MS Marco Polo

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MS Marco Polo in Bergen in Cruise & Maritime Voyages colours, 2010.
Career
Name: 1965—1991: Alexandr Pushkin
1991 onwards: Marco Polo
Owner: 1965—1985: Baltic Shipping Company
1985—1991: Far Eastern Shipping Company
1991—2008: Orient Lines[1]
2008 onwards: Global Maritime[2]
Operator: 1965—1980?: Baltic Shipping Company[1]
1979?—1984: Transocean Tours[3]
1985: Far Eastern Shipping Company
1985—19??:CTC Cruises
1990—1993: laid up/rebuilt
1993—2008: Orient Lines[1]
2008—2010: Transocean Tours[2]
2010 onwards: Cruise & Maritime Voyages[4]
Port of registry: 1965—1991: Leningrad, 22x20px Soviet Union
1991 onwards: Nassau,  Bahamas[1]
Builder: V.E.B. Mathias-Thesen Werft, Wismar, East Germany
Yard number: 126[1]
Launched: 26 April 1964[1]
Acquired: 14 August 1965[1]
In service: August 1965[1]
Status: In service
General characteristics (as built)[1]
Class and type: Ivan Franko class cruise ship
Tonnage: 19860 GRT
Displacement: 5,180 metric tons deadweight (DWT)
Length: 176.28 m (578.35 ft)
Beam: 23.55 m (77.26 ft)
Draught: 8.20 m (26.90 ft)
Depth: 13.50 m (44.29 ft)[5]
Installed power: 2 × Sulzer-Cegielski 7RND76 diesels, combined 15447 kW[1]
Speed: 20,5 knots
Capacity: 650 passengers with berths (different sources give different figures) + 500 deck passengers[5]
Crew: 220[6]
General characteristics (currently)[7]
Tonnage: 22080 GRT
Length: 176.28 m (578.35 ft)
Beam: 23.55 m (77.26 ft)
Draught: 8.20 m (26.90 ft)
Installed power: 2 × Sulzer-Cegielski 7RND76 diesels, combined 15447 kW[1]
Speed: 19,5 knots
Capacity: 820 passengers[8]. Previously listed as 915 passengers[9]
Crew: 356[9]

MS Marco Polo is a cruise ship owned by Global Maritime, under charter to UK-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages,[10] having been previously operated by Transocean Tours, Germany.[2] She was built in 1965 by Mathias-Thesen Werft, East Germany as MS Alexandr Pushkin for the Soviet Union's Baltic Shipping Company. After major alterations and additions, the ship sailed as Marco Polo for Orient Lines from 1993 to 2008.[1]

Design and construction

The Alexandr Pushkin was constructed at V.E.B. Mathias-Thesen Werft in Wismar, East Germany. She was the second ship of the Ivan Franko class (also referred to as "poet" or "writer" class), named after the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.[11] The construction of this class featured some notable differences from contemporary ships built in the west. Amongst other things they offered cabins for six people and had three taps in the bathrooms - for hot, cold and sea water - Both of these features had long since been abandoned in western liners.[6] The ships also featured certain forward-looking features, such as all outside accommodation for both passengers and the crew, and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool with a sliding glass roof.[12] To enable the ships to navigate through broken ice, they were constructed with greater hull strength and stability than usual in passenger ships of this size.[13] The Ivan Franko class ships were also built with the use as a troopship in mind. Due to this they had unusually large provision and storage areas, enabling a cruising range of over 10,000 nautical miles.[13] As a more visible sign of potential military use, the ships were equipped with unusually powerful deck lifting gear, apparently to be able to transport armoured vehicles onboard.[6] As built, the ship carried between 650-766 passengers in two classes, with different sources providing different figures.[1][6][11][14] Additionally there were provisions for 500 cabinless passengers.[15]

From 1972 onwards the Ivan Franko class ships were rebuilt. In the first stage the cargo facilities were eliminated and the forward superstructure extended, allowing for additional public spaces. Stabilizers were also installed in this stage. In the second stage the cabins were re-configured to include berths for all passengers.[15] In a refit during the 1970s a discothèque was added onboard the Alexandr Pushkin, making her the first Soviet ship to have one.[16]

File:MS Alexandr Pushkin.JPG
MS Alexandr Pushkin in the summer of 1970.

