ssMaritime.com
& ssMaritime.net
With Reuben
Goossens
Maritime
Historian
China Ocean Shipping Co,
Later the: Guangzhou Ocean Shipping Co
MV YAOHUA
Also known as “
Later renamed MV Orient Princess
Page One – Her History
From the author’s private collection
The Republic of China ordered their largest
ever passenger ship to be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique
(Penho?t-Loire),
Named Yaohua, she was launched at a simple
ceremony on
Above & below: MV Yaohua is seen heading off for her
Deep Sea Trials in August 1967
From the author’s private collection
MV Yaohua was a delightful looking ship with her superbly raked bow, streamlined hull and a beautifully proportioned superstructure that slowly sloped down to her stern. This was combined with her unusual ultra modern A frame radar mast atop of her bridge with a pleasant funnel amidships. In addition she had beautifully stylised kingposts, in all she was a ship that was quite futuristic for her day!
The Yaohua was delivered to her owners, the China Ocean Shipping Company on August, 20, 1967, and with her crew having boarded and stored up, she was ready to set sail!
Although having a considerable cargo capacity with her three holds (two forward and one aft of the pool) she was mostly built to be a passenger liner and offered accommodation for 318 passengers in first, second and third classes. Many observers were amazed that the Chinese had decided on giving her three classes, rather than operating her as a one class liner, which would seem more befitting the Communist manifesto!
Her on board facilities were of a very high standard as she had an excellent variety of public rooms, with spacious and well equipped cabins as well as ample deck space for all classes, for a 10,000-ton ship she had a rather large swimming pool.
MV Yaohua,
Taken by an unknown, but an Asian passenger
Specifications:
Built by:?????????????????????? Chantiers de l’Atlantique, St. Nazaire.
Yard:????????????????????? No. 23.
Launched:?????????????? December
10, 1966.
Delivered:??????????????? August
20, 1967.
Tonnage:???????????????? 10,151
Length:?????????????????? 488ft – 148.8m.
Width:??????????????????? 68.9ft – 21m.
Engines:????????????????? 2 x Sulzer Diesels (by the
builders).
Screws:????????????????? Twin – 11,200 KW -
15,000
Speed:??????????????????? 19 Knots – 20 knots
Passengers:???????????? 100 First Class.
???????????????????????????? 100
Second Class.
???????????????????????????? 118 in Third Class.
Crew:???????????????????? 177.
From the author’s private collection
In 1982 a special charter operation was established with one of the largest and most famed cruise, shipping and travel and travel organisations known as - “Sal?n Lindblad Cruises” a company that became better known in later years as “Lindblad Explorer.” The Yaohua certainly became a popular ship with the European, American and international passengers thanks to Sal?n Lindblad.
Prior to commencing her new cruise venture she underwent a special refit making her suitable for the western cruise passenger and she became a one class ship for 176 passengers in a twin bedded configuration, offering comfortable outside staterooms, all having private facilities, except for 8 rooms portside far forward on B Deck that had shared facilities. Some cabins on A & B Decks had upper berths folded away and a number of these could be sold as three or four berth rooms upon request. See the cabin plan on page 3.
For these charter cruises she was operated
under the name of China Cruises commencing in March 1983 and operated annually
through to November as the Chinese winter months were rather severe. However
for the next three months I have not been able to locate any details of her
operation, but assume she operated mostly for the local Chinese market between
MV Yaohua may have been a Chinese ship in the
true sense of the word during her charter cruise operation; however, she was
under Western management having some European staff at hand. She commenced her
new cruise service, which saw the “China Cruises” name painted in
red on her gleaning white hull. This new cruise venture would become a popular
operation as she commenced her Yangtze River and
From the author’s private collection
Sal?n Lindblad's Cruises operated as follows: The complete Fly/Land Cruise package was a 14 day vacation
commencing either in
Public rooms and facilities on MV Yaohua:
Boat Deck:
Sports facilities and Gym. Promenade Deck: Forward to aft, Forward Main
Lobby, Hairdresser, Casino Lounge and Bar, Writing
Room (starboard), Gallery (port), Club Lounge, Swimming Pool and Sun
Deck. A Deck: Forward to aft, Forward Main Lobby, Shops, Conference Room
(starboard),
In 1984 the Chinese Government decided to transfer her ownership to the Guangzhou Ocean Shipping Co, but she remained under the same management as in 1983 and continued on her regular chartered cruise/tour duties for the international market.
MV Orient Princess
MV Orient Princess seen in her first livery
Photographer unknown - *See photo notes at bottom of
page
Changes was in the air and the Yaohua was transferred to the “Republic of China Maritime Corporation” in 1987, and she was renamed Orient Princess. From here her days are somewhat sketchy and I hope to locate details in due course. But I do have the following information.
She is seen here after 1987 having been
renamed the “Orient Princess”
Photographer unknown - *See photo notes at bottom of
page
Later she became known as the “Love
Boat” having the words “Love Cruise” painted in red on the side
of this all white ship, and her funnel featured the logo “SA” but I
have little information available in relation to her ports of call, or where
she was based, but I assume that she remained in Asia at all times. However, in
January 1994 she was being operated as a casino ship by “Asphonel Services Inc,”
Above and below:
These are some of the last photographs
taken of the Orient Princess whilst she was still in operation
Sent in by a supporter – photographer(s) unknown
- *See photo notes at bottom of page
In 2000, Orient Princess apparently was still operational, but then in 2003 then came the following report:
“Orient Princess ex Yaohua (1967)
operated by the Pallister Group Ltd, Panama, the ship
was restrained from operating by authorities at Guangzhou, China on
She was taken over by a Chinese company who gave her a refit to become a tourist facility and restaurant. Later again saw two hideous boxlike structures with square windows being built aft of the ship. One being placed directly aft of the Boat Deck superstructure, the second down on Promenade Deck, although this one had a more pleasant rounded aft section. These two new restaurant sections were at first painted white, but in due course they were painted in the traditional Chinese dark red, and this not make for a great look for what was once a very attractive ship!
Photographer ? John Gleeson
Photographer unknown - *See photo notes at bottom of
page
Photographer unknown - *See photo notes at bottom of
page
When completed she was relocated to located to the popular Chinese seaside resort of Tianjin, where the Orient Princess continues to operate as a floating tourist facility, with her on board restaurants being her speciality and located in the new built sections aft of the ship.
Although I do not have a great deal of information of her current status, including the question I have been asked; “Is she being used as a hotel?” I would assume that a ship with such high quality cabins that she may well be operating as a hotel. However, I am waiting on further advice.
Sent and taken in by an unnamed ssMaritime supporter
If you have any further information regarding the ex Chinese flagship Yaohua, Orient Princess, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you, especially if you have sailed on her and have any photographs! Please email me.
MV Yaohua INDEX:
Page 1 - MV Yaohua - history page
Page 2 -
MV Yaohua
- Sal?n
Lindblad’s 1983 - First Brochure
Page 3 - MV Yaohua
– Cabin Plan (1982)
**************************************************
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Who is the
Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry
in May 1960
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