View source for SS Galileo Galilei

{{Short description|Ocean liner}}
{{coord|4|37|1|N|99|54|6|E|region:XP_type:event|notes=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?17520|title=SS Sun Vista 1999|publisher=Wreck Site|accessdate=28 January 2012}}</ref>|display=title}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Galileo Galilei - Gugliemo Marconi.jpg
| Ship caption = A postcard of SS ''Galileo Galilei''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship name = *1963-1984: ''Galileo Galilei''
*1984-1990: ''Galileo''
*1990-1997: ''Meridian''
*1997-1999: ''Sun Vista''
| Ship owner = *1963-1979: [[Lloyd Triestino]]
*1979-1983: [[Italia Crociere]]
*1983-1990: [[Chandris Cruises]]
*1990-1997: [[Celebrity Cruises]]
*1997-1999: [[Sun Cruises]]
| Ship operator = *1983-1977: Lloyd Triestino
*1979: Italia Crociere
*1984-1989: [[Chandris Fantasy Cruises]]
*1990-1997: Celebrity Cruises
*1997-1999: Sun Cruises
| Ship ordered = 1960<ref name=Goossens>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssmaritime.com/galileo.htm |title=Lloyd Triestino's ''Galileo Galilei'' & ''Guglielmo Marconi'' |accessdate=1 December 2008 |last=Goossens |first=Reuben |work=ssMaritime }}</ref>
| Ship builder = [[Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico]], [[Monfalcone]], Italy
| Ship cost = 
| Ship yard number = 1982<ref name="FoF">{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/galileo_galilei_1963.htm |title=T/S ''Galileo Galilei'' (1963) |accessdate=10 December 2007 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish}}</ref>
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = 
| Ship launched = 2 July 1961<ref name="FoF" />
| Ship completed = 
| Ship christened = 
| Ship acquired = March 1963<ref name="FoF" />
| Ship maiden voyage = 23 March 1963<ref name="FoF" />
| Ship in service = 23 March 1963<ref name="FoF" />
| Ship out of service = 20 May 1999<ref name="FoF" />
| Ship registry = *1963-1983: [[Genoa]], {{flag|Italy|civil}}
*1983-1990: [[Panama City]], {{flag|Panama|civil}}
*1990-1999: [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], {{flag|Bahamas|civil}}<ref name="FoF" />
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|5411254}}
| Ship fate = Caught fire and sank in the Straits of Malacca on 21 May 1999<ref name="FoF" />
| Ship notes = Sister ship to [[SS Guglielmo Marconi|SS ''Guglielmo Marconi'']]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Header caption = (as built)<ref name="FoF" />
| Ship class = 
| Ship tonnage = *{{GRT|27,888}}
*{{DWT|9,486}}
| Ship displacement = 
| Ship length = {{convert|213.65|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|28.71|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|8.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship depth = 
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| Ship power = *Four [[De Laval-San Andrea]] [[steam turbine]]s
*32,824{{nbsp}}kW (combined)
| Ship propulsion = Twin propellers<ref name="MM">{{cite web |url=http://www.maritimematters.com/sun-vista.html |title=''Sun Vista'' (ex-''Galileo Galilei, Galileo, Meridian'') |accessdate=28 January 2012 |last=Knego |first=Peter |work=Maritime Matters|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071216084301/http://www.maritimematters.com/sun-vista.html|archivedate = 16 December 2007}}</ref>
| Ship speed = {{convert|24|kn}} (service)
| Ship capacity = *1,750 passengers
*(156 first class, 1,594 tourist class)<ref name="MM" />
| Ship crew = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Header caption = (following 1984 refit)
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| Ship capacity = 1,262 passengers<ref name="MM" />
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| Ship notes = Otherwise the same as built
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Header caption = (following 1990 refit)
| Ship class = 
| Ship tonnage = {{GRT|30,440}}<ref name="FoF" />
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| Ship capacity = 1,428 passengers<ref name="MM" />
| Ship crew = 
| Ship notes = Otherwise the same as built
}}
|}
'''SS ''Galileo Galilei''''' was an [[ocean liner]] built in 1963 by [[Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico]], [[Monfalcone]], Italy for [[Lloyd Triestino]]'s Italy—Australia service. In 1979, she was converted to a [[cruise ship]], and subsequently sailed under the names '''''Galileo''''' and '''''Meridian'''''. She sank in the [[Strait of Malacca]] in 1999 as the '''''Sun Vista'''''.

