Chinese Taishan

Chinese Taishan is the name of a cruise ship formerly operated under the name Grand Voyager. The vessel was built in 2000 and spent part of its earlier career within the Royal Olympic Cruises and Carnival Corporation & plc ownership and operating sphere. During that period, it sailed for Carnival-related brands including Costa Crociere and Ibero Cruises. Its history includes a serious maritime incident on 14 February 2005, when a large wave encountered during a mistral storm in the Mediterranean Sea damaged a bridge window and allowed water to enter the control area. The ingress disabled engine-control functions, leaving the vessel temporarily without effective propulsion control and causing it to roll to extreme angles. Rescue helicopters recorded the ship's precarious condition. The event occurred shortly after a comparable incident involving its sister ship Explorer in the Pacific. The ship later entered service for Costa in December 2011. It was initially intended for the company's Red Sea Corals and Ancient Treasures itinerary, but subsequently operated in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, with cruises marketed particularly to French-speaking or French-market guests. Voyages included departures from Amsterdam as well as Mediterranean ports. In February 2014, the vessel was sold to Bohai Ferry Company of Yantai for a reported $43.68 million and renamed Chinese Taishan. The available reference material does not establish its later operating status, current owner, present name, or whether it remains in passenger service. Chinese Taishan is therefore best treated as a named vessel rather than as a conventional consumer brand.

The vessel now known as Chinese Taishan was built in 2000. Before receiving its present name, it operated as Grand Voyager. Its earlier ownership and commercial history was connected with Royal Olympic Cruises and Carnival Corporation & plc, and it sailed under Carnival-related brands including Costa Crociere and Ibero Cruises. A major event in the ship's history occurred on 14 February 2005 in the Mediterranean Sea. While operating in a mistral storm, Grand Voyager was hit by an exceptionally large wave estimated in reference accounts at approximately 40 to 50 feet. The wave broke a bridge window, allowing water to enter the bridge area and disabling engine-control systems. Without normal control of its propulsion systems, the ship became helplessly adrift and rolled to extreme angles. Rescue helicopters documented the incident. The event took place less than a month after a broadly similar emergency involving the sister ship Explorer in the Pacific, placing both vessels in the context of unusually severe wave encounters. Grand Voyager later entered Costa service in December 2011. It was initially scheduled for Costa's Corals and Ancient Treasures itinerary in the Red Sea. Its subsequent deployment included the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, with the vessel dedicated particularly to passengers from the French market. The ship operated voyages from Amsterdam and from Mediterranean locations, reflecting a regional cruise role rather than a single fixed route. In February 2014, the vessel was sold to Bohai Ferry Company of Yantai for a reported price of $43.68 million. Following the transaction, it was renamed Chinese Taishan. The available reference material does not provide sufficient information about later operators, subsequent renamings, current ownership, or whether the vessel remains active. Consequently, Chinese Taishan should be catalogued primarily as the historical name of a cruise ship and not as an independent corporate brand.

• 2014

  Sale and renaming

  [1]Chinese Taishanen.wikipedia.org

  Bohai Ferry Company of Yantai acquired the vessel in February and renamed it Chinese Taishan.

• 2011

  Begins Costa service

  [1]Chinese Taishanen.wikipedia.org

  The ship entered service for Costa in December, with planned and subsequent operations in the Red Sea, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe.

• 2005

  Major storm and wave incident

  [1]Chinese Taishanen.wikipedia.org

  A large wave struck Grand Voyager during a Mediterranean mistral storm, damaging a bridge window and disabling engine controls after water entered the control area.

• 2000

  Ship built

  [1]Chinese Taishanen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel that later became Chinese Taishan was built and entered the cruise-ship fleet under an earlier name.

A cruise vessel used for regional passenger itineraries, including Mediterranean, Northern European, and planned Red Sea routes.

• Cruise ship · 2000

  Grand Voyager

  Grand Voyager was the vessel's principal earlier operating name. It was associated with Royal Olympic Cruises and Carnival Corporation & plc and sailed for Carnival-related companies including Costa Crociere and Ibero Cruises. The ship operated passenger cruises in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe and was also scheduled for a Red Sea itinerary. Its service history included routes marketed to French-market guests and departures from Amsterdam and Mediterranean ports.

• Cruise ship · 2014

  Chinese Taishan

  Chinese Taishan is the vessel's name after its reported February 2014 sale to Bohai Ferry Company of Yantai. The available source identifies the ownership transfer and renaming but does not establish the ship's later route network, operating status, or any subsequent name changes.

• 2014

  Sale to Bohai Ferry CompanyM&A

  Background

  After earlier service under cruise operators associated with Royal Olympic Cruises and Carnival Corporation & plc, the vessel was transferred to Bohai Ferry Company of Yantai.

  Action taken

  The ship was sold in February 2014 and renamed Chinese Taishan.

  Aftermath

  The transaction marked the end of the vessel's documented Grand Voyager identity in the supplied reference material. Its subsequent commercial history is not established here.

  Reported sale price. $43.68 million (February 2014)

  Source

1. 1Chinese Taishanen.wikipedia.org