Gibraltar Post will issue a set of 4 stamps of cruise liners in September 2006, one of this ships is the
CORAL.
Built as a cruise liner under yard No 329 by the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij N.V., Rotterdam for the Cunard-British Overseas National Airways Inc., but on July 1970 complete taken over by the British Cunard Line.
02 February 1971 launched under the name CUNARD ADVENTURER.
Tonnage 14.151 gross, 2.277 dwt. Dim. 148.1 x 21.6m. length bpp. 126.9ft.
Powered by four 12-cyl Stork-Werkspoor geared diesels, 27.000 bhp., twin screws, speed 21.5 knots.
Passenger accommodation for 832 passengers. Crew 412.
28 August 1971 trials.
19 October 1971 delivered to owners.
19 November 1971 maiden voyage from Southampton for the San Juan Caribbean cruising.
1976 Transferred to the Cunard Cruise Ships Ltd., New York, still under British flag.
1977 Sold to Klosters Red. A/S, Norway, renamed in SUNWARD II.
08 March 1977 arrived by the Hapag-Lloyd AG yard at Bremerhaven for modernization.
24 April work completed, tonnage given as 14.110 gross, 7.056 net, 2.314 dwt.
Again used for cruises, mostly Caribbean.
1984 Passengers given as 857.
1985 Transferred to K/S A/S Sunward II, Oslo.
1987 Transferred to Kloster Cruise Ltd., Bahamas.
1992 Sold to Euro Club Cruises Maritime Co. (Epirotiki Lines), Greece and renamed TRITON.
1999 Owned by Valentine Oceanic Trading, not renamed under Greek flag.
2000 Under Panama registry.
2005 Sold to Mare Global Sa, Marshall Islands renamed in CORAL, Cyprus registry, managed by Louis Shipmanagement, Athens, Greece.
2009 Given by http://www.equasis.org same owner and manager. IMO No. 7046936. The web-site of Louis Cruise Line gives that she has accommodation for 676/890 passengers and 300 crew.
January 2014 sold to Argo Systems FZE, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, renamed CORA, registered in St Kitts & Nevis.
21 January 1914 arrived at Alang, India where she will be scrapped by Nagarseth Ship Breakers.
Gibraltar 2006 40p sg?, scott?
Source: Register of Merchant Ships completed in 1971. Great Passenger Ships of the World Volume 6 by Arnold Kludas. Blauwe Wimpel.
http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz