MV Classica

Ex Ocean Glory I, Aegean Spirit, Symphony, Enrico Costa, Enrico C, T/S Provence.

© Fotoflite

Steel twin screw turbine/motor vessel built in 1951 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle (Yard No 1874) as a Passenger ship.

Technical Data

• Length: 176.49 m (overall) 164.90 m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth: 22.31 m
• Depth: 12.96 m
• Draught: 7.524 m
• Tonnage: 16495 -16729 gross/9564 – 9517 net/5802 t deadweight
• Engines: 6 S Turbo Parsons turbines/2 Vee OIL 4SA Wartsila diesels
• Power: 11033 – 11842 kW/15000 – 16099 sHP
• Speed: 18.5 knots
• Capacity: 832 – 1198 – 742 – 845 passengers
• Call Sign: ICEI , H91H
• IMO Number: 5286128
• Official Number: 1091
• Port of Registry: Marseille/France 🇫🇷, Napoli/Italy 🇮🇹, Genoa/Italy 🇮🇹, Palermo/Italy 🇮🇹, Napoli/Italy 🇮🇹, Panama 🇵🇦

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History

August 15^th 1950: Launched.

February 23^rd 1951: Trials.

February 1951: Delivered to GTM, Marseille, France.

March 30^th 1951: Maiden voyage Marseille – Buenos Aires.

February 18^th 1954: Collided with the Liberian registered tanker SAXONSEA on the River Plate. Severely damaged. Temporarily repaired in Buenos Aires then permanent repairs in Marseille.

© Fotoflite (Saxonsea) 

March 26^th 1955: Returned to service Marseille – Buenos Aires.

Nigel Thornton Collection

April 12^th 1961: Chartered to Costa Armatori, Genoa, Italy. Services Genoa – Buenos Aires.

© Peter Longhurst

1965: Sold to Costa Armatori, Genoa, Italy. Renamed ENRICO C  and rebuilt in Genoa.

May 1966: Returned to service.

August 3^rd 1966: Cruising.

1972: Cruising only, mainly in the Mediterranean.

1979: Rebuilt at Mariotti, Genoa to cruise ship.

© Wolfgang Fricke (01/10/1982)

© Brian Fisher (April 1985)

1987: Registered to Costa Crociere, Naples, Italy and renamed ENRICO COSTA .

November 22^nd 1989 – 1990: Re-engined and general refit at Fincantieri, Genoa, Italy.

September 1992: Ran aground on a reef near Katakolon. All 579 passengers on board were evacuated.

© Tony Garner (Bergen, 02/06/1993)(Left) © Ken Smith (Tilbury, 02/07/1993)(Right)

December 1994: Sold to Starlauro, Naples, Italy and renamed SYMPHONY .

October 1^st 1995: Sold to Mediterranean Shipping Co., Naples, Italy.

© Carlo Martinelli (Naples, 28/10/1995)

© Carlo Martinelli (Port Said, 20/10/1999)

April 2000: Sold to Golden Sun Cruises, Piraeus, Greece and renamed AEGEAN SPIRIT .

 

© Gordon Dalzell (Kusadasi, August 2000)(Left) © Pieter Inpyn (Piraeus, 01/05/2000)Right)

June 7^th 2001: Chartered to Festive Holidays and renamed OCEAN GLORY I . 

July 2^nd 2001: On first arrival at Dover and bound for the Norwegian Fjords, all passengers had to disembark as the MCA (Marine & Coastguard Agency) arrested the ship. Around 600 British tourists were asked to disembark after an inspection discovered 32 serious faults with the vessel.

© Ken Larwood (Both)

© Ted Ingham

July 11^th 2001: Charter completed.

August 2001: Allowed to leave Dover.

September 2001: Sold to Carpentai Holdings Corp, Panama and renamed CLASSICA .

October 30^th 2001: Arrived at Alang, India for scrapping.

November 4^th 2001: Beached.

Edmund Ziegler Collection

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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: Fotoflite, Brian Fisher, Wolfgang Fricke, Tony Garner, Ted Ingham, Pieter Inpyn, Ken Larwood, Peter Longhurst, Carlo Martinelli and Ken Smith for their assistance in producing this feature.

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