View source for MS Monarch

{{Short description|Scrapped cruise ship}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Monarch Cartagena 2014.jpg
| Ship caption = ''Monarch'' in [[Cartagena, Colombia]]
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country =
| Ship flag =
| Ship name = *1991–2013: ''Monarch of the Seas''
*2013–2020: ''Monarch''
| Ship owner = [[Royal Caribbean International]]
| Ship operator = *1991–2013: [[Royal Caribbean International]]<ref name="presstur.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.presstur.com/site/news.asp?news=36059 |title=>< |publisher=PressTur |date= |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}</ref>
*2013–2020: [[Pullmantur Cruises]]
| Ship registry = *1991–2004: [[Oslo]] {{NOR}}<ref>[https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/docs/documents/monarch.pdf Report of Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Grounding of the Monarch of the Seas]</ref>
*2005–2013: [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], {{flag|Bahamas|civil}}
*2013-2020: [[Valletta]], {{flag|Malta|civil}}
| Ship route = Southern Caribbean
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[Chantiers de l'Atlantique]]; [[Saint-Nazaire]], [[France]]
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship yard number = A30<ref name="dnv">{{csr|register=DNV|id=16251|shipname=Monarch|accessdate=September 10, 2016}}</ref>
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = July 31, 1989<ref name="dnv" />
| Ship launched = September 22, 1990<ref name="dnv" />
| Ship completed = 
| Ship christened = 
| Ship acquired = October 15, 1991<ref name="dnv" />
| Ship maiden voyage = *November 11, 1991 as ''Monarch of the Seas''
*April 27, 2013 as ''Monarch''
| Ship in service = 1991-2020
| Ship out of service = 2020
| Ship identification = *[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]] 9HA3314
*{{IMO Number|8819500}}
*{{MMSI|229415000}}
| Ship fate = Scrapped in [[Aliağa]] in 2021
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Sovereign|cruise ship}}
| Ship tonnage = * {{GT|73,937}}<ref name="dnv" />
* {{NetT|47,505}}<ref>[http://psix.uscg.mil/PSIX/PSIXDetails.aspx?VesselID=368390 Monarch of the Seas], USGS</ref><ref name="dnv" />
| Ship length = {{convert|268.32|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="dnv" />
| Ship beam = {{convert|36.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="dnv" />
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = 
| Ship draft = {{convert|7.55|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="dnv" />
| Ship depth = 
| Ship decks = 12
| Ship deck clearance = 
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship ice class = 
| Ship sail plan = 
| Ship power = Four [[Pielstick]]-[[Alstom|Alsthom]] [[diesel engine]]s, {{convert|21,840|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} (combined)
| Ship propulsion = * Two [[controllable pitch propeller]]s
* Two [[bow thruster]]s
| Ship speed = {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship capacity = 2,744 passengers
| Ship crew = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}
'''MS ''Monarch''''' (formerly '''''Monarch of the Seas''''') was the second of three {{sclass|Sovereign|cruise ship}}s owned by [[Royal Caribbean International]]. Beginning on April 1, 2013, ''Monarch'' was operated by RCCL's [[Pullmantur Cruises]], before being sold for scrap in 2020 following Pullmantur's closure. The ship was built in 1991 at the [[Chantiers de l'Atlantique]] shipyards in [[Saint-Nazaire]], [[France]].

At {{GT|73,941}}, ''Monarch'' was one of the largest cruise ships in the world at time of her completion. She could carry up to 2,744 passengers.

== History ==
[[File:Monarch of the Seas.JPG|thumb|left|250px|''Monarch of the Seas'' with Royal Caribbean livery anchored off Coco Cay.]]

About a third of the ship burned during its completion afloat in 1990, due to an accident involving some welding equipment. At the time, the cost to make repairs was so significant that it was not clear if the ship could be repaired.
After consideration, the ship was placed in dry dock and the damaged bow section was removed. This section was then rebuilt and the metal recycled to construct the next ship of the class, ''Majesty of the Seas''.

