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After a long and successful career in Greek waters, the former 1971 built Larne - Stranraer ferry Ailsa Princess / Earl Harold faces an uncertain future.

Engaged on a variety of Greek island services from Piraeus, the Express Adonis was laid up at Piraeus at the beginning of February 2005 and has not been used since. 

The vessel has had some components removed including the MES system and her galley equipment.  With the sale of fleetmates Express Olympia (ex Earl Granville) and Express Posiedon (ex Saint Colum I) for scrap in April 2005, in conjunction with the ongoing cannibalisation of spare parts it was rumoured that Express Adonis may have joined them at the ship breakers. 

However, a recent shift of berth in Piraeus has fuelled rumours that the vessel may escape scrapping and be sold for further service, possibly in the Adriatic Sea between Italy and Albania.

Thanks to Nikos for the recent news and pictures of Express Adonis.

Above: Two views of Express Adonis at Piraeus on 4/11/05.  Photos: Nikos Thrylos (click to enlarge)

Express Adonis approaching Mykonos ferry port on 15/8/04.  Photo: Nikos Thrylos (click to enlarge)

Left: As Ailsa Princess during her Larne - Stranraer days in the early 1970's.  Photo: Roy Thornton Collection (click to enlarge)

Now trading for Caledonian MacBrayne as Muirneag, the former Larne - Ardrossan freight ferry Belard encountered some rough seas on 11/11/05 when crossing from Ullapool on the Scottish mainland to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

The Muirneag and her passengers spent a hellish 16 hours during which times the ship faced 80mph winds and 15m seas.  The vessel left Ullapool at 1015 on the 11/11/05 and didn't reach Stornoway until 0335 the following morning a crossing which normally takes 3 and a half hours.  The hurricane force winds prevented safe docking at Stornoway forcing the vessel to seek shelter until conditions moderated.
 

Links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4434964.stm
http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/fleet_news.asp
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=2243032005
 

On board the vessel during the crossing her cargo shifted, spilling the contents and damaging vehicles.  One passenger had to be airlifted off the vessel after sustaining a head injury as a result of being thrown across the ship.  Allegations were also raised that the captain of the vessel assaulted a passenger but these were later dropped after both parties resolved their differences.

Former Larne - Cairnryan fast craft has now been renamed Avemar Dos by her new owners Buquebus, Spain. 

The final sea trials were completed satisfactorily on 21/10/05 and the vessel has passed all the appropriate inspections.  She is due to enter service on the Algeciras - Ceuta route across the Strait of Gibraltar within the next few days.

The former Larne - Cairnryan ferry Pride of Al Salam 95 (ex Pride of Ailsa) was lost around 1930 local time on the evening of the 17/10/05 after colliding with a container ship near the Egyptian harbour of Port Tawfiq.

The Pride of Al Salam 95, owned by El Salam Maritime Transport of Egypt, had left the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah on the 16/10/05 with around 1466 people onboard, mainly Egyptians returning home after performing the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.  The ferry was at sea awaiting safe passage to enter the port of Suez when she was rammed by the Cypriot registered cargo ship Jebal Ali, which had just cleared the southern part of the Suez Canal after passing through the canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.

The cargo ship ran into the side of the ferry, tearing a 5m diameter hole in her side in the vicinity of the engine room.  After the collision, both ships locked together so the ferry remained afloat long enough for the passengers to board the cargo ship and from there be transferred ashore by a flotilla of rescue vessels.  Once the two vessels broke apart when the cargo ship went astern after evacuating all the ferry passengers and crew, the Pride of Al Salam 95 sank in around 3½ minutes.
 

