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[May.12 2005]Oriana departed and towed from Dalian on May 12
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(DALIANNEW)¡ªSS Oriana liner,the world's only deluxe liner-theme Park and a
famous static attraction at Dalian Xinghai resort area departed from her
pier towing by four tug boats at the early hours of yesterday morning, reported
by Dalian Evening News.
Built in 1957 and set its
maiden sail in 1959 from the same port where Titanic from the same shipbuilding
factory, Britain¡¯s Orient Line, set the maiden sail, SS Oriana is known as the
¡°former British Royal Vessel¡± featuring the British culture and a palace at
sea.
But renowned here in Dalian ever since her arrival in Xinghai Bay on
28th, June, 2002, local citizens favors her more as the nickname of ¡°White
Princess¡±.
Adjusting by two tug boats on two sides and towed by one on
the head and another driving boat behind, the last great Orient Liner --Oriana
was first rectified from the slant and took less than 20 minutes until vanished
into far most horizon.
 Looking back for
her unparalleled history, the 260-meter-long deluxe passenger liner, One of the
four most famous liners in the world had sailed 6.5 million sea miles since
1960, carrying some 400,000 guests all over the world and visiting 108 ports.
And once arrived in Dalian in 1985.
The Hangzhou Songcheng Group, a
company in east China's ZheJiang Province invested nearly 300 million yuan
(375,000 US dollars) to purchase the boat in 2001 and refit it. The refurbished
ship berthed at Dalian Xinghai Bay a year later and opened to public on July 18.
2002. According to the source, she would be permanently at Xinghai Bay in Dalian
as the world¡¯s unique deluxe liner-theme Park.
As the themed park,
Visitors are able to view the ship's original bridge, VIP hall, post office,
hospital and museums and enjoy films and artistic performances
there.
Oriana caught a fire just after her opening to public yet
didn¡¯t suffer from much loss. As a local tourist destination, the Park failed to
attract enough tourists due to relatively higher tickets price of 80 RMB
yuan.
Her tragedy continues. About 2AM on June 18, 2004 a strong
gale caused ORIANA her to heel over at a sharp list to port, dumping the access
ways in to the bay, the fatal damage was just after local administration
determined to remodel her into a free public park.
Domestic and foreign
salvage teams worked for a year to repair her but al failed in vain. She still
leaned to the side and stood bleakly.
According the anonymous insider
reported by Dalian New Business on May.12, She might not be any commercial
use and will be trashed ultimately.
Also from the report, her
destination is Zhangjiagang Port, Jiangsu Province in East China. Her last owner
is an anonymous shipbuilding company in Jiangsu.
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(Editor:Farah Song) (From:DALIANNEWS.COM)
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