''Monarch'' had an outdoor basketball court, two shuffleboard courts, and a rock climbing wall. There were also two full-sized salt water pools. She was refurbished in May 2003 to add the rock-climbing wall. The fitness center, spa and children's area were also enlarged.<ref>{{cite journal|date=March 24, 2003 |title=Royal Caribbean International's Monarch of the Seas to be completely refurbished in late-5/03|quote=Look for Royal Caribbean International's Monarch of the Seas, one of RCI's older ships, to be completely refurbished in late May before it begins Los Angeles service in June.|journal=[[Travel Agent (magazine)|Travel Agent]]}}</ref>  Prior to being retired from the Royal Caribbean International fleet, ''Monarch of the Seas'' (as she was then called) sailed to the Bahamas out of [[Port Canaveral]], [[Florida]].

In 2007, ''Monarch'' became the first major cruise ship in the world to be captained by a woman, the [[Sweden|Swede]] [[Karin Stahre-Janson]], who remained the only one until 2010 when the [[United Kingdom|British]] captain Sarah Breton took charge of {{MS|Artemis}} of [[P&O Cruises]].<ref name=USAToday5Nov2007>{{cite web
|url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2007-05-10-first-woman-cruise-captain_N.htm
|title=Q&A: World's first female captain of a major cruise ship
|publisher=USA Today
|date=November 5, 2007
|accessdate=April 22, 2010
}}</ref><ref name=Express22Apr2010>{{cite web
|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/170747/Sarah-Breton-The-first-female-cruise-ship-captain
|title=Sarah Breton:The first female cruise ship captain
|publisher=Daily Express
|date=April 22, 2010
|accessdate=April 22, 2010
}}</ref>

On 1 April 2013, after serving for [[Royal Caribbean International]] for 22 years, ''Monarch'' was transferred to Spain's [[Pullmantur Cruises]], joining her sister ship {{MS|Sovereign}}.<ref name="cruiseindustrynews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/6986-royal-caribbean-moving-monarch-of-the-seas-to-pullmantur.html |title=Royal Caribbean Moving Monarch of the Seas to Pullmantur – Cruise Industry News &#124; Cruise News |publisher=Cruise Industry News |date= March 20, 2012|accessdate=April 26, 2014}}</ref> Before sailing for Pullmantur, ''Monarch'' underwent another refurbishment to some of her cabins, casino and shops.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merima.fi/uutiset/pullmantur-ship-management-awards-merima-refurbishing-project-0 |title=Pullmantur Ship Management awards Merima a refurbishing project &#124; Merima |website=www.merima.fi |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903064741/http://www.merima.fi/uutiset/pullmantur-ship-management-awards-merima-refurbishing-project-0 |archive-date=3 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> She began sailing year-round in the Southern Caribbean on 27 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/7296-pullmantur-to-base-monarch-of-the-seas-in-southern-caribbean.html |title=Pullmantur to Base Monarch of the Seas in Southern Caribbean – Cruise Industry News &#124; Cruise News |publisher=Cruise Industry News |date=May 21, 2012 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}</ref><ref name=CruiseInd20March2012>{{cite web
|url=http://cruiseind.com/2012/03/20/monarch-of-the-seas-transferred-to-pullmantur/
|title=Monarch of the Seas Transferred to Pullmantur
|publisher=CruiseInd
|date=March 20, 2012
|accessdate=March 20, 2012
}}</ref>

