Mariya Yermolova series (8 ships, 1974 until 1978)

[Ship's Agent]

Dear Friends


Allow me to share with all of you the images via postcards I own in my ships postcards collection, from one of my favourite class of cruise ships build for USSR, the Mariya Yermolova series, portraying a total of 8 ships with their history as follows:

1) Mariya Yermolova (1974) / Nr. 406 / 3941 grt

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Delivered to Murmansk Shipping Company, regular cruise-service in Nothern Europe. Transferred to Novorossiysk Shipping Company in March 1998 and chartered by Caravella Shipping from Moscow for Russian passengers.

2) Mariya Savina (1975) / Nr. 407 / 3941 grt

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Delivered 1976 to Murmansk Shipping Company, later transferred to Far Eastern Shipping Company. Ferry-service in the Far East. 1996 sold to Sampaguita Shipping Company and operating between the Philippine-Islands as the Sampaguita Ferry 2.

3) Alla Tarasova (1975) / Nr. 408 / 3941 grt

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Delivered 1975 to Murmansk Shipping Company. Mainly used for polar-cruises. 1996 an incident occurred in the Northsea. In Spring 1998 leased to Clipper Cruise Line and fully reconstructed in Denmark. Renamed Clipper Adventurer, operation on expedition-cruises for American passengers. Enclosed in the ice in January 2000 in the Antarctic Sea but could be saved by an Ice-breaker.

4)Lyubov Orlova (1976) / Nr. 413 / 3941 grt

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Delivered 1976 to far Eastern Shipping Company. Regular service as well as cruises. Transferred to FESCO-daughter Lyubov Orlova Shipping Company (LOSCO), regular service between Istanbul and Odessa. Chartered by Marine Expeditions and Global Quest Cruises (formerly OdessAmerica) for the American market. Ship's name published as Marine Discovery but never officially renamed. After the bankrupty of Marine Expeditions chartered by Quark Expeditions and operating as Lyubov Orlova again.

Continues on next page...

[Ship's Agent]

5) Olga Androvskaya (1977) / Nr. 414 / 3941 grt

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Delivered 1977 to Far Eastern Shipping Company. Constantly used for ferry service and cruises by FESCO, chartered to several operators during the years. In September 1999 the ship was scrapped.

6) Olga Sadovskaya (1977) / Nr. 415 / 3941 grt

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Delivered 1977 to Far Eastern Shipping Company, regular service and cruises. Chartered by the Korea Russian Maritime in 1996 for ferry service between Vladivostok and Pusan. 1998 operated by Lindblad Travel and FECSO-daughter Pacific Cruise Company. 1999 planned to be renamed Orient Star respectively Ocean Star but as from Mai 1999 supposed to be renamed Southern Australis for the new-formed Southern Australian Shipping Company, both projects were not realized. The ship is now operated by FESCO again.

7) Klavdiya Yelanskaya (1977) / Nr. 416 / 3941 grt

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Delivered 1977 to Far Eastern Shipping Company, regular service and cruises. Later transferred to Murmansk Shipping Company, mainly cruises in European waters or for American passengers under charter to Noble Caledonia or Quark Expeditions.

8 ) Antonina Nezhdanova (1978 ) / Nr. 419 / 3941 grt

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Delivered 1978 to Far eastern Shipping Company, regular ferry service and cruises. Refurbished and modernized in 1988, transferred to Baltic Shipping Company in 1992. As from 2001 transferred to Vladistar Shipping Company and ferry-sevice for FESCO between Vladivostok and Niigata/Fusuki (Japan).

All the ships of Mariya Yermolova series were built at Brodogradiliste Uljanik, Kraljevica / Croatia.

If someone has images of these ships calling in Greek ports, or as they sailed after USSR colapse, please contribute!

Best regards

Ship's Agent / Dimas

[Henry Casciaro]

Dimas thanks for this wonderful display of original postcards, they were indeed very handsome liners. Here is a brochure on the last one featured which I remember calling at Gib several times.

Thanks and all the best, Henry.

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