SS Star of Krondor

SS Star of Krondor

SS Star of Krondor' underway, 1943
History
North Bardonia
Name:	SS Star of Krondor
Namesake:	Krondor
Owner:	Maersk Lines Shipping Group
Operator:	Maersk Lines
Port of registry:	Template:Country data North Bardonia Krondor
Route:	Carthiada – Vabasa – Tussia Port of Nicodemus (Spira)
Ordered:	1939
Builder:	Krondor General Shipyards, Krondor, North Bardonia
Cost:	₪.5 million
Yard number:	100
Laid down:	September 19th, 1939
Launched:	July 1941
Christened:	March 12th, 1942
Completed:	March 1942
Maiden voyage:	November 16th, 1942
Out of service:	July 14th 1955
Fate:	Caught fire on July 12th
General characteristics
Type:	Ocean liner
Tonnage:	83,673 GRT
Displacement:	83,000+
Length:	1,031 ft (314 m)
Beam:	118 ft (36.0 m)
Height:	233 ft (71.0 m)
Depth:	18.4 ft (5.6 m)
Decks:	14
Installed power:	12x Boilers
Propulsion:	4x Wilson Steam Engines
Speed:	28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) service speed
Capacity:	3,618 (listed)
Crew:	2,283
Notes:	1,235

The SS Star of Krondor was a North Bardonian ocean liner that caught fire and capsized off of the coast of Hooseria on July 12th, 1955, en route back home from the Port of Nicodemus (Spira) within Tussia via the Port of Vabasa in Hooseria to Krondor. At that time there were 1,823 Passengers on board with an additional 982 crew making a total of 2,805 people onboard, of these 1,011 died making it by far the deadliest maritime disaster in North Bardonian History, a title it maintains to this day.

The vessel was constructed by the Krondor General Shipyards and was one of the largest constructed at the time, ordered by Maersk Lines Shipping Group in 1939 construction was completed in 1942 and underwent its maiden voyage from Krondor to Kalidara on November 16th, 1942. The vessel would gain notoriety for its part in the North Bardonia-Hooserian-Tussia shipping lane, bringing tourist and businessmen through the three growing nations. Constructed during a low period for the global economy the ship would later become a symbol for economic growth and post war prosperity. On a routine journey back home, the ship would be lost taking half of her passengers and crew to a watery grave in part thanks to electrical failures, faults in her design and the incompetence and arrogance of her crew.

Much speculation has surrounded the sudden and disastrous loss of the vessel with numerous experts citing how the fire that would destroy the ship and the technical failings could only have been caused by sabotage. A government back investigation would be closed in 1957 with the event being listed as "accident", although many whistleblowers have cited the Augustines regime reformist attitudes and the 'Silent Coup' as a directly responsible for the disaster and the following covering up of the event. In the wake of the disaster Maersk Lines would begin to move away from traditional passenger ships and Maersk Lines herself would amalgamate her shipping company into Penitusian-Bardonian Lines.

Construction

The vessel was constructed by the Krondor General Shipyards and was one of the largest constructed at the time, ordered by Maersk Lines Shipping Group in 1939 construction was completed in 1942 and underwent its maiden voyage from Krondor to Kalidara on November 16th, 1942. The ship itself was third in the Star of North Bardonia class of vessels contructed from 1939 to 1943 and was one of six vessels: the others being the Star of North Bardonia (1941), the Star of Carthiada (1942), the Star of Krondor (1942), the Star of Lughansk (1943), the Star of Kharistan (1943), and the Star of Elijah (1943).

The Ship as seen under construction on September 14th, 1940

The Ship was also designed with state-of-the-art technology in mind which would priorities safety and speed for the ship with the innovations of the Great War taking a key role in the ships innovative design. Alongside numerous other developments the ship itself was designed by the world famous North Bardonian ship designer Ibrahim Asmal who designed the lavish interior alongside the exterior of the vessel. The ship alongside the expert designer also gained the advice and experience of Captain Wilfred Lesaur, a former Navy Captain and now an experience captain and an excellent host.

Alongside the excellent designers came the power of Krondor General Shipyards, the largest in North Bardonia, who had made hundreds of ships for Maersk and hundreds of ships for North Bardonia. The Ship would begin construction in September of 1939 and would be completed in 1942 with sea trials concluding in July and the finalisation of the ships interior in August allowing for the ship to take part on its maiden voyage in November of 1942.

Interestingly the ships destined route was already envision in its designers prior to its maiden voyage and even before construction began. The North Bardonian company seeing the Great War. The journey was that of Krondor to Kalidara then a cut across the Penitsuian towards Hooseria where it would stop before sailing onto Tussia before returning home. This route was sometimes referred to as the "Costal Crossing" as the ships that went along it rarely came across rough waters that were common in the ocean. The costal characteristic also made the cruise a comfortable and leisurely one that was all to calm with scenic views of some of the most beautiful cities and shores in the world.

Career

Star of Krondor at the Krondor Shipping Complex in 1954

Starting on its maiden voyage in 1942 from Krondor to Kalidara the first few years of the ship was spent traveling to the settlement of Daimako back to Krondor before in 1948 the ship began its famous trip up the Penitusian. The ships lavish interior made it a prime liner for the rich and wealth of North Bardonia, Tussia & other nations and peoples wanting to travel between the Penitusian. Another feature of the famous liner was its Captain, Albert Tragniet (1878-1955). Captain Tragniet served aboard the Star of Krondor from 1942 to 1944 and then from 1947 to its last voyage in 1955 who had advised designers over the course of construction.

In the 1940's many Krondorians took pride in its star and many Krondorians would travel abord her to catch a glimpse of a foreign land and bath in the 50-meter-long swimming pool that was one of the first of its kind and to dine in the six lavish themed restaurants. The lavish restaurants on boards were the Tayichian & seafood themed Ocean Bar, the Tussian-Orleaux Grand Constellation Restaurant, the Hooserian Eagles Nest Bar, the international themed Star Restaurant and the North Bardonian restaurant the Sea Star Restaurant. Alongside the globularly renowned food & entertainment was the only cinema on the water (at the time).

From 1948 the ship was pushed to its limits to conduct the Trans-Penitusian trip trying to compete with newly emerging air travel as its speed, crew, and state of the art electrical system was put under pressure to prove to the world that sailing was still luxurious, fast, and convenient. The liner in 1954 & 1955 were being pushed to their limits to remain profitable making the growing maintenance issues a brewing ground for disaster. Alongside the issue of technology on the boat there were also issues with the crew and funding for the boat.

In 1953 an issue with workers lead to a weeklong strike before Military Police forcibly dispersed the strikers and the workers who were on strike were fired and replaced with new workers. This policy led to distrust between the captain and corporate leadership and the workers of the ship leading to an atmosphere of tension and distrust.