MV Bremerhaven

MV Bremerhaven was a passenger vessel built in Germany and launched on April 2, 1960, for ferry service between Bremen and Heligoland. The ship was originally owned by Argo Reederei and began its career in a regional ferry role rather than as a cruise vessel. Its subsequent history was defined by repeated changes of ownership, name, configuration, and operating market. In 1965, Bremerhaven partially sank in shallow water. The vessel was subsequently raised and restored to seaworthy condition. After the incident, its original owners placed it on the market, and the ship was sold to Sun Lines later that year. Under Sun Lines, it was renamed Stella Maris II and underwent a major reconstruction. The rebuilding substantially altered the ship’s external appearance: much of the superstructure was replaced, and the original tall, narrow funnel located near the middle of the vessel was replaced by a shorter, wider funnel positioned farther aft. For more than three decades with Sun Lines, Stella Maris II operated in several passenger-cruise markets, including the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Amazon region. This period represented the ship’s longest and most internationally varied operating phase. In 1996, Sun Lines merged with Epirotiki, linking the vessel’s history to the consolidation occurring among cruise operators during that period. The ship was sold to Viking Cruises in 1998 and renamed Viking Bordeaux. It continued operating under that name until 2004, when it was laid up in the Netherlands. During the lay-up period, the vessel was shortened to Bordeaux. It was later acquired by Indian Ocean Cruises, which invested in an extensive refit and renamed it Madagascar. The new operation offered a short-lived cruise service from Durban, but the vessel was considered unsuitable for the rougher waters of the region. Madagascar remained docked in Durban for approximately three years after the venture failed. The ship was subsequently acquired for a planned operation under the name Razzmatazz by Razzmatazz Ocean Cruises. That project also failed to become an operating service. The vessel was eventually towed to Alang, India, where it was dismantled in August 2008. MV Bremerhaven is therefore best understood as the original identity of a long-serving passenger ship whose career extended across ferry service, Mediterranean and overseas cruising, several corporate owners, and multiple unsuccessful late-life redeployment attempts.

MV Bremerhaven was launched in Germany on April 2, 1960, for Argo Reederei’s ferry route connecting Bremen with Heligoland. Its initial identity was therefore associated with scheduled regional passenger transport. In 1965, the vessel partially sank in shallow water. It was raised and returned to seaworthy condition, but Argo Reederei subsequently offered it for sale. Sun Lines acquired the ship in 1965 and renamed it Stella Maris II. The company carried out a major reconstruction that significantly changed the vessel’s appearance and layout. Its superstructure was extensively rebuilt, and its original centrally positioned tall, slender funnel was replaced with a shorter and wider funnel located toward the stern. The rebuilt ship served Sun Lines for more than 30 years, operating in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Amazon markets. In 1996, Sun Lines merged with Epirotiki, although the vessel continued within the broader cruise-ship succession associated with its previous operator. In 1998, Viking Cruises purchased the ship and renamed it Viking Bordeaux. The vessel continued in service under that name until 2004, when it was laid up in the Netherlands. During the lay-up, it was renamed Bordeaux. A subsequent purchaser, Indian Ocean Cruises, undertook an expensive refit and gave the ship the name Madagascar. The company attempted to operate cruises from Durban, but the venture was unsuccessful after the ship proved unsuitable for the rough waters in the intended operating area. Madagascar then remained docked in Durban for roughly three years. The vessel was later acquired for a planned service by Razzmatazz Ocean Cruises and renamed Razzmatazz. That operation did not materialize. The ship was towed to Alang in India and dismantled in August 2008. Across nearly five decades, its career moved from a German ferry route to international cruising and then to prolonged lay-up and unsuccessful relaunches. The vessel’s changing names reflected successive ownership and business strategies rather than the creation of a continuing consumer brand.

• 2008

  Scrapping at Alang

  [1]MV Bremerhavenen.wikipedia.org

  After failed attempts to relaunch the vessel under later owners, it was towed to Alang, India, and broken up in August.

• 2004

  Lay-up in the Netherlands

  [1]MV Bremerhavenen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was withdrawn from service and laid up in the Netherlands, later adopting the shortened name Bordeaux.

• 1998

  Transfer to Viking Cruises

  [1]MV Bremerhavenen.wikipedia.org

  Viking Cruises acquired the vessel and renamed it Viking Bordeaux.

• 1996

  Sun Lines merger with Epirotiki

  [1]MV Bremerhavenen.wikipedia.org

  Sun Lines merged with Epirotiki while the ship remained part of the company’s long-running cruise history.

• 1965

  Sinking and recovery

  [1]MV Bremerhavenen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel partially sank in shallow water, was raised, and was restored to seaworthy condition.

• 1965

  Sale to Sun Lines and major rebuilding

  [1]MV Bremerhavenen.wikipedia.org

  After being sold by its original owners, the ship entered Sun Lines service as Stella Maris II and underwent extensive reconstruction.

• 1960

  Launch for German ferry service

  [1]MV Bremerhavenen.wikipedia.org

  MV Bremerhaven was launched on April 2, 1960, for Argo Reederei’s Bremen–Heligoland ferry route.

A multipurpose passenger vessel that transitioned from German regional ferry service into international cruise operations under successive owners and names.

• Passenger ferry and cruise ship · 1960

  MV Bremerhaven

  The vessel began as a German ferry serving the Bremen–Heligoland route and later became an international cruise ship. Following its sale to Sun Lines, it was extensively rebuilt and operated under the name Stella Maris II in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Amazon region. Later owners used it as Viking Bordeaux, Bordeaux, Madagascar, and Razzmatazz. The ship’s final planned operations did not succeed, and it was dismantled at Alang in 2008.

• 2004

  Attempted relaunch as MadagascarStrategy

  Background

  After being laid up in the Netherlands, the ship was acquired by Indian Ocean Cruises for a new operating venture.

  Action taken

  The company refitted and renamed the vessel Madagascar, intending to operate cruises from Durban.

  Aftermath

  The venture failed after the vessel was found unsuitable for the rough waters of the intended area. It remained docked in Durban for approximately three years.

  Source

• 1998

  Sale to Viking CruisesM&A

  Background

  After its long period with Sun Lines and the company’s 1996 merger with Epirotiki, the vessel changed ownership.

  Action taken

  Viking Cruises purchased the ship and renamed it Viking Bordeaux.

  Aftermath

  The vessel continued operating under the Viking Bordeaux name until it was laid up in 2004.

  Source

• 1965

  Conversion from regional ferry to international cruise vesselStrategy

  Background

  After the ship’s partial sinking and recovery, its original owners put it up for sale. Sun Lines acquired it and pursued a substantial reconstruction.

  Action taken

  Sun Lines renamed the vessel Stella Maris II and rebuilt much of its superstructure, repositioning and redesigning the funnel while preparing it for broader cruise operations.

  Aftermath

  The rebuilt ship went on to serve Sun Lines for more than three decades in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Amazon markets.

  Source

1. 1MV Bremerhavenen.wikipedia.org