MS Costa Allegra
 Costa Allegra in Shanghai
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | list error: <br /> list (help) Annie Johnson 1969-1986 Regent Moon 1986-1988 Alexandra 1988-1992 Costa Allegra 1992-present |
| Owner | list error: <br /> list (help) Rederi AB Nordstjernan 1969-1986 Regency Cruises 1986-1988 Compania Naviera Panalexandra 1988-1990 Costa Crociere 1990-present |
| Operator | list error: <br /> list (help) Rederi AB Nordstjernan 1969-1986 rebuild/laid up1986-1992 Costa Crociere 1992-2010 Paquet Cruises 2010-present |
| Port of registry | list error: <br /> list (help) Sweden, Stockholm 1969-1986 Cyprus, Limassol 1986-1988 Panama, Panama City1988-1990 Italy, Naples 1990-1994 Liberia, Monrovia 1994-2000 Italy, Genoa 2000-present |
| Builder | list error: <br /> list (help) Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard Turku, Finland (original) T. Mariotti, Genoa, Italy (rebuild) |
| Yard number | 1170 |
| Launched | 29 April 1969 |
| Acquired | 4 December 1969 |
| Identification | list error: <br /> list (help) Call sign: ICRA IMO number: 6916885 MMSI no.: 247816000 |
| Status | Being Towed Towards Seychelles |
| Notes | [1][2] |
| General characteristics As built | |
| Class and type | Axel Johnson class container ship |
| Type | Container/General Cargo/Reefer |
| Tonnage | 16,289 GT; 16,080 DWT |
| Length | 187.8 m (616 ft) |
| Beam | 25.6 m (84 ft) |
| Draught | 10.39 m (34.1 ft) |
| Installed power | list error: <br /> list (help) 2 × 16PC2V + 2 × 12PC2V Wärtsilä-Pielstick diesels combined 19,139 kW |
| Propulsion | 2 CP propellers |
| Speed | 23 knots (42.60 km/h; 26.47 mph) |
| Capacity | 744 TEU, 12 passengers |
| Crew | 30 |
| Notes | [1] |
| General characteristics As Costa Allegra, 1992 | |
| Type | Cruise ship |
| Tonnage | 28,430 GT; 11,973 NT; 7,391 DWT |
| Length | 187.69 m (615.8 ft) |
| Beam | 25.75 m (84.5 ft) |
| Draught | 8.20 m (26.9 ft) |
| Decks | 8 (passenger accessible) |
| Installed power | list error: <br /> list (help) 4 × 6R46 Wärtsilä diesels combined 19,123 kW |
| Propulsion | Two propellers |
| Speed | 19 knots (35.19 km/h; 21.86 mph) |
| Capacity | list error: <br /> list (help) 820 passengers (lower berths) 1072 passengers (all berths) |
| Notes | [1][2][3] |
MS Costa Allegra (marketed in France under the name Allegra), is a cruise ship owned by the Italy-based Costa Crociere, one of many subsidiaries owned by Costa's parent company, the Carnival Corporation. She was built in 1969 by the Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland as the container ship MS Annie Johnson for the Sweden-based Rederi AB Nordstjernan. In 1986 she was sold to Regency Cruises with the intention of being converted into a cruise ship under the name MS Regent Moon, but she was laid up instead. In 1988 she was sold to Compania Naviera Panalexandra and renamed MS Alexandra but continued laid up. In 1990 the ship was acquired by Costa Cruises and rebuilt into a cruise ship at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy. She entered service as Costa Allegra in 1992.[1][4] In an agreement with TMR of Marseilles, Costa Cruises, who have owned the Paquet Cruises brand since 1996, are using Costa Allegra, marketed in France under the name Allegra and the Paquet Cruises brand, for four spring cruises and seven cruises in autumn of 2010. For these cruises, Costa Allegra feature a French master, cruise director, maitres ‘d, receptionists and two French chefs, one of whom, Jean Abauzit, served on board the renowned Mermoz, retired a decade ago. [5] The Costa Allegra suffered a generator fire while off the coast of Africa approximately 200 miles southwest of the Seychelles on 27 February 2012 and was taken into tow towards the Seychelles, a journey of several days, the following day.