== History ==
Ordered by [[Lloyd Triestino]] in 1960,<ref name=Goossens /> ''Galileo Galilei'' was built in Italy for the Australian [[Immigration|immigrant]] route. ''Galileo Galilei'' was launched on 2 July 1961. On 23 March 1963, the ship entered service for Lloyd Triestino, doing [[Mediterranean]] cruises before departing on its official maiden voyage from [[Genoa]], Italy to Sydney, Australia on 22 April 1963. In November of the same year, she was joined on the route by her sister ship [[SS Guglielmo Marconi|SS ''Guglielmo Marconi'']]. Originally the ships traveled to Australia via the eastern route, passing through [[Suez Canal]] in both directions, but in the later years the return trip to Europe was via the [[Panama Canal]]. They also routed to Australia via the Cape of Good Hope in the late 1960s and early 1970s.<ref name="MM" />

The ships were very successful until the [[1973 oil crisis]], which, combined with the increasing prevalence of [[airliner]]s, contributed to the decline of ocean liners.<ref name="MM" /> ''Galileo Galilei'' returned to Genoa and repaired after she struck a reef off the coast of West Africa on 13 January 1975.<ref name=Goossens /> ''Galileo Galilei'' continued to operate on the Italy–Australia run until April 1977, at which point she was withdrawn from service and laid up. Her lay-up was short, and in October 1977 she returned to her builders for a lengthy reconstruction into a cruise ship.<ref name="MM" /> On 24 March 1979 the ''Galileo Galilei'' finally started cruise service with [[Italia Crociere]] (owned by [[Italia Navigazione]], who also owned Lloyd Triestino).<ref name="FoF" /> However, already in September of the same year the Galileo Galilei was withdrawn from service and laid up again.<ref name="MM" />

[[File:"Galileo" - Bremerhaven, 1989.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''Galileo'' at [[Lloyd Werft]], [[Bremerhaven]], [[Germany]] during her refit into the ''Meridian''.]]
In 1983, the vessel was purchased by [[Chandris Group]]. The ship was again rebuilt, this time with additional cabins on her forward deck,<ref name="MM" /> and her name shortened to ''Galileo''.<ref name="FoF" /> In 1984 the Galileo began cruising on the [[Caribbean]] under Chandris' [[Fantasy Cruises]] brand. After the collapse of [[Home Lines]] in 1988 Chandris' executives decided to create a new upmarket brand to take over the market segment occupied by Home Lines. With this in mind the Galileo sent to a multimillion-dollar refit at [[Lloyd Werft]], [[Bremerhaven]], Germany between October 1989 and February 1990. Most of her interiors were rebuilt, and externally her rear superstructure enlarged. On 1 March 1990 she emerged as the stylish SS ''Meridian'', the first ship of the new [[Celebrity Cruises]] brand, cruising on the Caribbean and the [[Boston]]/New York–[[Bermuda]] service.<ref name="MM" />

[[File:"Meridian" - San Blas Islands, 1993.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''Meridian'' at the San Blas Islands.]]
In 1997, following [[Royal Caribbean International]]'s acquisition of Celebrity Cruises, the ship was sold to [[Sun Cruises]], which operated her as SS ''Sun Vista''. On 20 May 1999, the vessel suffered an engine room fire, which cut all power and caused her to sink on 21 May 1999 at 0121 hrs. All 1,090 passengers and crew were safely evacuated.<ref name="MM" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9905/21/malaysia.ship.01/ |title=More than 1,000 saved after luxury liner sinks near Malaysia |accessdate=28 January 2012 |date=21 May 1999 |publisher=CNN |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040321051220/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9905/21/malaysia.ship.01/ |archivedate = 21 March 2004}}</ref>

==Media==
In 1999, ''Sun Vista'' was featured in the Indian [[Hindi-language]] [[romantic drama film]] [[Mann (film)|''Mann'']].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|IMO 5411254}}
*[http://maritimematters.com/2010/02/a-cruise-to-remember-the-sinking-of-the-sun-vista/ The sinking of the ''Sun Vista'']

{{Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico}}
{{Celebrity Ships}}
{{1999 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Galileo Galilei}}
[[Category:1961 ships]]
[[Category:Cruise ships of Greece]]
[[Category:Cruise ships of Italy]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1999]]
[[Category:Ocean liners]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of Italy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Monfalcone]]
[[Category:Ships of Celebrity Cruises]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Strait of Malacca]]
[[Category:Ships built by Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico]]
[[Category:Ships sunk with no fatalities]]
[[Category:Sunken cruise ships]]