all-white hull.[13]
Afterward, she also used for cruising around Europe.[13] On 24 August 1999, the Norwegian Dream was involved in a collision with the container ship Ever Decent while en route from Zeebrügge, Belgium to Dover, England. Following the accident, the Norwegian Dream was repaired at Lloyd Werft.[1]
In 2004 the ownership of the Norwegian Dream was transferred to NCL's parent company Star Cruises, in preparation for possible sale or transfer to the Star Cruises fleet.[2] On 10 December 2007, the Norwegian Dream was involved in a further collision with a barge while leaving the port of Montevideo, Uruguay. The collision caused some damage above the waterline that did not appear to be serious. The collision caused several cars and five containers to fall off the barge, which closed the port for some time.[17]
On 23 April 2008 Star Cruises entered an agreement to sell the Norwegian Dream, as well as her fleetmate Norwegian Majesty, to the Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines, which was reportedly willing to pay $218 million for the ship.[3][18] International Shipping Partners was also interested in the Norwegian Dream.[19] Louis was supposed to pay the entire $218 million upon the ship's delivery,[18] but by 29 September 2008, when the ship should have been delivered to Louis, they canceled the deal due to "technical issues relating to the vessel."[20] The deal for the Norwegian Majesty, however, was completed in July.[18] In November 2008, the Norwegian Dream was laid up in Freeport, Bahamas awaiting a buyer.. The ship had a brief spell in the port of Piraeus, before relocating to Kalamata on 13 June 2011 for inspection by Louis Cruise Lines and Pullmantur Cruises. Shortly thereafter, she returned to the anchor point off Piraeus. Later, on the move yet again, Norwegian Dream was sighted at anchor in Singapore Harbour in June 2011. Star Cruises confirmed that the vessel was in Singapore for a technical dry-dock. She was also seen anchored in the harbor in Penang, Malaysia, in May 2012.
On 10 September 2012, Star cruises announced that it would refurbish "Norwegian Dream", and rename it to SuperStar Gemini.[9][21] The refurbished SuperStar Gemini now houses new onboard facilities including restaurants of Chinese, Asian and international cuisines, open-deck barbecue, show lounge, karaoke, spa & health club, beauty salon, children's playroom and swimming pool. With a passenger capacity of 1,532, the vessel will house 766 guest cabins in a variety of layouts including ergonomic ocean view rooms, stylish junior suites and deluxe executive suites.[22] The estimated cost of this refurbishment was US$50 million.
Accidents and incidents
On 24 August 1999, the Norwegian Dream was involved in a collision with the container ship Ever Decent while en route from Zeebrügge, Belgium to Dover, England. Although her bow was damaged, the Norwegian Dream continued to Dover under her own power. The IMO report[23] states that the weather at the time was good with a slight sea and good visibility. The Ever Decent was severely damaged, eventually listing 40 degrees to port. As a result of the collision the Ever Decent caught fire and a toxic plume formed. The cargo her included all IMO hazmat classes except explosives, in particular two containers of cyanide were a concern.
On 27 November 2016, while cruising to Penang, CCTV footage on the SuperStar Gemini showed that a Singaporean man by the name of Wuan Poh Fatt fell overboard 9.5 nautical miles off Pulau Besar and 12 nautical miles off Tanjung Kling. He was reported missing after he failed to respond to the ship's announcements before the ship docked in Georgetown, Penang.
References
Notes
- Asklander, Micke. "M/S Dreamward (1992)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 April 2008.
- Newman, Doug (15 April 2008). "Lloyd's List: Three NCL Ships Nearly Sold". At Sea with Doug Newman. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
- "Louis acquires Norwegian Dream and Majesty". Cruise Business Review. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. 23 April 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
- "Norwegian Dream (21462)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
- Ward, Douglas (2006). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 436–437. ISBN 981-246-739-4.
- "SuperStar Gemini (21462)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
- Miller, William H. Jr. (1995). The Pictorial Encycpedia of Ocean Liners, 1860-1994. Mineola: Dover Publications. p. 40. ISBN 0-486-28137-X.
- "Vessel info: Norwegian Dream"" Dimensions (21462)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
- http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/7180-norwegian-dream-set-to-sail-for-star.html
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Ward (2006). p. 440
- Mark (1998). "Photos of Norwegian Dream lengthening by 40 meters". Norwegian Dream lengthening in dry dock. Shipspotting.com. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- "Norwegian Cruise Line - Page 3: The New Fleet Livery". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Asklander, Micke. "M/S Windward (1993)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 April 2008.
- "Norwegian Cruise Line - Page 2: Second Generation Ships". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
- "Cruise ship, barge collide in Montevideo". Reuters. 10 December 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
- Hand, Marcus (30 September 2008). "Star Cruises $218m Norwegian Dream sale fails". Lloyd's List. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- Newman, Doug (18 April 2008). "Seatrade: Pride of America Not Sold". At Sea with Doug Newman. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
- "No Dream for Louis Cruises". Cruise Business Review. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. 30 September 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Collision between Ever Decent and Norwegian Dream. In:IMO Legal Committee, 2002. Monitoring Implementation of the Hazardous and Noxious Substance Convention; Report on Incidents Involving HNS. LEG 85/Inf. 2. IMO, London.
Bibliography
- Saunders, Aaron (2013). Giants of the Seas: The Ships that Transformed Modern Cruising. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781848321724.
- Smith, Peter C. (2010). Cruise Ships: The World's Most Luxurious Vessels. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword Maritime. ISBN 9781848842182.