Belorussiya class cruiseferries

The "Belorussiya" class cruiseferries (sometimes also referred to as the "Gruziya" class) were built by Wärtsilä Turku shipyard, Finland in 1975—1976 for the Black Sea Shipping Company, Soviet Union. The five ships in the class were originally used in ferry service around the Black Sea. During the 1980s all ships in the class were rebuilt into cruise ships. During the end of the 1990s all ships in the class were sold to other operators.cite web |url=http://www.sea.infoflot.ru/en/fleet/?class=1&grp=5 |title="Belorussija" class |accessdate=2008-03-04 |format= |work=The Soviet Fleet |publisher=Infoflot.ru |language=Russian] As of 2008, at least four ships in this class are in service.cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/gruziya_1975.htm|title=M/S Gruziya (1975) |accessdate=2008-03-04 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish ] cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/azerbaihzan_1975.htm |title=M/S Azerbaihzan (1975) |accessdate=2008-03-04 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish ] cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/kazakhstan_1976.htm |title=M/S Kazakhstan (1976) |accessdate=2008-03-04 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish ] cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/kareliya_1976.htm |title=M/S Kareliya (1976) |accessdate=2008-03-04 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish ] The effects of the new SOLAS regulations that come into effect in 2010 remain unknown. [cite web |url=http://www.cruisecritic.com/features/articles.cfm?ID=488 |title=2010 SOLAS Deadline Looms For Older Ships |accessdate=2008-03-05 |date=2007-06-20 |format= |last=Scull |first=Theodore W. |publisher=Cruise Critic]

Concept and construction

During the early 1970s, the Black Sea Shipping Company of the Soviet Union decided to order five cruiseferries to be used on domestic traffic around the Black Sea. Instead of having the ships built domestically or ordering them from Comecon member states, the new ships were ordered from the Wärtsilä shipyards in neutral Finland.

The "Belorussiya" class ships were built to the same standards of technology and passenger comfort as the cruiseferries built in the western world at the time. They were also amongst the largest cruiseferries of their time, surpassing the largest cruiseferries built in the west at the same time (MS|Tor Britannia and MS|Tor Scandinavia) in terms of gross register tonnage. [cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/tor_britannia_1975.htm |title=M/S Tor Britannia (1975) |accessdate=2008-03-04 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish ] [cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/tor_scandinavia_1976.htm |title=M/S Tor Scandinavia (1976) |accessdate=2008-03-04 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish ]

When the "Belorissiya" class ships entered service, it soon turned out their car-carrying capacity was too small in comparison with their passenger-carrying capacity. Due to their high standards of passenger accommodation, it was decided that instead of rebuildings the ships with larger car-decks, they would be converted into cruise ships with minimal car-carrying facilities. Between 1981 and 1988 all ships in the class were rebuilt at West German or British shipyards,Miller (1995). p. 56.] with the car decks built in with cabins and additional public spaces, and the forward superstructure slightly expanded.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the sale of the "Belorussiya" class ships to different operators around the world, some of the ships have received further rebuildings.

Service history

During their career under the Soviet flag, the "Belorussiya" class ships were used on domestic traffic between Crimea and the Caucasus, as well as considerable cruising both for Soviet passengers as well as under charter to travel companies outside the Eastern Bloc. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ships were initially transferred under Ukrainian flag, [Miller (1995). pp. 14, 20, 56, 63-64.] then towards the end of the 1990s they were transferred under various flags of convenience but soon afterwards sold off to other operators.

The ships

"Belorussiya"

The "Belorussiya" was launched on 6 March 1974 and delivered on 15 January 1975. She was named after the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The "Belorussiya" was rebuilt into a cruise ship in 1986 at Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, West Germany. While in drydock in Singapore, the ship developed a heavy list on 25 October 1992. She was eventually floated out in January 1993 and sailed to Lloyd Werft, where her interiors were entirely rebuilt. On completion of the refit on 9 December 1993 she was renamed "Kazakhstan II". From 22 December 1992 onwards she was chartered to Delphin Seereisen, Germany. In June 1995 she was sold to Lady Lou Shipping Co, Cyprus. In May 1996 Delphin Seereisen purchased the vessel and renamed her "Delphin". As of 2008, the "Delphin" is not mentioned as being in service on in the Delphin Seereisen website. [cite web |url=http://www.delphinvoyager.de/ |title=Delphin Kreuzfarhten |accessdate=2008-03-05 |format= |publisher=Delphin Kreuzfarhten |language=German ]

"Gruziya"

