Laid-up

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Some photographs I made on my travels of vessels not in active service at the time. Some were waiting for the breakers, one of them had burnt out and sunk, while others were restored to commence further employment. Happily, a few have found new owners by now......

Seawind Crown has been a familiar sight in the port of Barcelona, Spain for the last three years after her former owners Premier Cruises went bankrupt in 2000. Recently she was auctioned off and sold to the ever hungry Indian breakers.

Royal Olympia's Apollon is known by many as Mardi Gras, the ship that started it all for Carnival Cruises in 1972. Royal Olympia has not used her for several years, she spent most of her last years in lay up in Eleusis Bay, Greece. These photographs date from May, 2000. At the moment (November 2003) she is being destored for her last journey to the scrapyard in India.

At the entrance of Eleusis Bay, the Melody, the former Djebel Dira lies half sunk after she was hit by a devastating fire in 1990. The sea just reaches her swimming pool, and this little ship will slowly succumb to the sea, but in the meantime, she sits there, being a sorry sight.........

Princesa Costantina being refitted in Perama, Greece in 2000. After he former owners Cycladic cruises went bankrupt, she has been in lay up. Plans to operate her as Joy Wave fell through. Recently she has been in lay up in Limassol, Cyprus.

Former ferry Mediterranean Sky (vessel on the right), Chandris Cruises Amerikanis (in the middle) and the Sea Harmony (ex Statendam) in Eleusis Bay, Greece in 2000. Since then, The Sky has been beached as she started to take on water, the Amerikanis has been sent to the scrap yard and the Sea Harmony silently awaited her fate, until she too was sold to the Indian breakers who have recently (summer of 2004) started with the demolition of this once proud liner and cruise ship.......

Ocean Explorer I laid up in Eleusis, Greece in 2000, following a short period in active service for the World Cruises Cy. She was quickly replaced by a smaller vessel, because of her deep draught and fuel hungry engines, she is very uneconomical to run. The last ten years of her long life (she dates from 1944) have been spent mostly in lay up. She was to have been prepared for a French charter as a hotel vessel during the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, but the charter was cancelled as she was suddenly sold for scrap. She has departed Eleusis Bay with destination the scrap yard in India.

In 2001, Renaissance Cruises went bankrupt. Seven of her vessels were laid up in Marseilles, France. Three R-ships are seen here, with two smaller Renaissance vessels whose name was shortened to Renai. Two other R-ships were laid up on the other side of the port. All vessels are back in active service by now. These photographs date from August 2002.

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