Service history

Service as Alexandr Pushkin

The Alexandr Pushkin entered service in 1965 with the Baltic Shipping Company, one of the three principal Soviet passenger shipping companies (the other two being the Black Sea Shipping Company and the Far Eastern Shipping Company).[1][11] Reports about her service in the Soviet fleet are fragmentary and conflicting. Most sources state she was used to inaugurate the Baltic Shipping Company's regular trans-Atlantic service between Montreal, Canada and Leningrad, and later on used for cruising.[3][6][13][16] Other sources give a more detailed, but somewhat conflicting, accounts. Philip Dawson's book The Liner - Retrospective & Renaissance gives the full route as Leningrad—Helsinki—Copenhagen—London (Tilbury)—Quebec City—Montreal, in addition to which the ship was used for cruising from Montreal to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, The Bahamas and Cuba during the summer months. According to the book the ship carried just 36 passengers on her first transatlantic crossing.[12] According to Cruisepage.com, she spent only the summer months on Leningrad—Montreal service, while the rest of the year she was used either on crossing from Leningrad to Havana, Cuba or cruising under charter to western companies.[11] Fakta om Fartyg offers a somewhat different account, stating that the ship originally entered service as a cruise ship in 1965, only moving to the Leningrad—Montreal route in April 1966, then spending summers from 1967 until 1979 in Leningrad—Bremerhaven—Montreal route and the rest of the year cruising, and from 1979 exclusively on cruise traffic.[1] It does seem likely the ship called in Helsinki and London on her transatlantic crossings, as according to an article in Helsingin Sanomat the Alexandr Pushkin was popular amongst Finnish passengers sailing to London and Canada; she was the only ship offering crossings from Finland to Canada and the only liner in Helsinki—London service at the time.[16]

According to Philip Dawson, Alexandr Pushkin ended transatlantic service in 1980, bearing the legend "Official XXII Olympics Carrier" on her side for her final season. At this point she was one of just three passenger liners in transatlantic service, alongside Cunard Line's RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 and Polish Ocean Lines' Stefan Batory.[12] However, according to Ian Boyle's website Simplon Postcards she was chartered to the West Germany-based Transocean Tours between 1979 and 1985.[3] In addition to the liner and cruise service, two sources mention that the Alexandr Pushkin was used in service of the Soviet Navy, particularly in interventions into African countries.[6][14] The British travel writer Gavin Young travelled from Papeete to Callao on the ship, as described in his book Slow Boats Home (1985).[citation needed]

Although not mentioned in any source, photographic evidence suggests that the Alexandr Pushkin's superstructure was enlargened at some point during her career, with the forward superstructure expanded and rear promenade decks built in.[3]

According to most sources, Alexandr Pushkin was transferred from the Baltic Shipping Company into the fleet of the Far Eastern Shipping Company in 1985,[1][11][13] while other sources however claim she stayed under Baltic Shipping Company's ownership through-out her career with the Soviet Union.[14] She was apparently chartered to CTC Cruises in 1985, for cruising from Europe and Australia.[1][11] In 1990 she was laid up[14] at Singapore.[1] In 1991 the ship was sold to Orient Lines - the brainchild of cruise lines and hotels entrepreneur Gerry Herrod - and renamed Marco Polo.[1][6][11][13][14]

File:MS Marco Polo.jpg
MS Marco Polo in Istanbul in Orient Lines colours, 2007.

Service as Marco Polo

Following the purchase by Orient Lines, the Marco Polo sailed to Neorion Shipyard, Greece,[1][13] where her engines were reconfigured by Sulzer Diesels.[13] Following this she was moved to Perama Shipyard, Greece, where a near-total reconstruction of the ship commenced. Externally this resulted in notable extension of the rear superstructure and heightening of the funnel to maintain the proportions of the ship.[13] Internally the ship was almost entirely rebuilt under the guidance of naval architect Knud Hansen and interior designers Michael and Agni Katzourakis.[11][13] In addition to the more visual changes, the ship was fitted with Denny Brown stabilizers, additional diesel engines and brought up to the latest IMO and SOLAS standards. In total the refit took 2½ years and cost - depending on the source - 20[11] to 60 million dollars.[13]

