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With Reuben Goossens
Maritime
Historian,
Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author
Lloyd Triestino Soc. Per Aziono, Trieste
TN Galileo Galilei & TN
Guglielmo Marconi
A
Lloyd Triestino postcard of the TN Guglielmo Marconi
Please note:
All images on this page are from the author’s private collection
In
1960 Lloyd Triestino ordered
two new ‘Galileo class
liners’ to be built by Cant Riuniti dell Adriatico at Monfalcone.
The two new innovative ships were built to replace the three handsome ‘Australia class
liners’, the 13,226 RGT Australia, Neptunia and Oceania. Lloyd Triestino had been operating
services to Australia
for ten years and the two new ships would make their mark in shipping history
as they were revolutionary ships for their day.
The Galileo was launched on 2 July 1961,
departing on its maiden voyage from Genoa
to Australia
on 22 April 1963, arriving in Sydney
on the 15 May. Marconi was
launched on 24 September 1961 and departed on its maiden voyage on 18 November
1963, arriving in Sydney 11 December.
Both ships with their increased speed, reduced a month long voyage to just
twenty three days. These two streamlined liners introduced new standards of luxury
to immigrant travel.
Postcard
of the Galileo Galilei seen arriving in Sydney
Australia
Unique
was the bulbous bow, and a shapely funnel with disperser fin, and a telescopic
exhaust pipe. Both ships carried essentially tourist class passengers with only
one hundred or so first class passengers. Decks were named, Captain’s, Lido, A, Promenade, B, C, D, E. First class
public rooms were located forward on Promenade Deck, the length of the glass
enclosed Wintergarden. Two
decks higher, on Lido
deck, just aft of the funnel, was the Veranda
and lido area. Both dining rooms were located on B deck. The rest of Promenade
deck was devoted to spacious and colourful tourist class lounges with the lido
aft. First class cabins, all located forward on Boat and B decks, were mainly
one or two berth cabins and nine four berth cabins.
Ships
Owners, Names and years owned
1… Galileo Galilei
???? ????????? Lloyd
Triestino – Galileo Galilei
– 1963 to 1983
???? ????????? Chandris
Cruises – Galileo –
1983 to 1989
???? ????????? Celebrity
Cruises – Meridian - 1989
to 1997
???? ????????? Sun
Cruises - Sun Vista – 1997
to1999 (destroyed by fire 21 May 1999)
2… Guglielmo Marconi
???? ????????? Lloyd
Triestino - Guglielmo Marconi – 1963 to 1983
???? ????????? Costa
Cruises Cruise Ship – Costa Riviera
– 1983 to 2001 (scrapped
2002)
Specifications
– Galileo & Marconi
Builders:
Cant Riuniti dell Adriatico, Monfalcone, Trieste
Launched:
Galileo July
2, 1961 – Marconi September
24, 1961
Maiden
Voyage: Galileo April
22, 1963 – Marconi November
18, 1963
Tonnage:
27,906 – 27,905 GRT
Length:
702ft, 213.9m
Width:
93.8ft, 28.8m
Draught: 28ft, 8.53m
Engines:
Steam, D.R. geared turbines, twin screw.
Service
Speed: 24 knots (Max 27.4)
Passengers:
100 first class + 200 interchangeable – 1,400 Tourist
Both
ships sailed successfully for over seven years; however the world oil crisis of
the 70’s had an impact of all shipping. In the early 70’s the Galileo would undertake a Christmas
cruise, mostly Trans Tasman. With lowering passenger numbers and rising costs,
both ships encountered a variety of problems. Galileo was due to go on a cruise in December 1973, but was
cancelled and the ship lay idle in Sydney
until 3 January 1974. Then on 13 January 1975, Galileo struck a reef off the coast of West Africa and had to be
diverted to Monrovia. With
substantial damage to the hull plating, Galileo
returned to Genoa where she was
dry-docked for repairs. She returned to service in March.
Due
to the declining numbers and heavy losses incurred, it was decided to withdraw
the Marconi from the Australian
service. She arrived in Sydney
on 20 November 1974 departed from Australia
shores for the last time on 23 November. The Galileo carried on the Australian service and was expected to
continue until the end of 1977. However, her departure from Genoa
on 23 may 1977 was suddenly cancelled, leaving some 1,000 passengers stranded.
There would be no send off from Australia
for the Galileo. She quietly
departed from Sydney on 13 April
1977. After fourteen years of fine service, both Italian maritime favourites
left Australian and New Zealand
shores forever.
Galileo’s
Ongoing History
A
gleaming Galileo now a Chandris Ship
Note the extension of the Promenade deck.
Chandris
Lines purchased the Galileo in
1983, shortening her name from Galileo
Galilei to just Galileo.
At first she operated with the traditional Chandris funnel marking, bit, in
1989 she was renamed Meridian
for Chandris subsidiary Celebrity Cruises. She receives a new stylised =X= on
her funnel, and had dark blue marking on the upper part of the hull. She
cruised successfully for Celebrity Cruises until 1997, when she became too old,
considering the new builds. She was sold to the Singaporean Sun Cruises. best replica watches
Celebrity
(Chandris) Cruises ss Meridian
Sun
Cruises renamed her Sun Vista, and
operated on the Malaccan Straights. Sadly, the Sun Vista did not succeed in capturing the market, considering
the might of Star Cruises, operating their larger and new ships on the same
service, the Malaccan Straights.
A
stunning view of the Sun Vista
Whilst cruising from Phuket to back to Singapore,
a fire broke out during the night of 20 May 1999. In the morning,Panerai Replica only a small
amount of smoke was seen near the funnel, and passengers were not concerned and
happily continued the daily activities. However, later that day the fire had
obviously spread, and abandoned ship was called for late afternoon. In spite of
the time and questionable circumstances, all 472 passengers and 632 crew were
rescued. There was no loss of life.
Sun
Vista went down, swallowed up by
the sea on 21 May 1999.
A
tragic end for a fine ship that had a long and distinguished career
Marconi’s
Ongoing History
The
Marconi had a successful life
after her Liner days. In 1983, she was sold to Costa Lines, and was given a
massive rebuild & refit. She was renamed Costa Riviera, and
became a very successful cruise ship for Costa Line. She remained with Costa
until 2000. As with the Galileo / Meridian,
it was decided that she had seen better days, and rather then selling her to
another cruise company, she was sold for scrap.
Costa
Riviera had her
profile greatly altered by Costa Lines
Page
One …????????? Galileo
& Marconi History Page
Page
Two …???????? Photo Page One
Page
Three …?????? Photo
Page Two
Page
Four …???????? Photo Page Three
Page
Five …?????????? Sun Line - Sun Vista - Deck Plan
*************************************
Other
Lloyd Triestino Liners on ssMaritime:
SS
Toscana - MV Africa
& Europa
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***********************************
Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced in the
passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
ssMaritime.com
& ssMaritime.net
Where
the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV
Doulos Story
Also
visit my …
“Save The Classic Liners Campaign” & “Classic Ocean Voyages” pages
Photographs
on ssmaritime and associate pages
are by the author or from the author’s private collection. In
addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies
and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors.
However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding
the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images
would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address may be found
on www.ssmaritime.com only), in order that due credit
may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own
photographs on other sites, yet these individuals either refuse to provide
credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well that there is no legal
comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show these charlatans up and
do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!
This notice covers
all pages, although, and I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are
duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page
is updated!
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