The "Gruziya" was launched on 18 October 1974 and delivered on 30 June 1975. She was named after the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. The "Gruziya" was rebuilt into a cruise ship either in 1984 or 1988, with different sources stating different years. In 1995 she was transferred under the ownership of Blasco UK, transferred under Liberian flag and renamed "Odeassa Sky". On 26 August 1995 she was arrested in Montreal, Canada and remained there for at least five months.cite web |url=http://dougnewmanatsea.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/new-club-cruise-subsidiary-to-market-van-gogh-in-uk/ |title=New Club Cruise Subsidiary to Market Van Gogh in UK - Updated |accessdate=2008-03-05 |date=2008-01-21 |last=Newman |first=Doug |format= |work=At Sea with Doug Newman ] In August 1996 she reverted to Ukrainian flag. On 11 September 1996 she arrived at Wilhelmshaven, Germany for engine inspection, but was subsequently arrested in the port of Wilhelmshaven due to unpaid debts of her owners. In August 1998 she was sold to the Dutch businessman Gerard van Leest, and subsequently rebuilt in Bremerhaven, Germany for cruise traffic. Renamed "Club I", the ship begun making short cruises from Rotterdam under the banner of Club Cruise in April 1999. In December 1999 she was renamed "Van Gogh" and chartered to Nouvelles Frontieres. She was later chartered to Travelscope, without a change of name, until Travelscope went bankrupt in December 2007. Following the bankruptcy of Travelscope, Club Cruise established a new subsidiary, Van Gogh Cruises to operate the "Van Gogh".

"Azerbaihzan"

The "Azerbaihzan" was launched on 14 April 1975 and delivered on 18 December 1975. She was named after the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. The "Azerbaihzan" was converted to a cruise ship at Lloyd Werft, West Germany in 1986. [Miller (1995). p. 14] In early 1996 she was transferred under the ownership of Blasco UK, transferred under Liberian flag and renamed "Arkadia", but already in July 1996 she reverted to Ukrainian flag. In 1997 she was chartered to SeaEscape, United States under the name "Island Holiday". In 1998 she was chartered to Commodore Cruise Lines and renamed "Enchanted Capri". [cite web |url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/CommodoreCruiseLine.html |title=Commodore Cruise Line |accessdate=2008-03-05 |last=Boyle |first=Ian |format= |work=Simplon Postcards ] In 2001 she was laid up, until chartered to Demar, Mexico in 2003. Demar purchased the ship on 1 November 2006.

"Kazakhstan"

The "Kazakhstan" was launched on 17 October 1975 and delivered in June 1976. She was named after the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. The "Kazakhstan" was converted to a cruise ship at Lloyd Werft, West Germany in 1984. [Miller (1995). p. 64] In December 1994 she was transferred under the ownership of Blasco UK, transferred under Liberian flag and renamed "Ukraina". On 2 September 1996 she was chartered to Royal Seas Cruises Lines, reverted to Ukrainian flag and used for cruising from Tampa. After the end of charter in January 1997 she reverted to the name "Ukraina" and was chartered to SeaEscape. On 13 February 1998 she was renamed "Island Adventure" but continued in service with SeaEscape. [cite web |url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/SeaEscape.html#anchor559493 |title=Ukraina (SeaEscape: 1996-1998) - Island Adventure (SeaEscape: 1998- ) |accessdate=2008-03-05 |last=Boyle |first=Ian |format= |work=Simplon Postcards ]

"Kareliya"

The "Kareliya" was launched on 14 April 1976 and delivered in December 1976. She was the only "Belorussiya" class ship not named after a Soviet Socialist Republic (Karelia being an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic at the time). On 1 June 1981 she was grounded while on a cruise near Arrecife, Canary Isles, and her passengers had to be evacuated. Following the grounding she sailed to Tyne, United Kingdom for repairs. In addition to repairs the chance was taken to convert her into a cruise ship. The "Kareliya" received a more extensive expansion of her forward superstructure than her other sisters. In December 1982 the "Kareliya" was renamed "Leonid Brezhnev" in honour of the recently-deceased long-time General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev. In 1989 the ship reverted to her original name. [Miller (1995). p. 63]

In 1995 the "Kareliya" was transferred to Maddock Trading and re-flagged to Liberia. In 1996 she reverted to Ukrainian flag. On 17 March 1997 she was arrested at Nouméa due to debts of her owners. In May 1998 she was sold to Kaalbye Shipping International, renamed "Olvia" and reverted to Liberian flag. On 17 September 2001 she was sold to K&O Shipping and used for service with Peace Boat. On 20 December 2004 she was renamed "Neptune", on 14 April 2005 "CT Neptune" and on 27 May 2006 she reverted to "Neptune". Sebsequently she was sold to Walden Maritime and used for casino cruising out of Hong Kong.

References