In 1993, following completions of the conversion, the Marco Polo began a varying itinerary of cruises all over the world, including more unusual destinations such as South-East Asia, Africa and the Antarctica.[11][13] In 1998 Orient Lines was sold to Norwegian Cruise Lines.[9][17] The Marco Polo's cruises continued as before, but as a result of the NCL deal MS Crown Odyssey joined her in the Orient Lines fleet in 2000, turning the company into a two-ship brand.[18] However the Crown Odyssey left the Orient fleet in 2003,[18] and Marco Polo became again the sole ship of the brand. Since 2005 she has also been the sole surviving Ivan Franko class vessel, the other sisters having either sunk or been scrapped.[3]

On June 4, 2007, Norwegian Cruise Line announced sale of the Marco Polo, effective March 23, 2008.[19] The buyer was later revealed to be the Greece-based Global Maritime, who chartered the ship to the Germany-based Transocean Tours.[2][20] The Marco Polo replaced MS Arielle in Transocean Tours fleet, operating cruises out of the United Kingdom as well as Germany.[20] The sale of the Marco Polo also meant the end of the Orient Lines brand.[2][17][21] Transocean Tours are planning to operate the ship at least until 2012.[22]

File:Marco Polo Helsinki 2008-08-22.jpg
Marco Polo departing Helsinki in 2008 during her service with Transocean Tours.

On 6 July 2009 Marco Polo called at Invergordon, Easter Ross, Scotland on a cruise outbound from Tilbury in Essex. During a health inspection by the local port health officials up to 150 passengers were discovered to have been infected with what was presumed to be norovirus.[23] The number of infected passengers and crew subsequently rose to 400.[24] Also on 6 July a 74-year-old passenger died of a heart attack onboard the ship. According to reports from the local health officials he had serious underlying health problems and it is not known if a norovirus infection contributed to his death.[23] On 7 July Transocean Tours decided to cancel the remainder of Marco Polo's ten-day cruise after consulting NHS Highland. Reportedly the company have given the passengers an option to either stay with the ship until she returns to Tilbury on 11 July or return to their homes earlier by a specially arranged charter train. As of 8 July, three infected people remained in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.[24]

Some reports indicate that passengers onboard Marco Polo's previous cruise, that terminated in Tilbury on 4 July, might have also been infected with norovirus. However, according to Transocean Tours the ship was inspected upon return to Tilbury and no infections were found, although some passengers during the cruise did suffer from gastroenteritis.[25] The London Port Health Authority have stated that they were not informed of illness on board the ship when it docked at Tilbury, and as such Transocean Tours could face legal action.[24]

Despite Transocean Tours' intent of keeping the ship in their fleet until 2012,[22] reports emerged in August 2009 that Marco Polo will be chartered to a newly founded United Kingdom-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages for five years from 2 January 2010 onwards.[26][27] Her planned itineraries include cruises from the UK to South America during the northern hemisphere winter months and UK to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean during the summer months.[26]

Decks

As Marco Polo in Orient Lines service

Deck plans provided by Orient Lines only include full plans of decks accessible to the public, therefore full details are only provided for those. The side elevation picture accompanying the deck plans includes an extra deck below Safari Deck. Although no actual plans are provided for this deck, it is included in the list below.[28]

  1. Unknown, probably engine rooms
  2. Safari Deck - Inside and outside cabins
  3. Pacific Deck - Medical center, outside and inside cabins
  4. Bali Deck - Seven Seas restaurant, outside and inside cabins
  5. Main Deck - Suites, deluxe, outside and inside cabins
  6. Belvedere Deck - Ambassador Lounge showroom, Polo Lounge piano bar, tour office, purser's desk, palm court, boutiques, Le Casino, casino bar, card room, library, Raffles indoor and outdoor restaurant, sun deck, pool bar, swimming pool
  7. Promenade Deck - The Charleston Club dance bar, deluxe and inside cabins, sun deck
  8. Upper Deck - Beauty salon, Internet center, Mandara spa & fitness center, suites, deluxe and inside cabins
  9. Sky Deck - Bridge, suites and deluxe cabins, jacuzzis, sun deck

