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MV European Mariner (Ex Salahala) – Past and Present

IMO Number: 7636092

MV European Mariner

ex European Highlander, Lion, Merchant Valiant, Salahala

© Stephen Brown

© Stephen Brown

Steel twin screw motor vessel, built in 1978 by Rickmers Werft, GmbH, Bremerhaven, Germany. (Yard No. 390) as a RoRo Cargo ship

Technical Data

  • Length: 116.32m (overall), 103.41m (between perpendiculars)
  • Breadth of hull: 18.22 vm
  • Depth: 12.22 m
  • Draught: 5.360 m
  • Tonnage: 1,598 gross/640 – 1,764 net /3,046 deadweight
  • Engines: 2 Oil 4SA MaK 8M452AK diesels
  • Power: 6,000 bhp/4,413 kW
  • Speed: 16.0 knots
  • Capacity: 12 passengers, cars 40, TEU 140, Containers 140/20′
  • Call Sign: ZCLM, C6HL7
  • IMO Number: 7636092
  • Official Number: 373268 
  • Registry: Hamilton/Bermuda 🇧🇲, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸
  • Sister Ships: Emadala (395), Mashala (389), Gabrielle Wehr (391), Thomas Wehr (388) 

History

October 25th 1977: Launched.

“Second in a series of five sister ships originally built by Rickmers Werft, GmbH for the charter market”

January 18th 1978: Delivered to Salalah Shipping Co., Hamilton, Bermuda.

© Simonwp

© Simonwp (Genoa, 23/09/1986)

January 1978: Chartered to Gilnavi Societa di Navigazione per Azoni, Genoa, Italy. Commenced service between Genoa – Malta – Piraeus – Alexandria.

1990: Sold to Crescent Ship Management, Nassau, Bahamas. (Mgrs. Cenargo Navigation Ltd.).

1990: Commenced service for Merchant Ferries. Renamed MERCHANT VALIANT. Began operating between Heysham – Warrenpoint.

November 1993: Chartered to Pandoro, Fleetwood. Commenced service between Ardrossan – Larne.

© Aubrey Dale © Aubrey Dale  

© Aubrey Dale (All)

1995: Sold to Pandoro, Fleetwood, (Registered to Proofband Ltd., Nassau, Bahamas). Operating between Ardrossan – Larne.

© Aubrey Dale © Aubrey Dale © Aubrey Dale © Aubrey Dale  

© Aubrey Dale (All)

October 15th 1995: Renamed LION. (Registered to Gateway Investments Ltd., Nassau, Bahamas).

© Aubrey Dale

© Aubrey Dale (Larne, Curran Quay. 09/03/1996)

January 1998: Began service with P&O European Ferries Irish Sea. Renamed EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER.

© Alan Geddes © Aubrey Dale  

© Alan Geddes (Larne, 19/10/1999)(Left) and © Aubrey Dale (Larne, 07/05/2000)(Right)

June 23rd 2001: Renamed EUROPEAN MARINER.

June 30th 2001: Commenced service between Larne – Troon.

© Nigel Thornton © Nigel Thornton 

© Nigel Thornton (Both)

January 21st 2002: Chartered for three weeks to Isle Of Man Steam Packet, Douglas, Isle Of Man. Operated between Douglas – Heysham.

March 4th 2002: Arrive at Barrow for lay up until sale.

April 29th 2002  – May 2002: Chartered to Seatruck Ferries. Introduced between Warrenpoint – Heysham.

June 20th 2002 – August 20th 2002: Chartered to Color Line. Operated between  Kristiansand – Hirtshals.

September 1st 2002: Arrived in Liverpool.

September 8th 2002  – September 20th 2002: Chartered to Commodore Ferries.

September 22nd 2002: Commenced service between Larne – Troon.

© Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd  

© Trevor Kidd

October 19th 2002: Chartered to Norse Island Ferries. Operated between Aberdeen – Lerwick. She also returned to Larne a few times covering for refits of the EUROPEAN SEAFARER and EUROPEAN NAVIGATOR during which times she operated the Larne to Fleetwood service as well as the Troon route. Also covered fire damage to the EUROPEAN PATHFINDER.

December 2002: Returned to Larne on a permanent basis.

January 5th 2003: After being laid up over the Christmas and New Year holiday she commenced operations on the Larne to Troon.

August 2nd 2006: In the early hours at Troon, trying to berth, damaged her props and rudders after running down a perch. Went to dry-dock in Dublin.

August 11th 2006: Arrived back in Larne.

© Trevor Kidd

© Trevor Kidd (Larne, 11/08/2006)

© Aubrey Dale

© Aubrey Dale (Larne, 05/09/2006)

© Simonwp

© Simonwp (Larne, 01/08/2010)

© Trevor Kidd  © Trevor Kidd

© Trevor Kidd  © Trevor Kidd

© Trevor Kidd  © Trevor Kidd

© Trevor Kidd (Larne, 12/06/2011)

July 2011: Sold to Turkish breakers.

July 11th 2011: Left Larne for Aliaga, Turkey.

© Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd

© Trevor Kidd (Larne, 11/07/2011)

July 25th 2011: Arrived Aliaga for scrapping.


All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Stephen Brown, Aubrey Dale, Alan Geddes, Trevor Kidd and Simonwp for their assistance in producing this feature.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

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