MV Galapagos Legend

MV Galapagos Legend is a German-built cruise ship currently operated by GO Galapagos-Ecuador for cruises in the Galapagos Islands. It was originally built in 1963 for the HADAG shipping company as the MV Helgoland and served as a hospital ship during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1971.

The ship was constructed at the Howaldtswerke Hamburg AG shipyard and initially operated on the Cuxhaven-Helgoland line. It later served on various routes, including between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn, and Stockholm and Mariehamn, under charter to Stena Line.

During the Vietnam War, the German Red Cross chartered the Helgoland and transformed it into a floating hospital. It had 150 beds, three operating theaters, and four specialist departments. The medical staff included doctors, medical technicians, administrators, and nurses. The crew consisted of various personnel, such as nautical officers, ship engineers, electricians, and cooks.

After its service as a hospital ship, the Helgoland underwent several ownership and name changes. It was renamed Stena Finlandica in 1972, Baltic Star in 1975, and finally Galapagos Legend in 2000. It is currently operated by Galatours for cruises in the Galapagos Islands.