Chartered Ships

Gotland has been built built in 1973 for Stena Line, which sold her once completed to Rederi AB Gotland. The ferry has been then chartered to other operators as TT-Line or Moly Line.

Gotland was chartered in March 1988 by Brittany Ferries, on the purpose of operating her on their Ouistreham – Portsmouth. Therefore, she sailed through summer 1988 alongside Duc de Normandie on this service.

Following Brittany Ferries’ charter, Gotland was chartered to Dieppe Feries a few weeks. In late 1988, Gotland was chartered by the Irish Continental Group, and operated by its two subsidiaries Irish Ferries and Belfast Car Ferries; which operated her respectfully on their Rosslare – Cherbourg-en-Cotentin / Le Havre and Belfast – Liverpool services.

After her charter to Irish Continental Line, Gotland was sold to Corsica Ferries in January 1989 which renamed her Corsica Victoria on 3rd February. In 1990, Corsica Victoria was lengthened by 20m, increasing dramatically her capacity (her Tonnage has been multiplied by two). Corsica Victoria is still operated by Corsica Ferries in 2015, alongside her sister ship Sardigna Regina.

Leili is one of four sister ships built in the late-90s by the Spanish shipyard Astillerons de Huelva SA for the Estonian Shipping Company. Therefore, she is a sister of Arrow, a ship which is often chartered by Condor Ferries.

In 2000, Leili was re-registered in Limassol (CYP). On 2nd May 2002, Leili was chartered by Crowley Maritime, and renamed through the charter Port Everglades Express. She was sold in 2004 to Eesti Merelævandus, and registered back in Estonia. Her name reverted to Leili after the end of her charter to Crowley Maritime.

Beginning 2004, Leili was chartered to Norse Merchant Ferries, and operated on their Birkenhead (GBR) – Dublin (IRL) service. Between 5th and 27th January 2005, Leili was subchartered to Irish Ferries, which allocated her on their Rosslae – Pembroke service.

In June 2005, Leili was transferred by Norse Merchant Ferries to their Dublin – Heysham service. In July, Leili was purchased by Elmira Shipping & Trading, which renamed her RR Schield, and re-registered her in Malta. Despite the purchase of Norse Merchant Ferries by Norfolke Line in 2006, RR Schield kept being chartered for service between Dublin and Heysham.

In August 2006, RR Schield was overhauled in Gdansk, prior to her sale to Attica Enterprise in September 2007, which shortened her name to Schield. On 1st October 2008, Schield was sold to Seatruck Ferries, although she remained operated by Norfolke Line.

Her charter to Norfolke Line took end in December 2009, and Schield was chartered by NorthLink Ferries to replace their former RoRo Hascosay. On 10th February 2010, Schield was renamed Hildassay, before being re-registered in 2012 in the Isle of Man.

As her sister, Coutances, Purbeck has been built in 1978 in Le Havre for Truckline Ferries which allocated her on their Cherbourg-en-Cotentin- Poole route shortly after her delivery

In 1986, Purbeck was sent in La Rochelle to be lengthened by 20m, increasing her capacity to enable her coping with the growing traffics.

However, Purbeck was replaced in 1992 by Barfleur, and was offered for charter. Purbeck was therefore chartered to Channel Islands Ferries between 1993 and 1994. Between 1994 and 2000, Purbeck has been chartered to Commodore Ferries and by Sally Line.

In 1996, due to the growth of the traffic of Irish Ferries’ Dublin – Holyhead service, Isle of Innisfree (2) proved to be unable coping with it. Therefore, Irish Ferries chartered Purbeck in order to provide an additional freight capacity until the delivery of Isle of Inishmore (2). Purbeck remained in Irish Ferries’ fleet between March and October 1996.

In 1997, Purbeck was chartered to Truckline Ferries for service between Ouistreham and Portsmouth. She was then chartered by Brittany Ferries between 2000 and 2002 for service on the Ouistreham – Portsmouth, to cope with the growing traffic on the route until the delivery of Mont Saint Michel.

In 2006, Purbeck was purchased by Conferry, and renamed Maria Rosaria. Two years later she was joined among Conferry’s fleet by her sister. She is still in service in 2015.

Thomas Wehr is one of five sister RoRo cargo ships built in the late-70s for Oscar Wehr transport. They were built to be chartered to other operators, and has therefore been chartered to a lot of operators during her career. For instance, Thomas Wehr has been chartered to Stena Line (1978 – 1979) and DFDS Seaways (1985).

in 1992, Thomas Wehr was chartered to Irish Ferries to cope with the growing freight traffic on the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin – Rosslare service. Thomas Wehr has been operated by the Irish company between June and August 1992.

Following this charter, she was laid up, only chartered from time to time to P&O European Ferries.

Thomas Wehr was sold to a Turkish company in April 2010, and renamed Lider Samsun.