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
MARIYA YERMOLOVA.jpg
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
MARIYA SAVINA.jpg
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
ALLA TARASOVA.jpg
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
LYUBOV ORLOVA.jpg
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.
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