The Kuwait Marriott Hotel, Shuwaykh, undergoing final conversion early August 1979
Registered owner: Kuwait National Hotels & Tourism Co.
Operator: Marriott International
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., USA
Gross tons: 15,366
Length overall: 177.9 m
Engines: 2 x General Electric geared turbines, 22,000 s.h.p., twin-screw
Completed October 1958 as passenger/cargo ship “Santa Paula” (US flag) for Grace Line Inc., New York
Owner sold its shipping interest to Prudential Lines Inc.; ship's registered owner became Prudential-Grace Lines Inc.
Laid up at Hampton Roads, Virginia 1971
Sold January 1972 to Oceanic Sun Line (a Marriott International subsidiary) & renamed “Stella Polaris”; originally intended to convert to cruise ship but this plan fell through; laid up at Piraeus
Sent to Rijeka 1976 for fitting out as a hotel. The bridge, engines & pool remained intact; lifeboats removed; forward hold converted to a lobby & office space. Sailed to Kuwait 1978 & positioned in a specially-built dock near the entrance to Shuwaykh port. Further conversions made & finally opened for business as Kuwait Marriott Hotel 1st February 1980
Renamed The Ramada al Salaam Hotel 1989.
Severely damaged by fire during the Gulf War of 1990 & never reopened. Broken up on site in 2002.