SuperStar Libra
| Company type | Cruise ship |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping / Cruise |
| Predecessor | Seaward (Norwegian Cruise Line) |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Fate | Scrapped in 2022 |
| Headquarters | Turku , Finland |
| Owner | Star Cruises (until 2022), Flash Maritime Ltd (2022) |
SuperStar Libra was a cruise ship previously managed by Star Cruises. Constructed in 1988 at the Perno shipyard of Wärtsilä Marine located in Turku, Finland, she initially entered service under the name Seaward for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). In 1997, she was renamed Norwegian Sea and continued with NCL until 2005, when she was transferred to Star Cruises. By May 2022, renamed simply Libra, the vessel was dispatched to Turkey for dismantling.
History
The ship commenced operations with NCL in 1988 as Seaward, undergoing a name change to Norwegian Sea in 1997. In 2005, ownership shifted to Star Cruises, part of the Genting Group, and she was rechristened SuperStar Libra.
During her tenure with Star Cruises, SuperStar Libra conducted voyages in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, and Guatemalan waters throughout the summer of 2006 before relocating to Mumbai later that year. Following this, her homeports included major Asian cities such as Singapore, Penang, Hong Kong, Xiamen, and Haikou, playing a significant role in Star Cruises' growth within the Asia-Pacific region.[1][2][3]
Accommodation vessel
In March 2018, Star Cruises announced that SuperStar Libra would cease public cruising activities by June 2018. Beginning July 2018, she was repurposed as an accommodation vessel for personnel working at the MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany. This arrangement supported construction projects for Genting's Dream Cruises and Crystal Cruises brands under a three-year lease.
In November 2021, the ship was relocated to a different berth within Wismar harbour. On 4 February 2022, Star Cruises Germany GmbH filed for insolvency, leading to the sale of the vessel to Flash Maritime Ltd, associated with Greek firm Hellenic Seaways. On 11 April 2022, she departed Wismar en route to Greece, reportedly continuing her role as accommodation. However, she was soon resold for scrapping at Aliağa, Turkey. The ship left Salamis Island under tow on 28 May and arrived at Aliağa where she was beached on 1 June.
Popular culture
- The ship appeared under the name Norwegian Sea in the 2003 movie 2 Fast 2 Furious.