After withdrawal from service at Larne in June 1996, the Pride of Ailsa was sold to El Salam Maritime of Egypt, becoming their Pride of Al Salam 95.  The vessel was mainly engaged ferrying pilgrim traffic between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.  She is pictured here in Suez Roads by European Causeway's purser Dave Blair when the new Larne - Cairnryan ferry was on her delivery voyage from Japan to Larne in August 2000.    For her new role the upper vehicle deck was converted into two decks of cabins and new promenade decks were created by extending the passenger accommodation over the poop deck.
Photo: Dave Blair (click to enlarge)

Reports suggest that up to 11 people may have died in the incident, killed either by the impact of the collision or in the stampede as passengers attempted to get to safety as quickly as possible.  At least a further 98 of the ferry's passengers were being reported as injured.  Damage to the Jebal Ali was reported to be slight and their are no casualties among her crew.  Although sinking in the approaches to the southern entrance to the Suez Canal, the wreck of the Pride of Al Salam 95 has not blocked the canal and it is now marked by buoys.

Some images showing the former Larne - Cairnryan ro-ro freighter Europic Ferry being scrapped at Alang, India in February 2005 have recently been passed along by Andy Graham and Afzal Varteji.  A special page looking at the interesting career of the Europic Ferry and including the scrapping pictures can be accessed here.

Pictured left is Ajman Glory (ex Europic Ferry) at Alang beach on 8/2/05.  Photo: Afzal Varteji (click to enlarge)

The former Stena Line ferry Stena Cambria (ex St Anselm), which served at Larne on a number of occasions in the early to mid 1990's, has recently returned to service in Spain after major engine repairs.

The vessel was sold from the Stena Line fleet in 1998 for further service in Spain and renamed Isla de Botafoc by her new owners.  This winter the vessel will be sailing on the route Mahon (Menorca) – Barcelona – San Antonio (Ibiza).

Isla de Botafoc only got back into service around July 2005 after one of her main engines had to be replaced due to a severe failure which saw the vessel sailing on one engine for a few months.  The problem subsequently forced her out of service and into lay up for several months at Gandia (Valencia) where the lengthy repairs were made.

Isla de Botafoc was built as the second ship in the Sealink Saint class quartet, which also included the Larne favourites Galloway Princess / Stena Galloway; St David / Stena Caledonia and St Christopher / Stena Antrim.  All 4 ships were were well known for their excellent freight handling capabilities and it is exactly this reason why the Isla de Botafoc has had the expensive repairs to allow her to continue trading.

Here Isla de Botafoc is seen at Curran Quay, Larne in her days as Stena Cambria on 16/3/91 whilst engaged on the Larne - Stranraer route.  Photo: Aubrey Dale (click to enlarge)

Latest news and photo of Isla de Botafoc with thanks to Captain Jose A. Pérez.

On the 9/7/05 this column reported the sale of the former Larne based ferry European Pathfinder from Trans Europa Ferries of Ostend to Estonian shipping interests.  In the intervening period, under her new name Via Mare, she has been readied for her new career on the Baltic Sea.  Wearing a new all white livery with blue funnels she has recently entered service for Baltic Scandinavian Lines sailing on the routes Paldiski - Kapellskär and Paldiski - Västervik.

The three pictures on the right were taken on the 9/9/05 showing Via Mare at Kapellskär departing for Paldiski.  She is following in the footsteps of a well known ex Larne ferry.  The former Darnia spent a number of years serving in this part of the world under the names Nord Neptunus and later Neptunia. 

You may recall that European Pathfinder's final weeks in service for P&O at Larne were marred with serious engine problems, so it is particularly pleasing to see this old Larne work horse looking well with her new owners. 

Right: Via Mare departing Kapellskär on 9/9/05.  Photos: Micke Asklander (click to enlarge).  Give Micke's excellent ferry website a visit at www.faktaomfartyg.com

After an extended lay up from September 2004 since P&O dropped her charter, former Larne based fast ferry Superstar Express was back in action in July 2005.

