Cruise from the PastCruise ShipsPast and Present

MV Radisson Diamond – Cruise from the Past

IMO Number: 9008407

MV Saipan Star

Ex China Star, Asia Star, Omar Star, Radisson Diamond

© Simonwp

© Simonwp (Kiel, 01/09/1999)

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1992 by Finnyards, Rauma, Finland (Yard No 310) as a (SWATH, Small-waterplane-area twin hull)) Passenger Ship

Technical Data

  • Length: 131.20 m (overall) 119.71 m (between perpendiculars)
    Breadth: 32.00 m
    Depth: 15.50 m
    Draught: 8.0 m
    Tonnage: 20295 – gross/6546 – net/1300t – 1676t deadweight
    Engines: Two Wärtsilä 8R32E, två Wärtsilä 6R32E diesels
    Power: 6480kW/8810 bHP
    Speed: 12.5 knots (max)
    Capacity: 354 passengers
    Call Sign: OJDO………. C6OP63
  • MMSI Number: 309788000
    IMO Number: 9008407
    Port of Registry: Helsinki/Finland 🇫🇮, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸

 


Current AIS Location


Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea'. All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.


History

June 20th 1991: Launched.

February 20th 1992: Trials.

April 30th 1992: Delivered to Diamond Cruise, Helsinki, Finland. The world’s first catamaran cruise ship.

May 28th 1992: Christened in Greenwich.

© Ken Smith © Ken Smith

© Ken Smith (Greenwich, 29/05/1992)

July 5th 1992: Maiden cruise.

© Bernd Crause

© Bernd Crause (Santorini, 04/09/1993)

1997: Registered to Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Nassau, Bahamas.

© Gavin Hall © Ken Larwood

© Gavin Hall (Dover Strait Shipping, Facebook) (Left) © Ken Larwood (Dover, 1998)(Right)

© Benoit Donne

© Benoit Donne (St Barth, 23/03/2005)

June 2005: Sold to Treasure Ocean Ltd, Nassau, Bahamas renamed OMAR STAR.

June 9th 2005: Arrived in Piraeus for major refit.

October 17th 2005: Renamed ASIA STAR.

2005: Commenced operations as a Casino Ship in Hong Kong.

© Raisuke Numata

© Raisuke Numata (Hong Kong, 05/11/2006)

© Ivan Meshcov © Ivan Meshcov

© Ivan Meshcov (Hong Kong, 04/02/2009)

September 14th 2011: Purchased for $45M by China Cruises Company Limited, the deal being led by Chinese millionaire entrepreneur Huang Weijian, CEO of CCCL. Another $20M was spent refurbishing her. Renamed CHINA STAR.

March 9th 2012: The first ship of the new CCCL luxury cruise line.

© Bob Scott

© Bob Scott (Hong Kong, 21/02/2014)

© Lappino

🆕 © Lappino (Hong Kong, 11/09/2016)

October 31st 2017: To United Empire Investments Ltd and renamed SAIPAN STAR.

June 17th 2021: Laid up at Zhujian Kou Anchorage.

June 18th 2022: Laid up at Shandong.

September 21st 2022: Blown aground by severe winds near Haiwei Village, Weihai and Zhenjing, Shandong. The ship had been awaiting to dock at the Shandong Xinhong Heavy Industry for repairs and refit.


All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Bernd Crause, Benoit Donne, Gavin Hall (Dover Strait Shipping, Facebook), Lappino,  Ken Larwoood, Ivan Meshcov, Riasuke Numata, Bob Scott, Ken Smith, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

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