MV Golden Iris
Ex Rhapsody, Cunard Princess, Cunard Conquest
© Nigel Thornton
Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1975 by Burmeister & Wain, Köpenhamn, Denmark (Yard No 859) for Cunard Line, Southampton, England.
Technical Data
- Original Cost: £12 million
Length: 163.56 m (overall) 140.01 m (between perpendiculars)
Breadth: 22.80 m
Depth: 12.60 m
Draught: 8.30 m
Tonnage: 17496 – 16852 – 17095 gross/10084 7391 net/2499t – 3130t deadweight
Engines: Four 7-cylinder B & W 7U50HU diesels
Power: 15447 kW/21000 bHP
Speed: 18.5 knots (service) 21.5 knots (max)
Passenger Decks: 8
Capacity: 812 (Normal) 947 (Max) passengers
Crew: 350
Call Sign: C6Cg, IBQF, 3FZK4
IMO Number: 7358573
LR Number (1992 – 1993): 365261
RI Number: 77927
Port of Registry: Southampton/UK, Nassau/Bahamas, Panama City/Panama, Napoli/Italy, Panama City/Panama
Sister-Ship: Cunard Countess
History
January 1st 1975: Keel laid.
December 1974: Launched as CUNARD CONQUEST.
October 30th 1975: Delivered to Cunard Line, Southampton, England.
November 6th 1975: Arrived at Navali Mechaniche Affini, La Spezia for outfitting.
March 1977: Delivered as CUNARD PRINCESS.
March 1977: Commenced cruising.
April 1977: Maiden cruise from New York to Bermuda.
Courtesy of Brian Fisher (© A Kilk)
Courtesy of Chris Howell (Vancouver, 15/06/1985)
Courtesy of Chris Howell
© Tony Garner (Panama Canal, 01/12/1988)
December 1990: Arrived in Bahrain and laid up as a recreation ship for American military engaged in the Gulf War.
September 23rd 1991: Extensive refit at Valletta, Malta.
October 19th 1991: Returned to cruising.
© Brian Fisher (May 1993)
1993: Operated within Cunard-Crown division
Bernt Anderson Collection (1993)
January 1995: Sold to Starlauro Cruises, Panama and renamed RHAPSODY.
🆕© Frank Heine (Genoa, 19/06/1995)
October 1st 1995: Sold to Mediterranean Shipping Co., Panama.
© Carlo Martinelli (Genoa, 02/08/1997)
July 2000: Sold to MSC Crociere SPA (Management; MSC Crociere spa), Naples, Italy.
© Aleksi Lindström (2002)
© Aleksi Lindström (2004)
January 2006: Sold to Gramerco International Co, Panama (Management; Mediterranean Shipping).
© Nigel Thornton (Dover, 03/06/2007)
© John Mavin (Dover, 19/07/2007)
April 9th 2009: Sold to Mint Marine Ltd (Management; Mano Maritime Ltd), Haifa, Israel.
May 2009: Renamed GOLDEN IRIS.
May 31st 2009: Maiden cruise from Haifa.
2013: Sailing from Haifa to Cyprus, the Greek Islands, Montenegro, Italy, and Croatia
© Carsten Dettmer (Crete, 17/08/2016)
© Dennis Mortimer (Piraeus, 14/09/2017)
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, Brian Fisher, Tony Garner, Frank Heine, Chris Howell, Carlo Martinelli, Aleksi Lindström, John Mavin and Dennis Mortimer for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
