MV Black Prince (1966)

Black Prince was a cruise ship, owned and operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. She was built in 1966 by the Lübecker Flender-Werke in Lübeck, West Germany for Fred. Olsen Lines for combined ferry/cruise ship operations. From 1970 until 1983 she sailed the northern hemisphere summer seasons on ferry service for Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab as Venus, while returning to cruise service with Fred. Olsen for the winter seasons. In 1983 the summer ferry service was taken over by DFDS, and in 1985 it passed to Norway Line. In 1986 Fred. Olsen bought the ship outright and she was converted to a full-time cruise ship, retaining the name Black Prince.[2]

Black Prince in Nantes, April 2009
History
Name:
  • 2009–2013: Ola Esmeralda[1]
  • 2009: Prince
  • 1966–2009: Black Prince
  • 1970–1985 (summers): Venus
Owner: Fred. Olsen & Co.[2]
Operator:
  • 1966–1986: Fred. Olsen Lines/Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
  • 1970–1983 (summers): BDS
  • 1983–1985 (summers): DFDS
  • 1985 (summer): Norway Line
  • 1987-2010: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines[2]
  • 2010-2013: Servicios Acuaticos Venezuela
Port of registry:
Builder: Flender Werke, Lübeck, West Germany[2]
Cost: $20 million[3]
Yard number: 561[2]
Launched: 14 May 1966[2]
Acquired: October 1966[2]
In service: October 1966[2]
Identification:
Fate: Scrapped October 2013
General characteristics (as built)[2]
Class and type: Black Watch-class ferry
Tonnage:
Length: 141.64 m (464 ft 8 in)
Beam: 20.02 m (65 ft 8 in)
Draught: 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 propellers[3]
Speed: 22.5 knots (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)
Capacity:
  • 693 passengers
  • 350 berths
  • 200 cars
General characteristics (as rebuilt, 1987)[4]
Type: Cruise ship
Tonnage:
  • 11,209 GT
  • 3,043 t DWT
Length: 141.62 m (464.6 ft)
Draught: 6.42 m (21 ft 1 in)
Depth: 8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
Decks: 7 (passenger accessible)[3]
Speed: 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph)[5]
Capacity: 472 passengers[3]
Crew: 200[3]
Notes: Otherwise the same as built

Black Prince was retired from the Fred. Olsen fleet on 16 October 2009.[6] Although her withdrawal was reportedly due to the new SOLAS 2010 regulations,[7] she was sold to SAVECA for further cruise service in Venezuelan waters under the name Ola Esmeralda.[6] SAVECA planned to use the ship for cruises between islands within Venezuelan waters, also as a floating hotel. She was scrapped at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in October 2013.[8]

References
  1. "Ola Esmeralda (6613328)". Equasis. French Ministry for Transport. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  2. Asklander, Micke. "M/S Black Prince (1966)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  3. Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 218–219. ISBN 978-981-268-240-6.
  4. "Black Prince (00774)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  5. "Black Prince brochure" (PDF). Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  6. Reinikainen, Kari (2009-05-06). "Fred. Olsen sells Black Prince for further trading". Cruise Business Online. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. Archived from the original on 2009-10-11. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  7. Reinikainen, Kari (2009-02-28). "At least 7 old cruise ships face uncertain future due to SOLAS 2010". Cruise Business Online. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  8. "Ola Esmeralda (6613328)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
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