The gorgeous little Madagascar ex Stella Maris is to be sold at auction on 14 April in Durban, SA.

She has been laid up since 2005 after the collapse of her operator Indian Ocean Cruises, she was to start cruises last November with a new SA cruise line Razzmatazz Ocean Cruises, but this failed and the ship was arrested again..

The SA cruise industry has had a few problems the last few years, first Olympia Countess gets arrested while on charter to only cruise co Starlight, Royal African Cruises never happened and advertised cruises onboard Madagascar, the IOC and Razzmatazz both plan to use her and nothing successful as of yet..

Will be intresting to see her buys her,, hopefully no breakers,, Razzmatazz is apparently to aquire the vessel and to operate her.. Will see what happens...

Would love to see this little gem cruising in Med!!

See some info on sale and pics at

Not too sure when all the pictures were taken but she does not look too bad .

Problems with no valid certificates could give someone a headache but it would be nice to see her sailing again.

Many thanks for the information.

Neil ( Bob )

[ 04-05-2008: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

A nice set of pictures, but I really don't hold out much hope for her as a cruise ship.

Would love to see her renamed Stella Maris and crusing the Greek Isls..

The list appeared while she was berthed over by the dry docks, while she was at the Sea Rescue berth she did not have it. So must be 18 months or so she has had a "slight list to starboard".

Another problem they have never sorted is because of the sheer if it rains the water gathers in a large pool immedaitely outside the only door to the pool deck which means you have to wade through an ankle deep pool to get out, solved by placing wooden pallets in the water !

With the low reserve price it will be interesting to see if the person who was going to charter her for cruises from Durban is now interested in buying her.

She did have some re-fit work done in 2005 so it may not be too much of a problem to get her back in service again.

quote:

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Originally posted by PamM:
I note the valuation is only US$925,000 [without inspection] and this assuming she is SOLAS 2010 compliant and class maintained; is she?

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She was sold for $900 000!! Sold to a sub of Enterprise Shipping,, she will be refurbished and operated in Europe!

At least some good news about one of the older ships.

Lets hope the new owners soon have her in service.

Get this... The Madagascar will be on auction again!!!

This is because the $900 000 is below the reserve price od $925 000!!! $25g!!!!!! come on..

I wonder if the price they are asking for the ship includes the fees for the berth she has occupied in Durban harbour for so long.

The advertised sale of the cruise ship m.v. Madagascar was held without being concluded after the highest offer made failed to reach the reserve
price of USD925,000.

Auctioneer Capt Roy Martin of Admiralty Ships Sales told PORTS & SHIPS that seven bidders registered with six actually taking part in the bidding. A couple of bidders interested in scrapping the ship fell out early and the highest bid achieved was USD900,000, just USD25,000 short of securing the sale.

He expressed surprise that this bidder, represented by a Durban maritime attorney but thought to be acting on behalf of Greek interests, declined to go slightly higher and secure the sale.

Instead the sale has now been reopened to further interested parties and new expressions of interest are being invited. Capt Martin said he had already
received some interest from several parties which had been too late to participate in yesterday's auction but who had assured him they would
register expressions of interest before the cutoff date of Friday 22 April.

The court will then be approached to permit a new sale to be held or alternately in the event of no further interest to accept the lowest bid from yesterday's auction.

Best,

The little cruise ship Madagascar (formerly Viking Bordeaux and Stella Maris II) has finally been sold, going to a Dubai-based concern for USD 926,000.

The ship has been under arrest in Durban harbour since 2005 and the sale follows an inconclusive auction held a few weeks ago at which the reserve price of USD 925,000 failed to be realised. The highest bid then made was USD 900,000.

Auctioneer Capt Roy Martin of Admiralty Shipsales told Ports & Ships yesterday evening that the vessel had been sold to a company registered in Dubai under the name Mid East Shipping & Trading. He said the successful buyer had bought out the option held by the highest bidder at the recent auction.

It is believed that the other party holding the option was from the well-known Greek shipping family Restis, which in the late 1990s acquired the bulk shipping operations of SA Marine Corporation, better known as Safmarine.