MV Galapagos

Ex Bali Sea Dancer, Illiria

 Nigel Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1962 by Cant. Nav Pellegrino, Naples. Italy (Yard No 116) as a Cruise/Passenger ship.

Technical Data

• Length: 101.44 m (overall) 87.02 m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth: 14.66 m
• Depth: 9.05 m
• Draught: 4.76 m
• Tonnage: 3763 gross/1840 net/950t deadweight
• Engines: 2 x Oil 2SA Fiat B480 diesels
• Power: 4281 kW/5820 bHP
• Speed: 18.0 knots
• Capacity: 209 – 140 passengers
• Call Sign: IBYF, ELIP6
• IMO Number: 5159002
• Official Number:
• Port of Registry: Venice/Italy 🇮🇹, Piraeus/Greece 🇬🇷, Monrovia/Liberia 🇱🇷

History

April 28^th 1962: Launched.

1962: Delivered Adriatica di Navigazione SpA Venice, Italy.

1962: Service between Trieste – Venice – Ancona – Zadar – Dubrovnik – Bari – Corfu – Katakolon – Rodos – Candia – Piraeus – Itea – Bari – Dubrovnik – Split – Ancona – Venice – Trieste.

1977: Sold to Blue Aegean Sea Line, Greece. Cruising for New Frontier Cruises.

© Tony Garner (Rhodes, 10/10/1984)

© Carsten Dettmer (Travemunde, 01/07/1986)

1988: Sold to First Security Bank of Utah (Management Travel Dynamics), Monrovia, Liberia.

© Marc Piché (St Lawrence, 25/06/1988)

© Patrick Hill (St Helier, 04/05/1993)

© Mike Jackson (Dover, 1993)

September 3^rd 1994: Acquired by Flotilla Shipping Company, a subsidiary of PT Lumba Lumba Permai (trading as P&O Spice Island Cruises – P&O interest 50%), and renamed BALI SEA DANCER

November 28^th 1995: Although P&O Australia’s 50% interest in PT Lumba Lumba Permai was sold, it retained a 50% interest in Flotilla Corporation, owners of Bali Sea Dancer, which was chartered to PTLLP.

October 31^st 1996: P&O Australia interest sold to Drs J Widjaja, Indonesia.

1998: Sold to Klein Tours and renamed Galapagos Discovery.

1999: Sold to Galatours SA, Ecuador. Renamed GALAPAGOS DISCOVERY .

October 19^th 1999: During repairs at Balboa, Panama a fire broke out on board.

Internet Source

October 20^th 1999: The ship sank.

February 2002: Salvaged towed into the Pacific Ocean and sunk.

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: Carsten Dettmer, Tony Garner, Patrick Hill, Mike Jackson and Marc Piché for their assistance in producing this feature.

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