F/B
MEGISTANAS
Photo © Pieter Inpijn
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Ship
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Megistanas
(1995)
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Building
Spec.
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1959 at VEB
Neptun, Rostock, Germany N° 965
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Call Sign
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IMO Number
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5314444
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GRT
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9.940
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DWT
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2.318
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Dimensions
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137,52 x
18,39 x 5,7
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Engines
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4 9cil. Halberstadt,
9.600 hp
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Speed
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18 knots
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Passengers
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1.400
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Beds
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428
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Cars
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240
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Lane
Metres
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525
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Sister
ships
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Registry Port
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Valletta
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Flag
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Maltese
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Former Owners
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Deutsche Reichsbahn 1957-86
Afroessa Lines 1986-89
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Former
Names
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Sassnitz 1957-86
Silver Paloma 1986-95
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New
Owners
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Sold in India
for scrap 2000
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New
Names
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Megi 2000
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Line
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Was owned by the Eastern Republic of Germany’s railways, employed between
Sassnitz and Trelleborg. In 1973 was a month on Stockholm
- Nadendal (Naantali) line, in 1978 summer connected Sassnitz with Bornholm’s island port Ronne. Was acquired by Afroessa Line,
a subsidiary of Arkadia Lines, in 1986 bearing the name “Silver Paloma”. Her
refit was very important: the ship, originally a train-ferry, loses her four
rail lines, the passenger capacity passed from 1.017 to 1.400, of which 428
were berthed, as the “Sassnitz” hadn’t berth accommodation, two lifeboats each
side were removed for building up the new stern solarium, good looking and
equipped with swimming pool; the funnels were lifted, but, for my opinion,
Arkadia lost the occasion to cut one of the two funnels, better if it were the
front one. From her delivery to 1993 was on Piraeus
- Rhodes - Limassol - Haifa
Line, diverting to Heraklion on summer months. In these years my uncle worked
aboard that ship as waiter; it’s interesting that then he was employed on the
“Nissos Kypros” of Salamis Lines, on the same service, which was the original
fleet mate of “Sassnitz” in Eastern German service as “Trelleborg”. In 1994
Arkadia left this market to Poseidon Lines and Salamis
Lines, putting the ferry on Igoumenitsa - Bari line substituting the younger
“Paloma”. Was still in service with her classic name and Greek flag in 1994,
despite of her 37 years of age; in 1995 was renamed “Megistanas” and reflagged
to Malta,
still for the same owner and service. From 1997 was laid up in eleusis, left only in 2000 for the last voyage to India,
destination a scrapping yard, at the very respectable age of 41.
DEUTSCHE REICHSBAHN F/B Sassnitz - Photo by courtesy of Micke Asklander
ARKADIA LINES F/B
Silver Paloma - Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Igoumenitsa, 01/07/94
ARKADIA LINES F/B
Silver Paloma - Photo © Emilio Barenghi, Igoumenitsa
Photo © Pieter
Inpijn