Annie Johnson
Original construction
Annie Johnson was the second in a series of five container ships built by the Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Finland for the Swedish shipping company Rederi AB Nordstjernan. She was launched on 29 April 1969 and delivered to her owners on 4 December of the same year, entering service on the same date.
Service history
From 1969 until 1986, Annie Johnson was used as in cargo services by Rederi AB Nordstjernan. On 8 August 1986 the ship was sold to the Greece-based Regency Cruises with the intention of being rebuilt as a cruise ship. With this aim in mind she was renamed Regent Moon.[1][4] Her sister ship MS Axel Johnson was sold to Regency Cruises at the same time, renamed Regent Sun, also with the intention of being converted into a cruise ship. These plans were never realised, and Regent Moon was laid up in Perama, Greece.[1][6] In May 1988 Regent Moon was sold to Compania Naviera Panalexandra and renamed Alexandra, but continued laid up until 1990 when she was sold to Costa Crociere.[1][4]
Costa Allegra
Concept and construction
Costa Crociere had acquired Regent Sun which was renamed Italia in the interim, in 1988 and had her conversion into a cruise ship realised, with the ship being delivered in July 1990 as Costa Marina.[6] Following this Costa Crociere acquired Alexandra on 28 August 1990 for conversion into a cruise ship at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy, the same shipyard that had rebuilt Costa Marina. Work on Alexandra commenced on 4 September 1990. She received an entirely new superstructure in the same style as that of Costa Marina, as well as new engines. However, unlike Costa Marina, Alexandra was lengthened by 13.4 metres (44 ft 0 in) when rebuilt.[1][3][6][7] Although originally planned to be renamed Costa Azzurra,[4] the ship was eventually renamed Costa Allegra in November 1992. On 16 November 1992 she was delivered to Costa Cruises.[1]
Service history
Costa Allegra entered service with Costa Crociere on 23 November 1992 with a cruise from Genoa to St. Thomas in the Caribbean. During the early years of her service with Costa she sailed in the Mediterranean during the northern hemisphere summer season, relocating to the Caribbean for the winter.[1] In 2006 the ship was relocated for cruising out of China. At the same time her interiors were refurbished to better suit the Asian cruise market.[3] Her ports of departure in Asia are Singapore and Hong Kong. Countries visited include China, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.[citation needed]
In 2010, the ship was relocated back to Europe, and her Asian itineraries were replaced by the Costa Classica and Costa Romantica.
Design
The eight decks on Costa Allegra are named after famous impressionist painters. A three deck high glass atrium is the centre of the ship. Elegant works of art can be found throughout the ship.[3]
- 399 cabins in total, including: 13 suites, 10 with private balcony - 3 restaurants, including one, Club Amalfi Restaurant, at an additional charge, by reservation only - 6 bars - 2 Jacuzzis, 2 pools including one for children - Caracalla Spa: Wellness Centre with gym, treatment rooms, sauna - Outdoor jogging track - Theatre, Casino and Disco - Squok Club with PlayStation Entertainment
Incidents
2012 fire
During the morning hours of 27 February 2012, a fire broke out in the generator room.[8] The fire was extinguished by the on-board fire-suppression system, but left the ship without power and adrift about 200 miles southwest of the Seychelles.[9] Costa has reported no injuries as a result of the blaze.[10] The ship is having to be towed to the Seychelles for repair and evacuation of the passengers.[11] The fire occurred six weeks after the sinking of another ship owned by Costa Cruises – the Costa Concordia.[12]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Asklander, Micke. "M/S Annie Johnson (1969)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel Costa Allegra". VesselTracker. 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp. 306–307. ISBN 978-981-268-240-6.
- ^ a b c d Miller, William H. Jr. (1995). The Pictorial Encycpedia of Ocean Liners, 1860-1994. Mineola: Dover Publications. p. 5. ISBN 0-486-28437-X.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: checksum (help) - ^ [1]
- ^ a b c Asklander, Micke. "M/S Axel Johnson (1969)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ de Boer, Bart (29 May 2005). "Costa Allegra - Duckling or Swan?". ShipParade. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ Adrift off Seychelles, Costa Allegra waits for supplies, tug boats
- ^ Boat reaches Italian cruise ship adrift off Seychelles
- ^ Fire aboard Costa liner leaves cruise ship adrift
- ^ Daily Record (28-2-2012)
- ^ euronews retrieved 28 Feb 2012.
External links