[[File:Monarch et Sovereign en Turquie pour être démantelés.jpg|thumb|left|''Monarch'' (left) and ''Sovereign'' (right) beached for scrapping in [[Aliağa]], [[Turkey]] in July 2020.]]
In 2020, amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], ''Monarch'' and {{MS|Sovereign}} were placed into "cold lay-up" and Pullmantur Cruises filed for financial reorganization.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pullmantur Ships Move to Cold Lay-up |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23074-pullmantur-ships-move-to-cold-lay-up.html |accessdate=28 June 2020 |work=Cruise Industry News |date=11 June 2020 |location=New York NY}}</ref> According to reports, the interiors of the ships were stripped of "everything of value".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Jim |title=Is Pullmantur Cruises Ending Operations? |url=https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2020/06/articles/disease/is-pullmantur-cruises-ending-operations/ |accessdate=28 June 2020 |work=Cruise Law News |publisher=Walker & O'Neill Maritime Lawyers |date=21 June 2020 |location=South Miami FL}}</ref> Pullmantur Cruises announced that MS ''Monarch'', MS ''Sovereign'' and MS ''Horizon'' were to be sold to breakers for scrap in [[Aliağa]], [[Turkey]]. She was beached on 22 July 2020 and scrapping started on 5 April 2021 with the removal of the pilot's cabinet.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.cruiseharbournews.com/monarchaliaga.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926083058/http://cruiseharbournews.com/monarchaliaga.html| url-status=usurped| archive-date=September 26, 2020| title=Monarch Arrives in Aliaga for Scrapping| publisher=Cruise & Harbour News Magazine| date=13 July 2020| accessdate=14 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Famed Monarch Cruise Ship Beached for Scrapping |url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/video-famed-monarch-cruise-ship-beached-for-scrapping |website=The Maritime Executive |accessdate=22 July 2020}}</ref>

[[File:AliagaPanoramaMay2021 (Monarch).jpg|thumb|right|''Monarch'' being scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey in May 2021.]]

==Incidents==
===Grounding off St. Maarten===
After evacuating a sick passenger at [[Philipsburg, Sint Maarten]], the [[Netherlands Antilles]] on December 15, 1998, ''Monarch of the Seas'' grazed a [[reef]] while departing, opening a gash along the starboard hull {{convert|40|by|2|m|ftin}} in size.<ref name="incidentreport">{{cite news|url=http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/7361|title=Monarch of the Seas Incident Summary|date=December 16, 1998|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=January 1, 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421102826/http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/7361|archivedate=April 21, 2012}}</ref> The ship started taking on water and began to sink by the bow. Three of its [[watertight compartment]]s were completely flooded and several others partially flooded.

The ship was intentionally grounded on a sandbar to prevent further sinking. All passengers were evacuated by crew members and local tender operators. There were no deaths. The grounding breached two of the ship's diesel fuel tanks and an overflow tank causing a small [[fuel spill]] of approximately {{convert|100|USgal}}. There was also severe damage to the ship.<ref name="incidentreport" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/12/16/world/main25357.shtml?source=search_story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524205407/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/12/16/world/main25357.shtml?source=search_story|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 24, 2011|title=Disaster Averted On Luxury Line|date=December 16, 1998|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=December 28, 2008}}</ref> A joint investigation by the Norwegian Maritime Investigator and the [[United States Coast Guard]] found that the accident was due to "…a myriad of human performance deficiencies." Reports also indicate that navigation out of the port was done visually rather than using of electronic navigation and that the relocation of a vital buoy was not reflected on charts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hklaw.com/id24660/PublicationId3/ReturnId33/ServiceId179/contentid46289/ |title=The Law of E-Navigation |last=Bryant |first=Dennis L. |date=September 27, 2006 |accessdate=December 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718115048/http://www.hklaw.com/id24660/PublicationId3/ReturnId33/ServiceId179/contentid46289/ |archivedate=July 18, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Maritime Investigator of Norway & US Coast Guard|title=Report of Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Grounding of the MONARCH OF THE SEAS on Proselyte Reef in Great Bay, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles}}</ref>

The ship was [[drydock]]ed for repairs for three months at [[Atlantic Marine (company)|Atlantic Marine]]'s [[Mobile, Alabama]], facilities. 114 of the ship's compartments had to be cleaned. The work also included replacement of machinery, 460 tons of shell plating, and {{convert|18|mi|km}} of electrical wiring.

[[Americans|American]] comedian [[John Pinette]] was aboard the ship at the time of the incident, referencing it in his 2005 DVD 'I Say Nay Nay'.