Requiring a major engine overhaul, the vessel went through most of the summer unused but emerged from lay up in  Birkenhead's wet basin for the first time on 15/7/05 for trials in Liverpool bay and the River Mersey.  She was out on trials overnight and returned to the wet basin on the morning of the 16/7/05.  Further trials were carried out on the afternoon of 21/7/05

Two days later, the fast craft was moved dead ship by two Svitzer tugs across the Mersey from the wet basin at Birkenhead to Canada dock on 23/7/05 in readiness for dry docking.  On the 25/7/05, tugs moved the ship into Canada graving dock for a survey and the painting out of her P&O markings.

At the completion of her dry docking on the 27/7/05 Superstar Express carried out another set of trials before returning to the Birkenhead wet basin.  Preparations were then made for a journey to Spain.  She departed the Mersey for the final time on the 4/8/05 bound for La Coruña where she arrived for fuel on 5/7/05.  After refuelling she carried on to her final destination of Algeciras where she arrived on the 7/8/05.

The Larne fast ferry favourite is to be renamed and after a local refit will sail for Buquebus on the Algecrias - Ceuta route across the Strait of Gibraltar
 

Pictured in her prime inbound to Cairnryan on 10/8/03.  Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge)

The final image at Larne, outward for the last time for lay up on 22/9/04.  Photo: Larne Ferry Web.

A place for Superstar Express in Larne ferry hall of fame has already been reserved.  With a mechanical reliability record that is the envy of all fast craft of similar size, she is the ship credited with turning the fortunes of fast ferry operations at Larne around after the poor reliability of Jetliner and also the ship that launched the Larne - Troon passenger route on the 15/4/03.  Truly she is one of Larne Harbour's all time greats.

Former Irish Sea vessel European Envoy, which also saw brief service at Larne under past names Norsky and Ibex has entered relief service on P&O's Dublin - Liverpool crossing.  She first sailed into the Mersey on 22/7/05 and took up service to cover the refit period of regular vessels Norbay and Norbank on 3/8/05.

Further to the story below dated 4th of July, the former Larne - Cairnryan ship European Pathfinder did indeed pass to new owners on the 8/7/05.

The Trans Europa Ferries' fleet member was renamed from Begonia to Via Mare and departed Ostend for Tallinn, Estonia at around 1830 on 8/7/05. 

This closes another chapter in the former Larne vessel's colourful history as she heads to new territory in the Baltic Sea.

Engaged in her early career on the Larne - Fleetwood service for Pandoro, the former Ibex, latterly P&O's European Envoy of the Dublin - Mostyn route was sold to Stena Line in 2004. 

Renamed Envoy, Stena immediately off loaded the ship to Kystlink for their services between Norway and Denmark.  Recently replaced on this service, the Envoy is now spare and has been chartered by P&O to return to her former haunts this summer as overhaul relief for Dublin - Liverpool vessels Norbay and Norbank

4th July 2005
Former European Pathfinder up for sale?

Rumours are currently circulating that the former Larne - Cairnryan vessel European Pathfinder is shortly to be sold. 

After replacement at Larne in 2002, European Pathfinder eventually found her way into the fleet of Trans Europa Ferries as their Begonia, sailing on the Ramsgate - Ostend service.

The vessel hasn't sailed on the Ramsgate service since 28/6/05 and is laid up in Ostend, although she did receive an under water survey in Zeebrugge on 25/6/05.

Right top: European Pathfinder at Larne.
Right bottom: As Begonia, the former Larne based vessel is seen entering Ramsgate on 23/6/05.  Photos: Steven Brown and Nigel Thornton (click to enlarge)

Its often said you can't keep an old girl down and a few old Larne girls are still working hard for new owners after passing on from use at Larne.

A LFW all time favourite, news of the former Viking Trader / Leopard / European Navigator was found lurking on a web search for her new name of Black Iris. 

On http://www.mot.gov.jo/joint.php#4 it seems her new owner, Arab Bridge Maritime of Jordan, have seen an increase in traffic and profits on the Aqaba (Jordan) - Nuweiba (Egypt) route across the Gulf of Aquaba.  This is narrow neck of sea reaching inland from the north east corner of the Red Sea.