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 Asklander, Micke. "M/S Alexandr Pushkin (1965)" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/aleksandr_pushkin_1965.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-01. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Newman, Doug (2008-03-31). "The End of Orient Lines". At Sea with Doug Newman. http://dougnewmanatsea.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/the-end-of-orient-lines/. Retrieved 2008-04-01. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Boyle, Ian. "Alexandr Pushkin". Simplon Postcards. http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/AlexPushkinPCs.html. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  4. ↑ http://www.cruiseandmaritime.com/our-ship/index.aspx
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Aleksandr Pushkin". The Soviet Fleet. infoflot.ru. http://www.sea.infoflot.ru/en/fleet/ship.php?id=21. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Le Goff, Oliver: Ocean Liners, pages 122-123. Greenwitch Editions, London, 1999. ISBN 0 86288 274 5
  7. ↑ Orient Lines: Marco Polo statistics, retrieved 22. 11. 2007
  8. ↑ http://www.cruiseandmaritime.com/our-ship/index.aspx
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Ward, Douglas: Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2006, page 384. Berlitz Publishing 2006. ISBN 981 246 739 4
  10. ↑ http://www.cruiseandmaritime.com/our-ship/index.aspx
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 11.9 Cruisepage.com ship profiles: MV Marco Polo, retrieved 22. 11. 2007
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Dawson, Philip (2005). The Liner - Retrospective & Renaissance. Conway. pp. 175–176. ISBN 978-1-84486-049-4. 
  13. ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 Sealetter Cruise Magazine: Marco Polo: History, retrieved 22. 11. 2007
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Miller, William H. Jr.: Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners, 1860-1994, page 2. Dover Publications, New York, 1995. ISBN 0 486 28137 X
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 ""Ivan Franko" class" (in Russian). The Soviet Fleet. infoflot.ru. http://www.sea.infoflot.ru/en/fleet/?class=1&grp=3. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Ahola, Merituuli; Tiainen, Antti (2008-09-02). "Legendaarinen laivavanhus toi Helsinkiin saksalaisia eläkeläisiä" (in Finnish). HS.fi. Helsingin Sanomat. http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/artikkeli/Legendaarinen+laivavanhus+toi++Helsinkiin+saksalaisia+el%C3%A4kel%C3%A4isi%C3%A4/HS20080902SI1KA0270h. Retrieved 2008-09-02. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Simplon Postcards: Orient Lines, retrieved 22-11-2007
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 (Swedish) Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Crown Odyssey (1988), retrieved 22. 11. 2007
  19. ↑ NCL Press Release: NCL Corporation Announces Farewell Season of Marco Polo, retrieved 28. 8. 2007.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Newman, Doug (2007-06-19). "Marco Polo to Transocean Part III". At Sea with Doug Newman. http://dougnewmanatsea.wordpress.com/2007/06/18/marco-polo-to-transocean-part-iii/. Retrieved 2008-01-28. 
  21. ↑ "Marco Polo To Depart Orient Lines for Transocean". Cruise Critic News. 2008-01-25. http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=2372. Retrieved 2008-01-27. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Newman, Doug (2008-01-21). "Astoria to Leave Transocean Tours". At Sea with Doug Newman. http://dougnewmanatsea.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/astoria-to-leave-transocean-tours/. Retrieved 2008-01-26. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Man dies as bug hits cruise ship". BBC. 6 July 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8137387.stm. Retrieved 7 July 2009. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Virus liner anger over train move". BBC. 8 July 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8140197.stm. Retrieved 9 July 2009. 
  25. ↑ "'Norovirus' cruise cancelled". Telegraph. 8 July 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/5772402/Norovirus-cruise-cancelled.html. Retrieved 9 July 2009. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Reininkainen, Kari (14 August 2009). "New cruise brand with two ships to launch in the UK in 2010". Cruise Business Review. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. http://cruisebusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=614:new-cruise-brand-with-two-ships-to-launch-in-the-uk-in-2010-&catid=43:latest-news-catecory&Itemid=115. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  27. ↑ "New Cruise Line Formed". CruiseInd. 13 August 2009. http://cruiseind.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/new-cruise-line-formed/. Retrieved 13 August 2009. 
  28. ↑ Orient Lines: Marco Polo deck plans, retrieved 22. 11. 2007

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