===Gas leak===
While docked at the [[Port of Los Angeles]] in August 2005, maintenance on a sewage pipe caused a small amount of raw sewage and an unknown amount of [[hydrogen sulfide]] gas to escape.  Three crew members were killed and 19 others were injured. Reports said that the deaths were almost instantaneous as the crew members were not wearing breathing apparatus at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/891270051.html?dids=891270051:891270051&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+03%2C+2005&author=Hector+Becerra+and+David+Pierson&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Gas+Kills+3+Crewmen+on+Ship%3B+Sewage+bursts+from+a+pipe+during+repair+on+a+cruise+liner+at+the+Port+of+L.A.+Twenty+others+are+injured%2C+but+no+passengers+are+hurt.&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525132556/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/891270051.html?dids=891270051:891270051&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+03,+2005&author=Hector+Becerra+and+David+Pierson&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Gas+Kills+3+Crewmen+on+Ship%3B+Sewage+bursts+from+a+pipe+during+repair+on+a+cruise+liner+at+the+Port+of+L.A.+Twenty+others+are+injured,+but+no+passengers+are+hurt.&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 25, 2011|title=Gas Kills 3 Crewmen on Ship; Sewage bursts from a pipe during repair on a cruise liner at the Port of L.A. Twenty others are injured, but no passengers are hurt.|last=Becerra |first=Hector |date=Sep 3, 2005|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=January 1, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/891748471.html?dids=891748471:891748471&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+05%2C+2005&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=IN+BRIEF+%2F+Los+Angeles+County+%2F+LOS+ANGELES%3B+3+Workers+Who+Died+on+Cruise+Ship+Identified&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525132616/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/891748471.html?dids=891748471:891748471&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+05,+2005&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=IN+BRIEF+%2F+Los+Angeles+County+%2F+LOS+ANGELES%3B+3+Workers+Who+Died+on+Cruise+Ship+Identified&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 25, 2011|title=3 Workers Who Died on Cruise Ship Identified|date=Sep 5, 2005|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=January 1, 2009}}</ref>

===Captain's death===
Thirty-eight-year-old Captain Joern Rene Klausen was found dead in his stateroom aboard ''Monarch'' early the morning of January 30, 2006. The ship was returning to [[Los Angeles]] from a three-night cruise to [[Ensenada, Mexico]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10F8CD1165D4E408&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=CRUISE SHIP CAPTAIN DIES ON TRIP|date=February 2, 2006|publisher=Long Beach Press-Telegram |accessdate=January 1, 2009}}</ref>  According to reports, the death appeared to be from natural causes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-12492247_ITM|title=Monarch of the Seas master dies.|date= February 2, 2006|publisher=Europe Intelligence Wire|accessdate=January 1, 2009}}</ref>

=== Coronavirus pandemic ===
{{see also|COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships}}

On 14 March 2020, Panama repatriated 1,504 Colombian tourists from the cruise ship ''Monarch'' due to [[coronavirus]] fears. Since the port of [[Cartagena, Colombia]] was closed, the people had to fly from [[Colón, Panama]]. 

On 17 April 2020, a Honduran crew member died of the virus in a hospital in Panama City.<ref name="monarch.crew">{{cite web| url=https://crew-center.com/memoriam-cruise-ship-crew-members-lost-covid-19-pandemic| title=In Memoriam: Cruise Ship Crew Members Lost in COVID-19 Pandemic| publisher=Crew Center| date=7 April 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419230651/https://crew-center.com/memoriam-cruise-ship-crew-members-lost-covid-19-pandemic| accessdate=14 July 2020| archive-date=April 19, 2020}}</ref> He had been [[medical evacuation|medically evacuated]] after having trouble breathing, and tested positive at the hospital.<ref name="monarch.crew" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|IMO 8819500}}
* [http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do?shipClassCode=SS&shipCode=MN&br=R Official website with Royal Caribbean]
* [http://galutschek.at/ships/monarch_of_the_seas/ Video Clip of Monarch of the Seas]
* [http://www.cruisejunkie.com/Ships/Events_by_Monarch.html incidents at sea aboard Monarch of the Seas]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E2gQTAzrC8 Video of the accident]

{{Royal Caribbean Cruise International Ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monarch}}
[[Category:Ships of Royal Caribbean International]]
[[Category:Ships built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique]]
[[Category:1990 ships]]