SuperStar Libra explained
SuperStar Libra was a
cruise ship owned and last operated by
Star Cruises. She was built in 1988 at
Wärtsilä Marine Perno Shipyard in
Turku,
Finland as
Seaward for
Norwegian Cruise Line. In 1997 she was renamed
Norwegian Sea, remaining in NCL fleet. In 2005 she was transferred to the fleet of Star Cruises. In May 2022, the ship, renamed
Libra, arrived in Turkey for demolition.
History
The vessel entered operation with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in 1988 as Seaward. The vessel was renamed Norwegian Sea in 1997. In 2005, the vessel was transferred to Star Cruises, part of the Genting Group, and renamed SuperStar Libra.
With Star Cruises, SuperStar Libra sailed a variety of cruises in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean and Guatemalan seas in the summer of 2006. The vessel deployed back to Mumbai in late September 2006. SuperStar Libra has subsequently been based at various ports in Asia including Singapore, Penang, Hong Kong, Xiamen and Haiku.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Accommodation vessel
In March 2018, Star Cruises announced that SuperStar Libra would end her public cruise operations for the company in June 2018.[6] From July 2018, SuperStar Libra was used as an accommodation ship for workers at the MV Werften shipyard of the Genting-Hong-Kong-group in Wismar, Germany to support the construction of ships for Genting's Dream Cruises and Crystal Cruises. She remained there under a 3-year lease.[7]
SuperStar Libra was moved to another berth in Wismar harbour in November 2021.[8] On 4 February 2022, it was announced that the ship's operator, Star Cruises Germany GmbH, was insolvent, and she was sold to Flash Maritime Ltd, which is associated with the Greek company Hellenic Seaways.[9] On 11 April 2022 she departed Wismar in tow for Greece, reportedly to continue as an accommodation vessel,[10] but was resold for demolition at Aliağa, Turkey, departing Salamis in tow on 28 May.[11] The ship arrived in Aliağa and was beached on 1 June. [12]
Popular culture
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Archived copy . 23 July 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100331192026/http://www.starcruises.com/newweb/ebrochures/PDF/jun09/ssr_itin_may-oct10_en.pdf . 31 March 2010 .
- Web site: SuperStar Libra's Homeport in Xiaamen, longest homeport of any industry cruise ship in the city, from 24 July to 1 November.
- Web site: SuperStar Libra's New Homeport at Haikou Press Release Star Cruises. www.starcruises.com. 5 November 2015.
- Web site: TravelDailyNews Asia & Pacific | Traveldailynews.Asia.
- Web site: SuperStar Libra's Penang itinerary from September 2016 to December 2017.
- News: SuperStar Libra to End Public Cruise Operations. Staff. CIN. 2 March 2018. 3 March 2018. en-GB.
- News: Kreuzfahrtschiff als Wohnschiff – "SuperStar Libra" kommt nach Wismar und macht bei MV Werften fest. 18 July 2018. 19 July 2018. German.
- Web site: Wismar: Wohnschiff bereitet sich auf seine wohl letzte Reise vor. 2021-11-03. 2021-11-04. german.
- News: Betreibergesellschaft der Superstar Libra meldet Insolvenz an. 4 February 2022. de.
- Web site: Genting's Former SuperStar Libra On The Move. 2022-04-11. 2022-04-11.
- News: Τελευταίο ταξίδι για το Superstar Libra! (Last trip for Superstar Libra!) . 2 June 2022 . Arxipelagos . 28 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220529061922/https://arxipelagos.gr/%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B9-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF-superstar-libra/ . 29 May 2022 . Greek.
- Web site: McGillivray . Robert . Former Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Is Beached for Scrapping in Turkey . CruiseHive . 3 June 2022.