FAIRSTAR (1957)

Service dates: 1988-1997

Official number: 2003

Shipping lines: FAIRSTAR SHIPPING CORPORATION; P&O LINES; P&O SITMAR CRUISES; P&O AUSTRALIA LTD.; P&O CRUISES

Ship type:

• Passenger Ship

Passenger Ship.

Career

15.12.1955

Launched by Mrs Dorothea Head, wife of the Minister of Defence.

29.01.1957

Ran trials.

13.02.1957

Completed as the troop transport Oxfordshire for Bibby Line Ltd, Liverpool. Original specifications were 20,586 grt, 8,500 dwt. Built for service under Ministry of Defence contract. 500 passengers, 1,000 troops, 409 crew.

28.02.1957

Maiden voyage Liverpool/Dakar/Cape Town/Durban/Singapore/Hong Kong.

02.1963

Following the termination of her trooping charter at the end of 1962, she was chartered for six years to Fairline Shipping Corporation, Liberia, for UK/Australia emigrant service, with an option to acquire.

20.05.1963

Arrived at Wilton-Fijenoord NV, Schiedam, The Netherlands, for conversion to a passenger liner/cruise ship at a final cost of £4.5 million.

03.1964

After disagreement with Bibby Line over what changes could be made under the charter, she was purchased by Fairstar Shipping Corporation, and renamed Fairstar.

05.1964

Conversion completed by Harland and Wolff Ltd, Southampton. 1,868 first class passengers, 21,619 grt.

19.05.1964

Sailed from Southampton on her first commercial voyage to Brisbane.

01.1965

Began occasional cruises from Southampton, and later from Sydney.

07.1973

Last line voyage departure from Southampton.

20.08.1973

Commenced service as a full-time cruise ship, mostly from Sydney for the Australian market. 1,300 passengers.

1974

Unsuccessful cruise season from Southampton.

11.1984

Boiler trouble caused her to miss a total eclipse of the sun off Noumea for which a special cruise itinerary had been planned.

1986

Extensive refit at Singapore.

01.09.1988

Sitmar Cruises (owners of Fairstar Shipping Corporation) purchased by The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O Lines Ltd, managers). Operated by P&O Sitmar Cruises.

19.04.1989

Dry-docked and overhauled at Sembawang Shipyard, Singapore.

21.12.1990

Re-measured. Now 21,620 gt, 11,361 nt, deadweight 6,106 tonnes, capacity 1,390 passengers, speed 18 knots.

01.01.1991

Management transferred to P&O Sitmar Cruises. Operating company now P&O Australia Ltd.

19.06.1991

While cruising off Vietnamese coast, air-conditioning, lighting and main engines failed in turn. Towed to Vung Tau by P&O Australia’s offshore tug/service vessel Lady Sonia. Passengers flown to Australia.

01.07.1991

Managers P&O Sitmar Cruises dropped the ‘Sitmar’ element from their name.

01.03.1992

Now operated by P&O Australia under the P&O Cruises name.

01.07.1992

Correct deadweight 8,800 tonnes. Speed 16.5 knots.

1994

Inaugurated new Sydney passenger terminal at Darling Harbour.

n.d.

Re-measured. Now 23,180 gt, 12,480 nt.

11.02.1997

Sold to Rugby Enterprises Inc, British Virgin Islands, and renamed Ripa for delivery voyage to Indian shipbreakers.

10.04.1997

Broken up at Alang, India.

Ship technical details (PDF)