MV Balticum
Ex Tor Baltica, Elk
Elk – © Simonwp (Immingham, 01/04/1989)
Steel twin screw ‘Stena Searunner Class’ motor vessel built in 1977 by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea (Yard No 645) as a Roll-on/roll-off cargo ferry
Technical Data
- Length: 155.99m – 163.61m (overall) 137.00m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 21.67m – 22.90 – 23.60m
- Depth: 7.32m – 7.52m
- Draught: 7.300m – 7.52m maximum
- Tonnage: 5,463 – 6,182 – 14,374gt/ 2,473 – 2,802 – 9,322 – 4,312nt/8,652t 8,593dwt
- Engines: 2 x SEMT-Pielstick 12PC2-5V-400 Vdiesels
Power: 11482 kW/15600 bHP
Speed: 17.0 knots
Capacity: 12 passengers /Cargo capacity 142 x 12-metre, 2 x 15-metre trailers - Crew: 21
Call Sign: GXHN, YLCQ
IMO Number: 7528594 - Official Number: 377462
Port of Registry: London/UK, Belize, Riga/Latvia
Sister Ships: Merzario Ausonia, Stena Runner, Stena Prosper, Stena Project, Alpha Enterprise, Tor Felicia, Norsky, Imparca Express, Merzario Hispania, Stena Trader
History
February 14th 1977: Keel struck.
June 21st 1977: Launched
December 28th 1977: Delivered to Stena Line Ltd, London, England.
December 28th 1977: Chartered to P & O Ferries.
January 1978: Commenced service for P & O Ferrymasters between Middlesbrough – Gothenberg.
September 28th 1978: Sold to Standard Chartered Merchant Bank, London. (P&O Ferries Ltd Chartering managers).
March 10th 1979: Ran aground outside Gothenberg.
March 13th 1979: Re-floated sustaining severe hull damage. She was towed for repair.
Elk – © Brian Fisher (Teesport, October 1979)
December 5th 1981: Chartered to North Sea Ferries B.V., Rozenburg, and used , as cover, Rotterdam – Ipswich.
December 9th 1981: Chartered to North Sea Ferries B.V., Rozenburg, and used , as cover, between Rotterdam – Ipswich.
December 13th 1981: Chartered to North Sea Ferries B.V., Rozenburg, and used , as cover, between Rotterdam – Ipswich.
April 4th 1982: Requisitioned by Ministry of Defence for service in the Falklands conflict.
April 6th 1982: Arrived at Southampton from Tees. First S.T.U.F.T. (“Ships taken up from Trade”) to be worked on given RAS gear, carrying guns, vehicles and other stores.
Elk – © IWM FKD 190
April 9th 1982: Sailed from Southampton with CANBERRA for Ascension Islands.
May 7th 1982: Left Ascension as part of the amphibious task group.
May 16th 1982: Met with the carrier group to disembark her helicopters, cross decking ammunition and stores.
June 20th 1982: After surrender remained in San Carlos for two days loading the 400-strong Commando Logistic Regiment and stores, then left for Port Stanley.
June 20th 1982: Arrived at Port Stanley.
June 1982: Left Port Stanley.
July 12th 1982: Arrived Portsmouth.
July 12th 1982: Arrived back in Plymouth, then to Smith’s Shiprepairs Ltd., North Shields for complete refit.
August 12th 1982: Returned to commercial service between Middlesborough – Gothenberg.
September 1982: Transferred to Elk Leasing Co Ltd, London.
1984: Handed over to POETS Fleet management.
1986: Sold to P & O Ferries Ltd, London, England.
Elk – © Brian Fisher (Gothenburg, January 1986)
January 27th 1986: Arrived at Reunis Du Nord et de I´Ouest (A.R.N.O), Dunkerque, France for lengthening and rebuild.
August 16th 1986: Resumed service after rebuild. Re-measured.
1994: Re-measured.
December 2000: Sold to DFDS Tor Line, London, England.
June 2001: Renamed TOR BALTICA.
September 2001: Chartered to American Department for Defence.
2001: After completion of charter made her final crossing between Gothenberg – Harwich.
August 2003: Sold to Baltica Shipping & Trading Co., Ltd. Belize and re-chartered to DFDS Tor Line.
September 2nd 2003: Commenced service between Fredericia – Köpenhamn – Klaipeda.
2004: Service between Gothenberg – Harwich – Rotterdam.
2005: Services Immingham – Zeebrugge.
Tor Baltica – © Gena Anfimov (Klaipeda, 17/04/2005)
September 21st 2005: Services Kiel – St Petersburg.
Tor Baltica – © Ulrich Streich (Kiel, 04/05/2007)
November 2007: Sold to Balticum Shipping, SA, Riga, Latvia and chartered to DFDS Tor Line.
November 4th 2007: Arrived Cityvarvet, Gothenburg for refit.
November 2007: Management Brax Shipholding.
Tor Baltica – © Andreas Wörteler (Kiel, 10/05/2008)
Tor Baltica – © Simonwp (Kiel, 01/09/2008)
March 27th 2009 – December 24th 2010: Services between Kiel – Karlshamn – Saint Petersburg.
January 7th 2011 – January 9th 2011: Kiel to Zeebrugge.
January 9th 2011 – March 10th 2011: Chartered to P&O Ferries for services Zeebrugge – Hull.
April 4th 2011: Arrived Brevik.
April 14th 2011: Laid up in Uddevalla.
May 1st 2011: Renamed BALTICUM.
Balticum – © Lennart Rydberg (Uddevalla, Sweden, 23/07/2011)
October 23rd 2011: Left Uddevalla for Amsterdam.
October 26th 2011: Left Amsterdam for Suez.
November 24th 2011: Arrived at Alang, India.
November 29th 2011: Beached at Alang for breaking by NBM Iron & Steel Trdg, Alang.
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: Gena Anfimov, Brian Fisher, Lennart Rydberg, Ulrich Streich and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
