MS Enchanted Capri
The MS Enchanted Capri is a 157-meter-long Belorussiya-class cruiseferry of 16,331 GRT built in 1975 at the Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Finland as the cruise ship Azerbaydzhan for the Soviet Union's Black Sea Shipping Company.[1] Originally designed for luxury passenger voyages in the Black Sea, the ship featured Soviet-era interiors and accommodated up to 650 passengers with amenities including cabins, dining areas, and recreational facilities.[1] In 1998, it was chartered and renamed Enchanted Capri by Commodore Cruise Line for short cruises out of New Orleans, blending tropical themes with remnants of its Eastern European origins, such as Ukrainian crew and Azerbaijani artwork.[2] Following Commodore's bankruptcy in 2001, the vessel was sold to Mexico's Demar Instaladora y Constructora and repurposed as a floating hotel for offshore oil and gas workers, serving in the Gulf of Mexico for nearly two decades after a 2005 refurbishment.[2] In October 2020, it was sold for recycling, but on November 3, 2020, during a severe cold front with 50-knot winds, the Enchanted Capri dragged anchor while moored near the Port of Alvarado, Veracruz, and ran aground on a nearby beach, with its four-person skeleton crew rescued unharmed.[3] By early 2023, the wreck had broken in two, prompting in-situ demolition efforts, though it remained a safety concern with public access banned.[4]Design and construction
Specifications
The MS Enchanted Capri is a Belorussiya-class cruiseferry originally designed for combined passenger and vehicle transport but later adapted for luxury cruising operations. Her technical specifications reflect modifications over time, including a 1984 refit at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany, which converted the car deck to additional passenger cabins, increasing capacity from 505 to 650 passengers, and a 1997 refurbishment that enhanced passenger accommodations for Western markets.[5][6] Key physical and performance characteristics include a gross tonnage of 16,331 GT (15,410 GT post-refit), net tonnage of 6,401 NT (post-refit), and deadweight tonnage of 2,251 DWT (3,000 DWT post-refit).[7][6] The ship's dimensions are as follows: length overall of 156.24 m, beam of 22.02 m, draught of 5.90 m, and depth of 13.46 m.| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Propulsion | Two Pielstick-Wärtsilä 18 PC2V-400 diesel engines, 13,240 kW total power; two controllable-pitch propellers |
| Speeds | Service: 21.5 knots |