One of the Polish built ships originally bound for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was the 1980 built ferry DMITRIY SHOSTAKOVICH from a Class of 7 as Project B492/B493 by Stocznia Szczecinska im Adolfa Warskiego Warskiego in Szczecin, Poland. She was the lead of her class which she was named for the Soviet era Russian composer and pianist Dmitri Shostakovich.
Berthed at Crucifix Wharf (Now Pinto 4 and 5 wharves) back to Wednesday 26th July 1995.
From her date of delivery to 2000, she served in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe as the DMITRIY SHOSTAKOVICH of the Black Sea Shipping Company (BLASCO) of Odessa, Soviet Union, and then Ukraine. She got refitted at Gotaverken Cityvarvet AB yard, Sweden in 1985 and at Lloyd-Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany in 1991. She was 137.1 metres long with 21 metres beam and a passenger capacity of 350. Her Yard number was B492/1.
Entering Grand Harbour, Malta back to 1997 wearing Blasplan livery.
In 2000, similarly to her sister LEV TOLSTOY, she got purchased by the SCL Overseas Ltd. of BVI but continued serving under the Ukrainian flag as PALOMA I serving mostly a German and European clientele in budget European/Mediterranean cruises, chartered to Neckermann Seereisen and/or Hansatouristik of Germany.
Since 24th October 2003 she was owned by Di Maio & Partners Compagnia Di Navigazione SpA, Naples, Italy and renamed as PALOMA I homeported at Kingstown (VCT Flag) and seen several times at Malta. She was the sole cruise ship within the company.
In April 2007 she was sold and renamed as ROYALE STAR to RTBS Consultants PTE Ltd, Singapore until September 2013 where she was renamed as NEW IMPERIAL STAR by Skywill Management, Hong Kong, China with Palau Flag and was scrapped in 2016.
Watermarked Photos are by Capt. Lawrence Dalli otherwise stated. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Tuesday 25th January ,2022.
