M/V Saint Killian
Saint Killian was built as Stena Scandinavia in 1973 for Stena Line. She has been purchased in 1978 by Irish Ferries for their France – Ireland service, where she remained until 1998.
|
M/V Saint Killian (1978 - 1981) M/V Saint Killian (2) (1982 - 1998) |
|
|---|---|
| The Ship | |
| Launch | 1973 |
| Shipyard | Brodogradiliste Titovo (YU) |
| Owner | Irish Continental Group |
| Operator |
Irish Continental Lines (until 1987) Irish Ferries (From 1987) |
| Routes | Rosslare (IRL) - Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (FRA) | Le Havre (FRA) | Rosscoff (FRA) |
| IMO | 7226603 |
| Port of Registry | Dublin, Ireland |
| Technical Specifications | |
| Length |
124.75 m (Until 1981) 156.85 m (From 1982) |
| Breadth | 19.59m |
| Draught |
5.12 m (Until 1981) 5.22 m (From 1981) |
| Tonnage | |
| Gross Tonnage |
7,125 GT (Until 1981) 10,256 GT (From 1986) |
| Engines specifications | |
| Engines | 2 engines Pielstick 18PC2V |
| Maximum Speed | 21.5 knots |
| Passengers & Cargo | |
| Passengers |
1,500 passengers (Until 1981) 2,000 passengers (From 1982) |
| Cabins |
873 berths (Until 1981) 1,374 berths (From 1982) |
| Garage |
250 cars (Until 1981) 380 cars (From 1982) |
Service History
Saint Killian's early years as Stena Scandinavia
Stena Scandinavia was built in 1973 in Yougoslavia for Stena Line. She was one of four sister ships ordered by the Swedish operator. Stena Scandinavia was delivered to Stena Line on 27th June 1973, and introduced on their Göteborg – Kiel service, although she has also served the Korsor – Kiel and Fredikshavn – Göteborg routes. As soon as 1974, Stena Scandinavia was refurbished to increase the number of cabins of which she is equipped.
In February 1978, Stena Scandinavia was sold to the Irish Continental Group which was looking for a new ship for their France – Ireland service. Stena Scandinavia was purchased for £9 millions, and joined Saint-Patrick (1) on this service in April, after having been chartered a few months to her former owners.
An Irish career
In April 1978, the freshly-renamed Saint Killian went in Dun Laoghaire to promote Irish Continental Line’ France – Ireland route. Saint Killian was then introduced alongside Saint-Patrick (1) on the Rosslare – Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Le Havre service. Saint Killian has also been operated on a Cork – Cherbourg-en-Cotentin | Le Havre service.
However, only a few months after her introduction, that was supposed to enable Irish Continental Line coping with the growing traffic, Irish Continental Line had to notice that Saint Killian has become too small. Therefore, it was decided to replace Saint-Patrick (1) by a bigger ship, named Saint-Patrick (2). Moreover, Irish Continental Line decided to lengthen their Saint Killian to increase her capacity.
Therefore, Saint Killian was lengthened by 32.10m between November 1981 and February 1982 in Amsterdam by the shipyard Amsterdamsche Droogdok Maatschaapij. This jumboisation enabled her carrying 130 extra-cars along with 500 extra passengers. Once reintroduced on 26th February 1982, she was renamed Saint-Killian (2).
At Christmas 1986, Saint Killian (2) took fire off the coasts of Cornwall. Once the fire has been extinguished, Saint Killian (2) went to the Falmouth shipyard to made temporary repairs. She was then sent to the German shipyard Blohm & Volls to be fully repaired. Saint Killian (2) only resumed service in February 1987.
From 1995, Saint Killian (2) has also served a summer-only service linking Roscoff and Rosslare. Saint Killian (2) operated her last service with Irish Ferries on 26th September 1997, when she departed Ringaskiddy (Cork) for Le Havre, where she was laid up and offered for sale on 27th September. Saint Killian (2) was then replaced by the larger Normandy in the fleet.
Her last years in the Mediterranean
In October 1998, one year after having been laid up, she was sold to Cape Entreprise Ltd, which renamed her Medina Star. Sent to Pirea, she was then laid up again. In 2000, Medina Star was sold again to Green Island Maritime Ltd and then to Emporiki Bank the following year without being introduced on a route.
In late-2002, after having spent 4 years laid hup, Medina Star was chartered to Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, which refurbished her and renamed her Egnatia (3) for service on their Patras – Igoumenitsa – Korfu – Brindisi route beginning May 2003.
In June 2004, Medina Star was chartered to Algérie Ferries which allocated her on their Bejaïa |Alger | Oran – Marseille route and on their Oran – Alicante route.
Following this charter she was laid up again in January 2005, anchored in Eleusis Bay. No operator showed its interest in the former Saint Killian (2) and she was eventually sold to an Indian scrapyard in September 2007, and beached in Alang.
Photo Library
See Also
References
- "M/F Egnatia III". In The Ferry Site, , 2015. [retrieved 28th August 2015]. Available at www.ferry-site.dk ;
- "Irish Ferries - Past Vessels". Irish Ferries Enthusiasts, , 2014. [retrieved 28th August 2015]. Available at irish-ferries-enthusiasts.com ;
- "Irish Ferries Ship Postcards". In Simplon Postcards, , 2008. [retrieved 28th August 2015]. Available at www.simplonpc.co.uk ;
- "MS Stena Scandinavia". In Wikipedia, , 2015. [retrieved 28th August 2015]. Available at en.wikipedia.org.