MV Basem I
ex Shahpaa I, Sunlight Bey, Warsun, Merchant Venture, Merchant Isle, Argenta, Med Adriatico, Farman
Merchant Venture – © Robbie Cox
Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1979 by Est. Nav.De Viana do Castelo S.A., Portugal (Yard No 103) as a RoRo Cargo ship
Technical Data
- Length: 119.44 m (overall) 108.82 m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 19.51 m
- Depth: 10.72 m
- Draught: 5.217 m
- Tonnage: 2933 – 2955 – 6056 gross/1191 – 1112 net/3890 – 3671t deadweight
- Engines: 2 Vee Oil 4SA 16-cylinder MAN-Sulzer diesels
- Power: 6399 – 4414 kW/8700 bHP
- Speed: 15.5 knots
- Capacity: 12 passengers/12 cars/57 HGV
- Call Sign: IBTT, GJMN, ….5VCX2
- MMSI Number: 450527000
- IMO Number: 7619525
- Official Number: 987 (Med Adriatico) 386291 (Merchant Venture)
- Port of Registry: Palermo/Italy, Douglas/Isle of Man (UK), Panama, Beirut/Lebanon, Togo
History
April 4th 1978: Keel struck.
February 1st 1979: Launched.
August 31st 1979: Delivered to Societa Italiana di Armamenti (SIDERAMA), Venice, Italy.
September 1979: Chartered to GNMTC, Italy for services between Italy – North Africa.
1981: Laid up in Livorno.
1982: Sold to MedlinesS.p.A., Genoa, Italy and renamed MED ADRIATICO.
1982: Services Genoa – Livorno – Algeria.
1985: Sold to an unknown company and renamed ARGENTA.
1985: Chartered to SGMAT for services between Vado Ligure (Italy) – Messina.
© Simonwp (La Spezia, Italy, 23/09/1986)
1987: Sold to Proofband Ltd. (Registered to V. Ships (UK) Ltd., Douglas, Isle of Man) and renamed MERCHANT ISLE.
1987: Services for Merchant Ferries between Heysham – Warrenpoint.
1987: Registered owner; Cenargo Navigation Ltd. Manager; Crescent Shipping and renamed MERCHANT VENTURE.
© Aubrey Dale (All)
© Joe Canavan
1991: Chartered to Pandoro Ltd., Fleetwood for three months operating services between Liverpool – Belfast.
© Robbie Cox (Dublin, 09/08/1992)
November 1995: Services Heysham – Dublin.
September 1998: Chartered to East Coast Ferries, Hull for services Hull – Dunkerque.
Courtesy of PWR (Hull, 05/11/1998)
1998 – August 23rd 1999: Laid up in Birkenhead.
August 1999: Services Heysham – Belfast.
© Dave Rimmer
September 13th 1999 – December 24th 1999: Chartered to P&O European Ferries Irish Sea for services Fleetwood – Larne.
© Aubrey Dale
January 2004: Merchant Ferries services between Heysham – Belfast.
2001: Laid up in Birkenhead.
April 2002: Services for Norse Merchant Ferries.
September 3rd 2002: Norse Island Ferries between Aberdeen – Lerwick.
November 24th 2002: Laid up in Lerwick with engine problems.
March 18th 2003: Laid up in Birkenhead.
August 2003: Sold to Ivory Marine Lines SA, Dubai and renamed WARSUN.
December 2nd 2003: Left Birkenhead.
2007: Sold to Sunlight Shipping Co, Beirut, Lebanon and renamed SUNLIGHT BEY.
© Angel Luis Godar Moreira (Las Palmas, 28/05/2008)
2008: Rebuilt as a livestock carrier.
June 2014: Sold to unknown buyers in Lomé, Togo and renamed SHAHPAA 1.
September 1st 2016: Sold to Alia Shipping Co Ltd and renamed BASEM I
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: Joe Canavan, Robbie Cox, Angel Luis Godar Moreira, PWR, Dave Rimmer, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
