MV Regent Sky
Encyclopedia
MV Regent Sky was an unfinished cruise ship that travelled to several locations during her construction. She was initially being built as the ferry
Stena Baltica, one of four sisters planned for Stena Line
. Still incomplete, she was purchased by Regency Cruises, but her new owners filed for bankruptcy in 1995.
The ship was sold for recycling in July 2011.
being built by Stocznia im Lenina, Gdansk for Stena Line
, Stena Germanica, Stena Scandinavica and . In 1986, her construction was cancelled (and her sisters' delayed) due to problems with the shipyard.
The unfinished hull was purchased by A. Lelakis, owner of Regency Cruises. Regency planned to put her into service as their first new ship, having previously purchased and converted ocean liner
s. Stena Baltica was towed to the Avlis Shipyards at Perama
, Greece, where a USD
$200 million process to convert her into a cruise ship
began. The vessel was renamed Regent Sky at this time. 7,000 tons of steel were installed after she was lengthened 50 meters at Eleusis Shipyards.
In 1995, while Regent Sky was at the Avlis Shipyards of Chalkis, Greece and about 60% finished, Regency Cruises ceased operations. The vessel was seized by the National Bank of Greece
and Hellenic Industrial Development Bank in July 1999. Since then, Regent Sky has moved from one lay up berth to another, including Perama, Ambelakia and then Kinossoura. All attempts to sell the vessel at auction have failed, making demolition her most likely fate. The Regent Sky had been laid up off Eleusis, Greece, until July 2011 when she was reportedly sold for scrapping.
main engines were installed. After the bankruptcy of Regency, the engines were removed, leaving Regent Sky unable to move without being towed. The foremost part of her bow was never completed. There were several renderings of the completed ship, with one depicting her as Zoe, sporting a white hull and red funnel.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
Stena Baltica, one of four sisters planned for Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
. Still incomplete, she was purchased by Regency Cruises, but her new owners filed for bankruptcy in 1995.
The ship was sold for recycling in July 2011.
History
Regent Sky was originally ordered in 1979 and laid down under the name Stena Baltica. She was one of four fairly identical cruise ferriesCruiseferry
A cruiseferry is a ship that combines the features of a cruise ship with a Ro-Pax ferry. Many passengers travel with the ships for the cruise experience, staying only a few hours at the destination port or not leaving the ship at all, while others use the ships as means of...
being built by Stocznia im Lenina, Gdansk for Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
, Stena Germanica, Stena Scandinavica and . In 1986, her construction was cancelled (and her sisters' delayed) due to problems with the shipyard.
The unfinished hull was purchased by A. Lelakis, owner of Regency Cruises. Regency planned to put her into service as their first new ship, having previously purchased and converted ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
s. Stena Baltica was towed to the Avlis Shipyards at Perama
Perama
Perama is a port city and a suburb of Piraeus that lies on the southwest edge of the Aegaleo mountains. It creates the western terminus of the Port of Piraeus and there is also a port that provides ferry services to Salamis. The town has only one main road connecting Lambrakis and Ralli Avenues,...
, Greece, where a USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$200 million process to convert her into a cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
began. The vessel was renamed Regent Sky at this time. 7,000 tons of steel were installed after she was lengthened 50 meters at Eleusis Shipyards.
In 1995, while Regent Sky was at the Avlis Shipyards of Chalkis, Greece and about 60% finished, Regency Cruises ceased operations. The vessel was seized by the National Bank of Greece
National Bank of Greece
The National Bank of Greece is the oldest and largest commercial banking group in Greece. The group has a particularly strong presence in Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean...
and Hellenic Industrial Development Bank in July 1999. Since then, Regent Sky has moved from one lay up berth to another, including Perama, Ambelakia and then Kinossoura. All attempts to sell the vessel at auction have failed, making demolition her most likely fate. The Regent Sky had been laid up off Eleusis, Greece, until July 2011 when she was reportedly sold for scrapping.
Condition
Since her construction was halted, Regent Sky had rusted heavily. During her conversion WärtsiläWärtsilä
Wärtsilä is a Finnish corporation which manufactures and services power sources and other equipment in the marine and energy markets. The core products of Wärtsilä include large combustion engines...
main engines were installed. After the bankruptcy of Regency, the engines were removed, leaving Regent Sky unable to move without being towed. The foremost part of her bow was never completed. There were several renderings of the completed ship, with one depicting her as Zoe, sporting a white hull and red funnel.