SS Dolphin IV

SS Dolphin IV (formerly Zion of Zim Lines), was built in Germany as war reparations for Israel in 1956.[1] She subsequently sailed as Amelia De Melo and Ithaca. In 1978, the ship was renamed Dolphin IV when she sailed under sales and marketing agreement for Paquet Ulysses Cruises, which was part of Paquet French Cruises. The owners of Ulysses Cruises/Florida Nautica made the decision in 1984 to handle the sales and marketing for the ship. This is when Dolphin Cruise Lines was created. The ship has retained her name through her most recent sale to Cape Canaveral Cruise Line in 1995.

SS Dolphin IV
SS Dolphin IV as SS Zion
History
Name
  • Zion (1956–1966)
  • Amelia De Melo (1966–1972)
  • Ithaca (1972–1978)
  • Dolphin IV (1978–2003)
Owner
  • Zim Lines (1956–1966)
  • Sociedade Geral de Commercio (1966–1972)
  • Ulysses Line (1972–1984)
  • Dolphin Cruise Line (1984–1995)
  • Cape Canaveral Cruise Line (1995–2003)
BuilderDeutsche Werft
Launched15 July 1955
Completed12 February 1956
Maiden voyage1956
In service1956
Out of serviceSeptember 2000
IdentificationIMO number: 5398969
FateScrapped in 2003
General characteristics
Tonnage
  • 9,855 GRT (1956–1967)
  • 10,195 GRT (1967–1972)
  • 8,977 GRT (1972–)
Length501 ft (153 m)
Beam65.1 ft (19.8 m)
Draft27.5 ft (8.4 m)
Installed powerSteam turbine
PropulsionSingle screw
Speed19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Capacity
  • 312 passengers (1956–1967)
  • 355 passengers (1967–1972)
  • 780 passengers (1972–)

The ship remained in operation for Cape Canaveral Cruise Line until September 2000 when it was forced out of service because it needed 3.5 million dollars in required maintenance.[2] The cruise line was unable to secure another vessel and it was unable to afford or receive funding for the needed repairs. As a result, the ship was forced to lay up at Freeport, Bahamas for three years awaiting repairs. Due to the state of disrepair of fresh water and sewage holding facilities, the ship was sold for scrap in 2003.

References
  1. "Zion". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  2. Verrier, Richard. "Cruise Line Hopes To Reassure Passengers". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 1 January 2019.


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