Discovery (cruise ship)
Encyclopedia
MV
Discovery (formerly Island Venture, Island Princess, Hyundai Pungak and Platinum) is a cruise ship
, currently in operation with Voyages of Discovery
's Princess Cruises
along with sister ship Sea Venture. The pair were renamed Island Princess and Pacific Princess, the latter now operating as the Pacific
. Both appeared in the 1970s television
sitcom The Love Boat
, although the Pacific Princess
was the main feature of the show. The Island Princess operated as part of the Princess fleet until 1999, when she was sold on to Hyundai Merchant Marine
of South Korea
. Renamed Hyundai Pungak her role was to transport South Korean pilgrims to religious sites in North Korea
After a brief stint as the Platinum the ship went through a major refit between 2001–-2003. Since 2003 the vessel has been sailing as Discovery under the care of the cruise company Voyages of Discovery (part of the All Leisure Group Plc) cruising out of Harwich
, England
. Voyages of Discovery sells these cruises predominately to the British, American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and South African markets.
For the most part Discovery can be found in the Baltic, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea, and North Africa, in the months April–September (Spring and Summer in the Northern Hemisphere), and in South America, Antarctica, the Indian Ocean, India, and the Mediterranean, in the months October–March (Spring and Summer in the Southern Hemisphere).
Correction on names: - Island Princess was her name by Easter 2003 and owned by Fearnley and Eger shipping company, Oslo at least into 1974 (correction by Kaare Nilsen, Norway, crew member April -73 October 1973) and she sailed out of San Pedro, Los Angeles on 2 weeks cruises to Mexico.
The ship is 168.8 m (553.8 ft) long and 24.7 m (81 ft) beam, originally measured 19,910 GRT
and was built at Nordseewerke
, Germany
. She could carry 646 passengers, and had a top speed of 21.5 knots (42.1 km/h). The Discovery Cruises web site lists her current gross tonnage as 20,186, top speed as 18 knots (35.3 km/h) and passenger capacity as 698. Propulsion is by four Fiat
medium speed diesel engine
s with a combined power output of 18,000 shaft horsepower
. The engines are individually clutch
ed and geared in pairs to each of the two shafts which drive controllable pitch propeller
s. This arrangement enables one or more engines to be shut down and declutched as required. Current registry is under the Bermuda
n flag.
On board eight decks are open to the public; Sky Deck, Sun Deck, Bridge Deck, Promenade Deck, Riviera Deck, Pacific Deck, Bali Deck and Coral Deck.
Motor ship
A motor ship or motor vessel is a ship propelled by an internal combustion engine, usually a diesel engine. The name of motor ships are often prefixed with MS, M/S, MV or M/V.- See also :...
Discovery (formerly Island Venture, Island Princess, Hyundai Pungak and Platinum) is a cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
, currently in operation with Voyages of Discovery
History
The ship began operation in 1972 with Flagship Cruises, under the name Island Venture. In 1974 she was sold to P&OPeninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
's Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
along with sister ship Sea Venture. The pair were renamed Island Princess and Pacific Princess, the latter now operating as the Pacific
Pacific (ship)
MS Pacific is a cruise ship owned and operated by the Brazil-based Viagens CVC. She was built in 1971 by Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany as Sea Venture for Flagship Cruises. She operated cruises between the USA and Bermuda, which had been settled by the survivors of the original Sea Venture...
. Both appeared in the 1970s television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcom The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
, although the Pacific Princess
Pacific (ship)
MS Pacific is a cruise ship owned and operated by the Brazil-based Viagens CVC. She was built in 1971 by Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany as Sea Venture for Flagship Cruises. She operated cruises between the USA and Bermuda, which had been settled by the survivors of the original Sea Venture...
was the main feature of the show. The Island Princess operated as part of the Princess fleet until 1999, when she was sold on to Hyundai Merchant Marine
Hyundai Group
Hyundai Group is a South Korean conglomerate founded by Chung Ju-yung. The first company in the group was founded in 1947 as a construction company. With government assistance, Chung and his family members rapidly expanded into various industries, eventually becoming South Korea's second biggest...
of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Renamed Hyundai Pungak her role was to transport South Korean pilgrims to religious sites in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Voyages of Discovery sells these cruises predominately to the British, American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and South African markets.
For the most part Discovery can be found in the Baltic, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea, and North Africa, in the months April–September (Spring and Summer in the Northern Hemisphere), and in South America, Antarctica, the Indian Ocean, India, and the Mediterranean, in the months October–March (Spring and Summer in the Southern Hemisphere).
Correction on names: - Island Princess was her name by Easter 2003 and owned by Fearnley and Eger shipping company, Oslo at least into 1974 (correction by Kaare Nilsen, Norway, crew member April -73 October 1973) and she sailed out of San Pedro, Los Angeles on 2 weeks cruises to Mexico.
Statistics
Gross Register Tonnage
Gross register tonnage a ship's total internal volume expressed in "register tons", one of which equals to a volume of . It is calculated from the total permanently enclosed capacity of the vessel. The ship's net register tonnage is obtained by reducing the volume of non-revenue-earning spaces i.e...
and was built at Nordseewerke
Nordseewerke
Nordseewerke is a shipbuilding company located in Emden, Germany. The name Nordseewerke means "North Sea shipyard" in German. The shipyard employs some 1,400 people and is the second-largest plant in Emden, following Volkswagen...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. She could carry 646 passengers, and had a top speed of 21.5 knots (42.1 km/h). The Discovery Cruises web site lists her current gross tonnage as 20,186, top speed as 18 knots (35.3 km/h) and passenger capacity as 698. Propulsion is by four Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
medium speed diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s with a combined power output of 18,000 shaft horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
. The engines are individually clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
ed and geared in pairs to each of the two shafts which drive controllable pitch propeller
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
s. This arrangement enables one or more engines to be shut down and declutched as required. Current registry is under the Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
n flag.
On board eight decks are open to the public; Sky Deck, Sun Deck, Bridge Deck, Promenade Deck, Riviera Deck, Pacific Deck, Bali Deck and Coral Deck.
External links
- UK Voyages of Discovery site website
- US Voyages of Discovery Cruises site website
- OZ Voyages of Discovery site website
- NZ Voyages of Discovery site website