A 1906 built classic yacht that once was owned by the Hollywood actors Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, KALIZMA was seen at Malta passing the breakwaters at Valletta at 1529 hrs on Tuesday 18th June, 2024 with her last port of call was Bijela, Montenegro.
She was built by Ramage & Ferguson, Leith, Scotland as a luxury private yacht MINONA for Robert Stewart, previous owner of Kirkliston Distillery and prominent Scottish estate owner. Steward was also noted in history as being Vice Commodore of the Royal Eastern Yacht Club.
During October 1914 she was requisitioned by Royal Navy as an auxiliary patrol vessel and was equipped with armaments- 2-6 pound guns, 1-6pdr AA to aid in wartime efforts to fend off enemy U-boats. At the end of the war, MINONA was decommissioned from her wartime duties on 6th June, 1919 so she served World War I.
By the end of 1939, the MINONA was requisitioned again by the British Admiralty for World War II and was given HMS Prefix so she was commissioned as HMS MINONA. She served as the flagship and base for His Majesty’s Deep Sea Rescue Tug Services at Campbeltown, situated on Mull of Kintyre, Scotland, until December 1945.
Once she was decommissioned again from wartime duties, she resumed her role as a private luxury steam yacht. During 1947 she was renamed CORTYNIA and again to ODYSSEIA .
During 1967 she made the headlines when Richard Burton bought the yacht for $192,000 as a gift for his wife and actress Elizabeth Taylor. The couple had initially chartered the ODYSSEIA to sail around Portofino during May 1967. On acquisition later that year, the classic yacht was subsequently re-christened as KALIZMA an acronym derived from the names of their three daughters – Kate, Liza and Maria.
After the 1970′, the yacht went through a series of owners including the British Businessman PETER DE SAVARY (11 July 1944 – 30 October 2022) and Indian Fugitive former businessman and politician VIJAY VITTAL MALLYA ( Born in 1955) .
Moored at Manoel Island Marina back to 28th July, 2004.
During 2019 she was acquired by the Indian National Private Equity Investor and Entrepreneur SHIRISH SARAF (Born in 1967) and went into an extensive refit in 2020 to restore her.
2 years later during 2021 she was ranked amongst the top 100 Superyachts in Asia-Pacific and on 21st May, 2022 she was was announced as the winner of a “Judges’ Special Award at the 17th annual edition of the BOAT International World Superyacht Awards
More images of 2003/2004 can be found here – https://maltashipphotos.com/photo/kalizma-08-09-2003/
And last Tuesday images can be found here – https://maltashipphotos.com/photo/kalizma-18-06-2024/
Upon entering during her maiden call with her new look she proceeded to moor at the Camper & Nicholsons – Grand Harbour Marina (GHM) which is set against the historic backdrop of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Grand Harbour Marina (GHM) which appreciate our maritime related work and are our SPONSORS too for a lifetime – https://ghm.com.mt
While her Husbandry Agent is Melita Marine Group – https://melitamarinegroup.net/ who they appreciate our work and are part of our SPONSORS too.
