MV C.T.M.A. Voyageur 2
Ex Clipper Ranger, Challenge, RR Challenge, Lembitu, Celtic Sun, Lembitu, Dart 7, Lembitu
© Marc Piché (Montreal, 20/10/2023)
Steel twin screw “R Class” motor vessel built in 1998 by Astilleros de Huelva S.A., Huelva, Spain (Yard No 570), as a commercial vehicle ferry for the Estonian Shipping Company (ESCO), Tallinn, Estonia
Technical Data
- Length: 122.32 m (overall) 112.2 m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 19.80 m
- Depth: 12.9 m
- Draught: 6.214 m
- Tonnage: 7606 gross/2282 net/5803t deadweight
- Engines: Two 9- cylinder Wartsila 9R32LN diesels
- Power: 7400 kW/9900 bHP
- Speed: 17 knots (Max)
- Capacity: 12 passengers/ 88 trailers/1057 lane meters
- Call Sign: ESFO, 9HGA8, 2GFG4
- MMSI Number: 316041062
- IMO Number: 9119402
- RI Number: 99119
- Port of Registry: Tallin/Estonia 🇪🇪, Valletta/Malta 🇲🇹, Douglas/Isle of Man 🇮🇲, Cap-aux-Meules/Canada 🇨🇦
- Sister Ships: Lehola (569), Varbola (571), Leill (572)
Current AIS Location
Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea'. All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.
History
May 13th 1996: Keel laid.
June 21st 1997: Launched.
April 4th 1998: Delivered as LEMBITU to Estonian Shipping Company (ESCO), Tallinn, Estonia.
April 20th 1998 – July 20th 1998: Chartered to P&O European Ferries (Irish Sea) for services Liverpool – Dublin.
© Fotoflite
September 2nd 1998 – September 1999: Chartered to Dart Line for services Vlissingen – Dartford.
January 1999: Renamed DART 7.
© Fotoflite
© Frank Foerst (Vlissingen, 21/04/1999)
© Ted Ingham
September 1999: Renamed LEMBITU.
September 15th 1999 – October 28th 1999: Chartered to International Atlantic Line for services Southampton – Bayonne (France).
November 1999: Chartered to an unknown company for services Marseille – North Africa.
March 2000: Chartered to P&O Irish Sea Freight and renamed CELTIC SUN.
March 27th 2000: Services Liverpool – Dublin.
October 2001: Charter completed and renamed LEMBITU.
October 2001: Chartered to Norse Merchant Ferries for services Heysham – Dublin.
December 2001: Estonian Shipping Co., Tallinn, Estonia services Tallinn – Helsinki – Rostock.
2002 – December 31st 2004: Scandlines services Rostock – Helsinki – Tallinn.
© Aleksi Lindstrom (Helsinki, 01/08/2002)
© Marcus S (Rostock, 01/07/2003)
© Tim Becker (Warnemunde, 01/05/2004)
© Wolfgang Kramer (Rostock, 21/06/2004)
© Aleksi Lindstrom (Helsinki, 24/11/2004)
December 31st 2004: Services completed.
January 2005: Chartered to Channel Freight Ferries.
January 4th 2005: Services Southampton – Radicatel (France).
April 2004: Chartered to Norse Merchant Ferries for services Belfast – Heysham.
April 2004: Sold to Elmira Shipping, Piraeus, Greece and registered to Challenge Shipping Ltd, Valletta, Malta. Renamed RR CHALLENGE.
2005: Chartered to Seatruck Ferries for services Warrenpoint – Heysham.
© Gary Markham (Warrenpoint, 10/05/2006)
© Aubrey Dale (Warrenpoint, 20/08/2006)
© Trevor Kidd (17/06/2007)
September 2007: Sold to Attica Enterprise, Piraeus, Greece.
October 2007: Renamed CHALLENGE.
January 10th 2008: Sold to Seatruck Ferries Co Ltd, Heysham.
February 11th 2008: Sold to Challenge Shipping Co. Ltd, Nassau, Bahamas (Clipper Denmark A/S) Management Seatruck Ferries Ltd.
© Malcolm Cranfield (Liverpool, 22/05/2008)
July 19th 2008: Renamed CLIPPER RANGER.
© Ian Collard
July 10th 2009: Laid up in Liverpool.
March 6th 2010 – March 26th 2010: Chartered to Isle Of Man Steam Packet Co for services Douglas – Heysham.
May 15th 2010: Services Larne – Heysham.
© Simonwp (Larne, August 2010)
© Trevor Kidd (18/05/2010)
© Trevor Kidd (30/05/2010)
© Trevor Kidd (27/06/2010)
June 20th 2011: Chartered to Isle Of Man Steam Packet Co for a single trip Douglas – Heysham.
May 7th 2012: Seatruck services Heysham – Belfast.
August 8th 2012: Laid up in Birkenhead.
© Rob Foy (Liverpool, 08/08/2012)
March 25th 2013: Chartered to P & O for services Dublin – Liverpool.
2013: Services Dublin – Heysham.
September 2013 – August 2014: Caledonian MacBrayne services Stornoway – Ullapool.
January 28th 2014: The vessel lost power while berthing and sustained significant damage after colliding with a pier at Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
February 18th 2014: Returned to Stornoway after repairs were carried out following an accident in January.
2015 (Late): Seatruck services Heysham – Belfast.
© Scott Mackey (Dublin, 09/08/2017) (Left) © Scott Mackey (Dublin, 13/03/2018) (Right)
November 10th 2018 – November 18th 2018: Chartered to Stena Line (relief for STENA HIBERNIA) for services Belfast – Heysham.
July 2019: Chartered to C.T.M.A., Canada. For services Souris-Cap-aux-Meules – Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada.
December 2019: Sold to Cooperative de Transport Maritime et Aeriean, Cap-Aux-Meules, Canada and renamed C.T.M.A. VOYAGEUR 2.
October 7th 2022: Suffered engine problems off Quebec. The crew carried out repairs, and the vessel continued its voyage from Montreal.
© Marc Piché (Montreal, 20/10/2023)
© Marc Piché (Montreal, 09/10/2025)
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: Tim Becker, Ian Collard, Robbie Cox, Malcolm Cranfiels, Aubrey Dale, Frank Foerst, Fotoflite, Robert Foy, Gary Markham, Marc Piché, Ted Ingham, Wolfgang Kramer, Aleksi Lindstrom, Marcus S and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
Special thanks to Trevor Kidd and Scott Mackey
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
