The former Nippon Maru of MOL O.S.K. Passenger Lines was beached to be scrapped in India in June.

After completing a 36-year career for the Japanese company in mid-May, the 22,000-ton vessel sailed to the Indian shipbreaking yards under the Comoros flag.

Renamed the Mary for its final voyage, the 600-passenger ship was beached at the breaking yard on June 19, 2026.

The former Nippon Maru will now be dismantled as part of a months-long process that will see building materials, fixtures and furniture removed for recycling or repurposing.

Before selling the vessel, MOL also removed several items from onboard for what it called the “Nippon Maru Memorial Goods Project.”

As part of the initiative, former passengers and crew were able to buy furniture pieces from the ship, in addition to repurposed objects and art pieces.

Among the items offered were coffee tables and chairs from lounges, decorative pieces, general signaling items and light fixtures.

The company said that the project was aimed at preserving the history of the vessel, which completed over 2,000 cruises during its career, carrying more than 600,000 guests and visiting 400 ports.

According to Cruise Industry News data, the former Nippon Maru became the first cruise ship to be sold for scrapping in nearly a year.

Before the Japan-built ship, the Astoria was the last vessel sent to the breakers, having arrived at the Galloo Gent shipyard for dismantling in July 2025.

The 1942-built ship had been acquired by the Belgian recycling specialist a few weeks earlier for just 200,000 euros.

After being replaced by larger and more modern vessels in Celestyal Cruises’ fleet, the Celestyal Crystal and the Celestyal Olympia were also sold for scrapping in 2025.

The Ocean Diamond was another ship dismantled last year, after spending over a decade offering expedition cruises chartered for various operators.