SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini Scrapped In Alang - Diving Into Cruise Ship Scrapping
The last of Star Cruises’ SuperStars have arrived at their final destination, but what comes after an illustrious life spent cruising the high seas?
SuperStar Aquarius beached at the Alang Ship Breaking Yard. PHOTO: VISHAL SINH SOLANKI
After a few months of lay-up in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, the last two ships of the Star Cruises’ fleet, SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini have arrived at their final destination - Alang Ship Breaking Yard, in Gujarat, India. The two ships were beached on 26 November 2022, just hours apart from each other. They sold for scrap after the insolvency of their owner, Genting Hong Kong and were around 30 years old.
SuperStar Gemini beached at the Alang Ship Breaking Yard. PHOTO: VISHAL SINH SOLANKI
Today, we pay homage to these two mainstays of Asia’s cruise scene, highlighting some of the notable points in their cruising careers. We will also explore what happens to cruise ships after a life of cruising the high seas, up till their retirement.
History of SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini
1992/1993 — Delivery to Norwegian Cruise Line
Windward as delivered in 1993. PHOTO: DON HAZELINE
Dreamward undergoing sea trials. PHOTO: CRUISE INDUSTRY NEWS
SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini began life as Windward and Dreamward respectively, delivered in 1993 and 1992 to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Each ship carried around 1,200 guests each.
1998 — Lengthening and Renaming
Dreamward undergoing lengthening at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. PHOTO: CRUISE INDUSTRY NEWS
Norwegian Wind post-lengthening. PHOTO: IAN LYNAS
Windward and Dreamward were designed with lengthening in mind – eventually taking place in 1998 at Germany’s Lloyd Werft Shipyard. The ships received a new 40-metre middle section and could now carry more than 2,000 guests each. The ships were also renamed Norwegian Wind and Norwegian Dream.
2007 — Norwegian Wind Becomes SuperStar Aquarius
SuperStar Aquarius in Hong Kong. PHOTO: CHRIS J WOOD
2007 saw Norwegian Wind retired from the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. By this time, NCL was a subsidiary of Star Cruises, and Norwegian Wind became SuperStar Aquarius for Star Cruises in the Asia-Pacific market. She received the iconic Red and Blue Funnel adorned with a yellow star. She was then based in Hong Kong.
2012 — Norwegian Dream Becomes SuperStar Gemini; SuperStar Aquarius receives hull art
SuperStar Gemini sailing past Labrador Park, Singapore in 2017. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
SuperStar Aquarius with hull art, PHOTO: STAR CRUISES
Norwegian Dream joined Star Cruises fleet in 2012 as SuperStar Gemini. She was refitted in Singapore, where she received hull art inspired by her namesake star sign, and the iconic Star Cruises funnel. SuperStar Aquarius would also receive hull art inspired by her own namesake star sign around this time.
2014-2017 — SuperStar Gemini Homeports In Singapore
SuperStar Gemini berthed at Singapore Cruise Centre, 2016. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
SuperStar Gemini alongside Costa Victoria in Singapore, 2015. PHOTO: ASEAN CRUISE NEWS
After SuperStar Virgo’s return to Hong Kong in 2014, SuperStar Gemini relieved the Star Cruises flagship on her Singapore cruises. SuperStar Gemini called Singapore home for about 3 years, from 2014 to 2017. SuperStar Gemini would ultimately be relieved by Genting Dream from sister brand Dream Cruises in 2017, and would go on to sail from various South East Asian homeports like Laem Chabang, Thailand and Port Klang, Malaysia.
2020 — Singapore Government COVID-19 Cruise Dorm Operations
SuperStar Gemini (left) and SuperStar Aquarius (right) berthed at Marina Bay Cruise Centre, Singapore during the Cruise Dorm charter. PHOTO: GENTING CRUISE LINES
Appreciation plaque to SuperStar Gemini for their contribution to the Cruise Dorm operation. PHOTO: VISHAL SINH SOLANKI
SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini took part in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The ships were chartered by the Singapore government to house migrant workers as the virus spread amongst the workers’ dormitories. The ships stayed in Singapore for about 6 months, after which they would be laid up indefinitely.
2022 — GHK Insolvency, Lay-up in Hambantota
Arius (SuperStar Aquarius) and Gem (SuperStar Gemini) in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. PHOTO: DAILY NEWS
When Star Cruises’ parent company Genting Hong Kong became insolvent in early 2022, the Star Cruises fleet was liquidated. SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini were sold for scrap, but received a short stay-of-execution, being laid up in Hambantota, Sri Lanka for a few months. The ships were renamed Arius and Gem respectively, before their eventual scrapping.
So What Happens Now?
Dismantling of Hull
Fellow Star Cruises fleetmate SuperStar Libra undergoing dismantling in Aliaga, Turkey. PHOTO: CRUISE INDUSTRY NEWS
Now that SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini have hit the beach, the two ships will now be taken apart. The ship’s hull is valuable as a source of raw materials, as the steel used to build the ship can be recycled and used in applications like rebar for reinforcing buildings. Think of yourself recycling an aluminum can, except the can is a whole cruise ship.
But dismantling is not where the scrapping process ends.
Memorabilia For Overseas Collectors
General Arrangement drawings are highly sought-after collectibles from scrapped cruise ships. PHOTO: VISHAL SINH SOLANKI
Looking for a unique and special souvenir? Items like signboards, design drawings, life rings bearing the ship’s name are also salvaged from scrapped cruise ships, and are highly sought-after collectibles by collectors overseas. These collectors usually have a special story with a particular ship. They might have been crew members onboard in the past, or it could be someone’s first cruise on that ship.
There are Facebook groups that focus on the sale of such items, and are frequently updated as ships arrive at the scrapyard.
Salvage of General Use Items — Alang Ship Yard Market
Items like furniture, appliances and even cutlery are also valued. Most of the items found on the scrapped ships are manufactured in foreign countries, and are locally touted for their quality and longevity.
One of the most notable places for second-hand items salvaged from ships is the Alang Shipyard Market, one of India’s largest second-hand markets. Just anything can be found at the market. If you can think of it, some vendor at the market probably has it.
Useable Mechanical Parts
Heavy machinery like the ship’s generators and engines are salvaged and either sold off whole, or taken apart and sold as spare parts.
DISCLAIMER: While due diligence has been taken to ensure all information presented is accurate and up-to-date, the information is subject to change, and discrepancies in, but not limited to, themes, timings and/or ports-of-call may occur. In the event of such a discrepancy, the cruise line’s itinerary will prevail. You are advised to contact the cruise lines directly for information, or to speak with your preferred travel consultant. Singapore Cruise Society will not be held responsible for any discrepancies found in the information provided.
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