SS Galileo Galilei

SS Galileo Galilei

Company type	Ocean liner, Cruise ship
Industry	Maritime transport
Founded	July 2, 1961 (1961-07-02) (Launched)
Founder	Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico
Defunct	May 21, 1999 (1999-05-21) (Sank)
Fate	Sank in the Strait of Malacca after engine room fire
Headquarters	Monfalcone , Italy
Area served	Italy–Australia route; Caribbean cruises; Boston, New York and Bermuda routes
Owner	Lloyd Triestino (original), Italia Navigazione, Chandris Group, Celebrity Cruises, Sun Cruises

SS Galileo Galilei

SS Galileo Galilei was an ocean liner constructed in 1963 by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico located in Monfalcone, Italy, specifically for Lloyd Triestino's service route between Italy and Australia. In 1979, the vessel underwent a transformation into a cruise ship and later operated under the names Galileo, Meridian, and finally Sun Vista. The ship met its demise in 1999 when it sank in the Strait of Malacca.

History

Commissioned by Lloyd Triestino in 1960, the Galileo Galilei was constructed in Italy specifically for the immigrant service route to Australia. The vessel was launched on 2 July 1961. Beginning operations on 23 March 1963 for Lloyd Triestino, it initially offered cruises within the Mediterranean before embarking on its official maiden voyage from Genoa, Italy to Sydney, Australia on 22 April 1963. Later that year, in November, the ship was accompanied by its sister vessel, the SS Guglielmo Marconi. Initially, these ships made their way to Australia via the eastern passage, transiting through the Suez Canal both outbound and inbound. However, in subsequent years, their return journey to Europe shifted to a route through the Panama Canal. Additionally, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, they occasionally traveled around the Cape of Good Hope.

The vessels maintained strong performance until the onset of the 1973 oil crisis, which, coupled with the rise of airliner travel, led to a downturn in ocean liner demand. On 13 January 1975, after striking a reef off West Africa's coast, Galileo Galilei returned to Genoa for repairs. The ship continued servicing the Italy–Australia route until April 1977 when it was retired from active duty and laid up. This period of inactivity was brief; by October 1977, she had returned to her original builders for an extensive conversion into a cruise ship. Cruise operations commenced on 24 March 1979 under Italia Crociere, a subsidiary of Italia Navigazione, which also owned Lloyd Triestino. Nevertheless, by September of the same year, Galileo Galilei was once again withdrawn from service and placed in lay-up.

File:"Galileo" - Bremerhaven, 1989.jpg

During her transformation into the Meridian, Galileo underwent refit at Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany

In 1983, ownership transferred to the Chandris Group. The ship underwent another reconstruction that included adding cabins on her forward deck, and her name was shortened to Galileo. In 1984, she started cruising the Caribbean market under Chandris Fantasy Cruises. Following the collapse of Home Lines in 1988, Chandris executives decided to launch a premium brand aimed at capturing Home Lines’ clientele. Consequently, between October 1989 and February 1990, Galileo underwent a multimillion-dollar refurbishment at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. This overhaul featured extensive interior redesigns and an enlarged aft superstructure. Emerging on 1 March 1990 as SS Meridian, she became the inaugural vessel of the new Celebrity Cruises brand, operating Caribbean cruises as well as services between Boston, New York, and Bermuda.

File:"Meridian" - San Blas Islands, 1993.jpg

SS Meridian pictured at the San Blas Islands

After Royal Caribbean International acquired Celebrity Cruises in 1997, ownership of the ship passed to Sun Cruises, who operated her under the name SS Sun Vista. On 20 May 1999, an engine room fire caused a total loss of power; subsequently, she sank in the Strait of Malacca on 21 May at 0121 hours. Fortunately, all 1,090 passengers and crew were evacuated without injury.

File:SS Meridian Bermuda.jpg

SS Meridian docked in Bermuda

Media

The vessel Sun Vista made an appearance in the 1999 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film Mann.

External links

• File:Commons-logo.svg Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• The sinking of the Sun Vista