Ro/Ro AEGEAN SUN

Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Drapetsona, 05/08/05 #2264

 

Ship

Aegean Sun (2003)

ΕΤΖΙΑΝ ΣAN

Building Spec.

Kristiansands Mekaniske Verksted, Kristiansand, Norway, 1975 – N°222

Call Sign

SZUB

IMO Number

7383451

GRT

10.171

DWT

7.597

Dimensions

137,55 x 20,6 x 7,17

Engines

2 Pielstick 12PC2V, 8826 kW

Speed

18,5 knots

Passengers

12

Beds

12

Cars

 

Lane Metres

1.139

Sister ships

Aegean Sky

Aegean Star

Assi Euro Link (sank in 2003)

Filippos

Roro Gothica

Stora Korsnas Link I (sank in 1991)

Strada Gigante

Taxiarchis

Ulusoy 6

Registry Port

Piraeus

Flag

Greek

Former Names/Own.

Ordered by Tor Line; not ufficially named “Tor Caledonia” 1975

Fichtelberg – Veb Deutfracht Seerederei 1975-90

Fichtelberg – Deutsche Seerederei GmbH 1990-91

Spirit of DublinDublin Ferry 1991-92 (charter)

Fichtelberg – Deutsche Seerederei GmbH 08/92-11/92

Norcliffe – North Sea Ferries 1992-93 (charter)

Fichtelberg – Deutsche Seerederei GmbH 1993-94

Chartered to DFDS Seaways 1994

Dana Minerva – DFDS Seaways 1994-96 (charter)

Dana Minerva – Clare Shipping 1996

Seahawk – Seahawk K/S 1996-02

Chartered to Pandoro 01/97

Chartered to Fred. Olsen 07/97-08/97

Chartered to Pandoro 09/97

Chartered to Lineas Suardiaz 02/98-03/98

Chartered to P&O European Ferries 05/98

Chartered to Lineas Suardiaz 09/98

Cetam Victoriae – Cetam 05/02-09/02 (charter)

Seahawk – Seahawk K/S 2002-03

Chartered to E.S.CO. Estonian Shipping Company 10/02

Chartered to Cobelfret 2003

Chartered to Dart Line 09/03

New Names/Owners

Chartered to Anek Cargo 2004

Archagelos – Aegean Cargo 2006à

Chartered to Nel Lines 2006

Chartered to Anek Cargo 2006à

Line

 

 

This ferry is the seventh of the series of ten ro/ros built in Norway between 1971 and 1977, and the only one which wasn’t built at Framnæs yards. In fact also the “Tor Caledonia”, nowadays “Strada Gigante” was built in a different yard, the A/S Fredriksstad Mekaniske Verksted, but was finished at Framnæs yard, so this is the only ferry of the serie to have never seen the Sandefjord based yard. Another fact is linking the ship to the actual “Strada Gigante”: the “Aegean Sun” was to be named “Tor Caledonia”, having been ordered by Tor Line; anyway, after the keel laying the ferry was sold to the Government of Eastern Germany, being launched with the name “Fichtelberg” and registered in Rostock, which that time was the main port of German Democratic Republic. Her first employment was between Rostock and Havana, attempting this way to defeat the American embargo against Cuba. In 1990, when Germany was again united, the ferry passed under the ownership of the new Government of United Germany and started a long serie of charters; in 1996 the ferry was sold to DFDS, which already held her on charter since two years; later the ferry was sold to Seahawk K/S, which renamed her as the “Seahawk”. On this period was chartered to Pandoro, Suardiaz, P&O and Cetam, which renamed her as the “Cetam Victoriae” during its charter period. After later spells under Cobelfret and Dart Line services, was sold to Aegean Cargo, which renamed her “Aegean Sun”. Immediately chartered out to Anek Cargo, was engaged on the ro-ro connections Patras – Bari and Patras – Porto Marghera sailing on opposite days to the “Aegean Glory”; at the end of the ANEK period the ferry was engaged on other minor charters to various operators. During one of these charters to the British company Euromed, the “Aegean Sun” had her spell of celebrity due to the mooring at Ammochostos Port (Famagusta), on Northern side of Cyprus occupied by Turkey, which is strictly forbidden to any ship flying the Greek flag. This violation caused many problems both to the company and the Master of the ship, including a safety inspection which led to a fee of over five millions Euros. According to certain rumours, this fee was adopted as a warning for any other Greek ferry which should enter a port of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a state which is internationally recognised only by Turkey. After a considerably long period of lay-up, the ferry was renamed “Archagelos” and chartered to ANEK.

 

ANEK CARGO Ro/Ro Aegean Sun – Photo © Egidio Ferrighi, Porto Marghera #1445

 

Photo © Apostolos Kaknis, Perama floating dry dock, 31/05/05 #1684

 

Photo © Apostolos Kaknis, Drapetsona, 01/07/05 #1685

 

Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Drapetsona, 05/08/05 #2262

 

NEL LINES Ro/Ro Archagelos – Photo © Pavlos Protopapas, 25/03/06 #3748

 

ANEK CARGO Ro/Ro Archagelos – Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Keratsini, 04/11/06 #4728

 

ANEK CARGO Ro/Ro Archagelos – Photo © Apostolos Kaknis, Keratsini, 22/07/07 #7855

 

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