Princess Daphne
A former refrigerated cargo ship that was converted into a medium-sized cruise ship and scrapped in India in 2014.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
MS Princess Daphne was a medium-sized passenger cruise ship with a multi-stage maritime history spanning cargo transport, cruise operations, hospital-ship service, and demolition. The vessel was originally built in England as the refrigerated cargo ship Port Sydney for Port Line. Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson constructed the ship at Wallsend, with launching taking place on 29 October 1954 and completion in March 1955. It was designed for refrigerated cargo work rather than passenger service and belonged to a class that included the sister ship Port Melbourne, later converted into the cruise ship Princess Danae. Between 1972 and 1974, Port Sydney underwent a substantial conversion at Chalkis Shipyard in Piraeus, Greece. The refit transformed the vessel from a refrigerated freighter into a cruise ship, after which it operated under several names, including Ocean Monarch, Ocean Odyssey, Switzerland, Daphne, and Akrotiri Express. The sequence of name changes reflects the ship's movement through different operating arrangements and commercial identities during its passenger-vessel career. It remained a relatively medium-sized cruise ship rather than a large contemporary resort vessel. Princess Daphne's history also included a humanitarian role. In 2005, the ship served as a hospital ship in Sri Lanka. The available reference material does not provide detailed information about the operator, medical capacity, mission duration, or specific relief program, but the deployment marked a significant change from commercial cruising to medical support. The vessel later entered a prolonged lay-up. It was reported to have been laid up at the Greek port of Souda in September 2012. Following the sale of assets from the fleet of Classic International Cruises in 2013, the ship was returned by a bank to the Patimanios brothers. In early 2014, rumors circulated that the vessel might return to service under the Classic International Cruises name. Those reports did not materialize. Instead, the ship was sold to Indian scrap merchants. On 14 June 2014, Princess Daphne, then sailing under the name Daphne, was reported to have arrived at Alang, India, after departing from Souda. By 1 July 2014, the ship had been beached at Alang, where dismantling began soon afterward. Its scrapping ended a career that had begun as a 1950s refrigerated cargo ship and continued through several decades of cruise service and a later hospital-ship assignment.
History
The vessel that became Princess Daphne began life as Port Sydney, a refrigerated cargo ship built for Port Line. Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson constructed the ship at Wallsend in England. It was launched on 29 October 1954 and completed in March 1955. In this original configuration, the ship served the refrigerated-freight sector and was not designed as a cruise vessel. Its sister ship was Port Melbourne, which was later converted into the cruise ship Princess Danae. A major change came between 1972 and 1974, when the ship was converted into a passenger vessel at Chalkis Shipyard in Piraeus, Greece. The conversion enabled it to enter the cruise market and led to a succession of names, including Ocean Monarch, Ocean Odyssey, Switzerland, Daphne, and Akrotiri Express. It eventually operated as Princess Daphne, a medium-sized cruise ship. The available source does not document every operator or ownership transition associated with these names, so the vessel's commercial history is best understood through its documented changes of role and identity rather than through a complete corporate chronology. In 2005, the ship was used as a hospital ship in Sri Lanka. This represented a temporary humanitarian application of a vessel originally built for cargo and later adapted for tourism. The reference material does not identify the medical operator, the exact location of service, or the number of patients or staff involved. Princess Daphne was later withdrawn from active service and laid up at Souda in September 2012. Following the sale of assets from the Classic International Cruises fleet in 2013, a bank returned the vessel to the Patimanios brothers. During early 2014, speculation suggested that the ship might be restored to service under the Classic International Cruises name. Those plans did not occur. The vessel was instead sold to Indian scrap merchants. On 14 June 2014, the ship was reported to have reached Alang, India, under the name Daphne after a voyage from Souda. It was beached at Alang by 1 July 2014, and scrapping began soon afterward. The dismantling brought to an end a career that crossed several maritime sectors: refrigerated cargo, cruise tourism, and hospital-ship service.
- 2014
Arrival at Alang and scrapping
[1]The ship arrived at Alang under the name Daphne, was beached by 1 July, and was dismantled shortly afterward.
- 2012
Laid up at Souda
[1]Princess Daphne was laid up at Souda, Crete, in September 2012.
- 2005
Hospital-ship service in Sri Lanka
[1]The vessel served in a hospital-ship capacity in Sri Lanka.
- 1974
Cruise-ship conversion completed
[1]The conversion period concluded, enabling the former Port Sydney to operate as a cruise ship under subsequent names.
- 1972
Conversion to a cruise ship began
[1]The ship entered a conversion program at Chalkis Shipyard in Piraeus, Greece, transforming it from a refrigerated freighter into a passenger vessel.
- 1955
Completed for Port Line
[1]The vessel was completed in March 1955 for Port Line's refrigerated cargo operations.
- 1954
Launched as Port Sydney
[1]The refrigerated cargo ship Port Sydney was launched at Wallsend, England, on 29 October 1954.
Products and positioning
A medium-sized, historically converted cruise vessel rather than a contemporary cruise-line brand. Its distinctive identity came from its transformation from refrigerated cargo ship to passenger ship and from its later humanitarian service.
Cruise passenger ship · 1974
Princess Daphne cruise ship
The vessel's principal commercial identity after its 1972–1974 conversion was that of a medium-sized cruise ship. It operated under several names during its passenger career, including Ocean Monarch, Ocean Odyssey, Switzerland, Daphne, Akrotiri Express, and Princess Daphne. The available source does not provide a complete itinerary list, cabin specification, or service profile.
Refrigerated cargo ship · 1954
Port Sydney
Port Sydney was the vessel's original identity and configuration. Built for Port Line, it was designed for refrigerated cargo transportation and completed in 1955. Its later conversion made it an example of a cargo ship repurposed for passenger cruising.
Humanitarian maritime service · 2005
Hospital ship service
In 2005, the former cruise ship was used as a hospital ship in Sri Lanka. The supplied reference does not identify the service provider or describe the vessel's medical facilities, so the offering is documented only as a change in operational role.
Brand decisions
2014
Sale for recycling instead of return to serviceOtherBackground
After the vessel was laid up at Souda and rumors suggested a possible revival under Classic International Cruises, the ship's future remained uncertain.
Action taken
The vessel was sold to Indian scrap merchants and sent to Alang under the name Daphne.
Aftermath
It was beached by 1 July 2014, and dismantling began soon afterward, ending the ship's operational history.
1972
Conversion from refrigerated freighter to cruise shipGeneration changeBackground
The ship had originally been built for refrigerated cargo service as Port Sydney but was selected for transformation into a passenger vessel.
Action taken
Chalkis Shipyard in Piraeus converted the vessel between 1972 and 1974.
Aftermath
The converted ship entered the cruise sector and subsequently operated under several names, including Princess Daphne.
Sources2 sources
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