Black Iris is one of three vessels operating on this route and the former Larne vessel carries predominantly freight traffic and up to 76 passengers.  She runs the service with an overnight conventional ferry and a fast ferry.  Traffic demands are such that Arab Bridge are seeking a new vessel to expand the fleet during 2005.

Further information about Black Iris can be found at:
http://www.abmaritime.com.jo
http://www.jordansinaihotels.com/transptrips.htm

Two Larne - Cairnryan old timers were found on the Saudi Port Authority's website http://www.ports.gov.sa.  The former Pride of Ailsa and European Trader, now operating as Pride of Alsalam 95 and Lina Trader respectively, are both regular callers at the Saudi port of Jeddah.  Calls by Pride of Alsalam 95 are logged on:

http://www.ports.gov.sa/section/vessel.cfm?vid=636

While Lina Trader's calls at Jeddah are catalogued here:

http://www.ports.gov.sa/section/vessel.cfm?vid=581

Both vessels sail across the Red Sea carrying pilgrim traffic heading to Mecca.

Bad news however is at hand for former Larne - Cairnryan fast craft Jetliner.

Believe it or not the vessel is still in one piece and sailing although the sailing mainly consists of moving from anchorage off Semarang (Indonesia) into the harbour to take on fuel, supplies and fresh water for her 20 caretaker crew that look after her on a permanent basis.

Still running under the name Jetliner, the vessel has been put to rest along with a number of other vessels in the Pelni fleet.  Stiff competition by airlines and operational difficulties with the Jetliner saw Pelni's profits turn to losses and to reduce these losses company managers laid up part of the fleet including Jetliner.

Full text of the Jetliner story can be found here taken from http://www.tempo.co.id Economy and Business section.

Thanks to Gary Andrews for the links

Former Larne vessels Pride of Ailsa (above at Ballylumford Jetty 7/8/93) and European Trader (below at Belfast for refit) now regularly call at the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah for new owners El Salam Maritime of Egypt.  Photos Aubrey Dale and Steven Brown (click to enlarge)

Jetliner turns off the berth at Larne for Cairnryan.  Her new operators, Indonesia's Pelni Line have laid her up at anchor off Semerang, Indonesia.  Photo: Steven Brown (click to enlarge)

The former Sealink ferry Earl Granville is to have her long career brought to an end by Indian ship breakers.

Latterly in service to the Greek islands  from Piraeus as Express Olympia, the former Earl Granville spent several weeks on the Larne - Stranraer service during the early part of 1990 relieving usual Stranraer ferries Galloway Princess, St David and Darnia.
 

Built as Viking 4 in 1973 the vessel was one of a series of 8 sister vessels built at the German Papenburg shipyard during the early 1970's.  Bought by Sealink from previous owners Viking Line in 1981 she was a familiar sight on the Western Channel routes from Portsmouth and Weymouth to Cherbourg and the Channel Islands.  Her later career with Sealink saw her provide relief service on the Irish Sea prior to sale to Greek owners in 1990 as Express Olympia.

She passes for breaking in April 2005 along with fleet mate Express Poseidon, better known in Northern Ireland as the Belfast - Liverpool car ferry Saint Colum I.

11th January 2005
Former Belard Touches Bottom

The former Larne - Ardrossan vessel Belard, now trading as Muirneag for Caledonian MacBrayne on the Ullapool - Stornoway crossing, ran aground early on the 10/1/05.

The vessel had left Stornoway on passage to Ullapool but she was forced to put back to Stornoway because of heavy seas.  She ran aground while berthing at Stornoway around 0430.  She was refloated on the rising tide around 0545 and was due to visit A&P Birkenhead for repairs on Friday 14th January.

From www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk
Further reading:
Belard on LFW
Belard on faktaomfartyg