MV Discovery Sun
 Discovery Sun moored in Port Everglades | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
|
| Owner: | Discovery Cruise Line |
| Operator: | Discovery Cruise Line |
| Port of registry: |
 Bahamas |
| Builder: | Lübeck, Germany |
| Launched: | 1968 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 6815158 |
| Status: | broken up[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 11,979 GT[1] |
| Length: | 134 metres (440 ft) |
| Beam: | 21 metres (69 ft) |
| Capacity: | 1,210 |
The MV Discovery Sun was the flagship and sole ship of Discovery Cruise Lines, a Miami-based tour operator. She was built in Lübeck, Germany in 1968 and was renovated in 1995 and then updated in 2000. She used to be named Scandinavian Sun for day cruise operator SeaEscape.
The MV Discovery Sun provided daily service (except Wednesdays) from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama Island and acted as a passenger cruise ferry service for both Bahamians and tourists. It has provided consistent service to Grand Bahama, while also assisting with hurricane relief to the island.
Facilities on board the Discovery Sun included two dining rooms, four lounges, one casino, live bands/calypso/disco, video arcade, swimming pool, sun decks, live entertainment & shows, jackpot bingo, duty-free gift shops, kids' club and cabins.
On 20 August 1984, while operating as the Scandinavian Sun, a fire broke as the ship was docking at the Port of Miami. The fire was started by lubricating oil leaking from a diesel generator, and spread through a ladder access way and open passageways to the passenger areas of the ship. One crew member and one passenger were killed, and 57 passengers and crew were injured.[2][3]
End of life
In September 2011, Discovery Cruise Lines ceased operations,[4] citing high operating costs and lack of profitability.[5] The MV Discovery Sun was subsequently offered for sale, but there was no buyer or charterer. Discovery Sun was broken up for scrap.[1]
External links
- Discovery Cruise Line Website - archive.org copy
- Blog posting about the ship
- Professional photographs from shipspotting.com
References
- 1 2 3 "Discovery Sun (6815158)". Equasis. French Ministry for Transport. Retrieved 2012-08-27. (registration required (help)).
- ↑ "Scandinavian Sun Cruise Ship Fire Injures 31". Ocala Star-Banner. AP. 21 August 1984. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ Levesque, Paula (8 August 2014). "Today in fire history: a fire onboard a cruise ship resulted in two fatalities and fifty-seven injuries". NFPA Today. National Fire Protection Association. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Discovery Cruise Line - closed". Yelp.
- ↑ "Discovery Cruise Line to cease operations Sept. 6".