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MV Celtic Star – Past and Present

MV Ippotis

Ex Celtic Star, Northern Star, Loon-Plage, Celtic Star, Ioalaos, Kosei Maru

© Aubrey Dale

Northern Star – © Aubrey Dale (Larne, 11/06/2002)

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in1991 by Kanda Zosensho K.K., Kawajiri. Japan (Yard No 337) as a RoRo Cargo ship.

Technical Data

  • Length: 136.00 m (overall) 126.00 m (between perpendiculars).
    Breadth: 20.50m
    Depth: 7.70 m
    Draught: 6.700m
    Tonnage: 4962gross/ net/4500t deadweight
    Engines: 2 Vee Oil 4SA 12-Cylinder Pielstick 12PC2-6V diesels
  • Power: 6620kW/9000bHP
    Speed: 20.8 knots (max)
    Capacity: 12 passengers/53 trailers
    Call Sign: JM6038, P3CU8, TCA3469
    IM
    O Number: 9009633
    Official Number:
     132700 (LR 1992 – 93)
    Port of Registry: Shimonoseki/Japan, Valletta/Cyprus, Sierra Leone

History

August 1991: Delivered to Kanko Kisen KK, Shimonoseki, Japan.

1998: Sold to Eptanisos Maritime (Strintzis Lines S.A), Piraeus, Greece and renamed IOALAOS.

1998: Rebuilt in South Korea.

November 1998: Renamed LOON-PLAGE.

November 1998: Chartered to East Coast Ferries for services Hull – Dunkerque.

November 25th 1998: Grounded in the Humber, but was able to re-float herself.

© Patrick Hill

Loon- Plage © Patrick Hill (Hull, 15/11/1998)

January 20th 1999: East Coast Ferries went bankrupt and she was returned to her owners.

© Simonwp

Loon-Plage © Simonwp (Immingham, 10/02/1999)

February 1999: Two month charter to DFDS Tor Line AB, Gothenburg for services Rotterdam – Immingham. Renamed CELTIC STAR.

April 1999: Chartered to P&O European Ferries Irish Sea for services Liverpool – Dublin.

2000: Detained in Dublin.

December 23rd 2001: Berthing trials at Larne.

January 7th 2002: Moved to Larne – Liverpool service.

January 8th 2002 (03.00 hrs): Maiden crossing Liverpool – Larne.

January 19th 2002: Last crossing Liverpool – Larne then sailed to Dublin and, after discharging laid-over for the weekend.

January 21st 2002: Sailed from Dublin and arrived at Larne.

© Aubrey Dale

Celtic Star – © Aubrey Dale (Larne, 12/01/2002)

January 21st 2002: Maiden crossing Larne – Liverpool under her new name. March 2002 – December 2002: Following her impressive loadings her charter was extended by a further 7 months.

2002: Renamed NORTHERN STAR

© Trevor Kidd

Northern Star – © Trevor Kidd (Larne, 18/03/2002)

© Aubrey Dale

Northern Star – © Aubrey Dale (Larne, 01/05/2002)

© Steven Brown

Northern Star –  © Steven Brown

December 19th 2002: Final sailing Larne – Liverpool.

January 2003 – September 2004: Chartered to Dart Line for services Dartford – Vlissingen.

© Ted ingham

Northern Star – © Ted ingham (Gravesend 2004)

2004: Chartered to Cotunav for services Tunis – Livorno.

April 8th 2006: Chartered to Celtic Link, Ireland for services Dublin – Liverpool.

May 24th 2006: Renamed CELTIC STAR.

2006: Detained in Dublin.

November 30th 2006: During severe weather lost eight trailers overboard.

September 18th 2007: Acquired by Seatruck Ferries on charter and continued Dublin – Liverpool.

© Trevor Kidd  © Trevor Kidd

© Trevor Kidd

Celtic Star – © Trevor Kidd (Dublin, 08/09/2007)

2007: Detained in Dublin.

May 23rd 2008: Completion of charter.

May 24th 2008: Chartered to P&O Irish Sea Ferries for services Liverpool – Dublin.

© Trevor Kidd  © Trevor Kidd

Celtic Star – © Trevor Kidd (Dublin, 21/02/2009)

© Trevor Kidd

Celtic Star – © Trevor Kidd (Dublin, 07/03/2009 with STENA LYNX III)

2009: Detained in Dublin.

February 1st 2010: Came into contact with a buoy in the Mersey estuary.

🆕 Celtic Star – © Scott Mackey (Dublin, 2010)

May 13th 2010: Charter completed.

May 18th 2010: Chartered to Van Uden for one journey Bremerhaven – Alexandria – Beirut.

© Christian Eckardt  © Christian Eckardt

Celtic Star – © Christian Eckardt (Bremerhaven, 19/05/2010)

June 7th 2010: Arrived at Perama, Greece.

© Dennis Mortimer  © Dennis Mortimer

Celtic Star – © Dennis Mortimer (Piraeus, 07/06/2010)

June 2010: Sold to Eptanisos Maritime Ltd (NEL Lines), Limassol and renamed IPPOTIS.

July 30th 2010 – August 30th 2010: Services Piraeus – Syros – Mykonos – Paros – Naxos – Ikaria.

September 7th 2010: Left Piraeus for Corinth.

2010: Detained in Corinth.

September 8th 2010 – November 1st 2010: Chartered to  Halkidon Shipping for services Corinth – Ancona.

November 1st 2010: Left Corinth for Piraeus.

November 2nd 2010 – September 5th 2011: Services Piraeus – Kalymnos – Kos – Rhodes.

© Dennis Mortimer

Ippotis © Dennis Mortimer (Piraeus, 05/09/2011)

September 28th 2011 – October 2nd 2011: Chartered to Baleraria. Left Drapetsona for Ibiza.

October 2nd 2011 – April 18th 2012: Services Ibiza – Barcelona.

April 18th 2012: Left Barcelona for Piraeus.

June 2012: Services for Balearia.

October 15th 2012: Moored in the bay of Ceuta.

©  Daniel Ferro

Ippotis – ©  Daniel Ferro

January 9th 2013: Detained for 22 days in Algeciras.

June 27th 2014 – July 9th 2014: De-flagged from Cyprus to Sierra Leone for her last voyage and towed from Algeciras to Aliaga, Turkey for scrapping.

© Selim San

Ippotis – © Selim San (Aliaga 09/07/2014)

© Petros Psarras

Ippotis – © Petros Psarras

© Selim San

Ippotis – © Selim San


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: Steven Brown, Aubrey Dale, Christian Eckardt, Daniel Ferro, Patrick Hill, Ted Ingham, Trevor Kidd, Scott Mackey,  Dennis Mortimer, Petros Psarras, Selim San, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

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

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