I'm down just beside the Belfast WOW Centre and here comes the Black Watch Fred Olsen cruise ship sailing proudly up Belfast Lough. She looks well. Fred Olsen’s Black Watch (renames 1992 ) started out in 1972 and has sailed under numerous names. She is the only ship that departs from Belfast this year and she is calling into the Harbour five times in 2015; she will call in before and after her trip to the Scandinavian Capitals, before and after she heads to Spain and France and to pick up and drop off passengers for her sailing to Morocco, Portugal and the Canaries. She will also be calling into Belfast after her cruise to ‘Rugged and Rural Canada.’ Name: 1972–1991: Royal Viking Star 1991–1994: Westward 1994–1996: Star Odyssey 1996–present: Black Watch Operator: 1972–1991: Royal Viking Line 1991–1994: Norwegian Cruise Line 1994–1996: Royal Cruise Line 1996–present: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Port of registry: 1972–1988: Bergen Norway 1988–1997: Nassau Bahamas 1997–2001: Hvitsten Norway 2001–present: Nassau Bahamas Builder: Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Finland Yard number: 395 Laid down: 1 July 1970[1] Launched: 1 May 1971[1] Sponsored by: Mrs Thor Heyerdahl[2] Completed: 1 June 1972[1] In service: 26 June 1972 Identification: Call sign: C6RS5 IMO number: 7108930 MMSI number: 311166000 Status: In service General characteristics (as built) Type: Cruise ship Tonnage: 21,847 GRT 3,595 DWT Length: 177.70 m (583 ft 0 in) Beam: 25.19 m (82 ft 8 in) Draught: 7.30 m (23 ft 11 in) Installed power: 4 × Wärtsilä-Sulzer 9ZH40/48 13,240 kW (combined) Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) Capacity: 539 passengers General characteristics (after 1981 refit) Tonnage: 28,221 GRT 5,656 DWT Length: 205.47 m (674 ft 1 in)[2] Beam: 25.20 m (82 ft 8 in)[2] Draught: 7.55 m (24 ft 9 in)[2] Capacity: 758 passengers Notes: Otherwise same as built General characteristics (after 2005 refit)[1] Tonnage: 28,613 GT 11,854 NT 5,656 DWT Installed power: 4 × MAN 7L32/40 14,000 kW (combined) Propulsion: Two shafts; KaMeWa controllable pitch propellers Bow and stern thrusters Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) Capacity: 820 passengers

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