MV Iosif K
Ex Bekaa Dream, Zoya, Merchant Brilliant, Jolly Bruno, Norwegian Challenger
© Bram Provost
Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1979 by Vaagen Verft A/S, Kyrksaeterora, Norway (Yard No 43) as a RoRo – Cargo.
Technical Data
- Length: 133.05 m (overall)122.71 m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 21.04 m
- Depth: 12.22 m
- Draught: 5.031m
- Tonnage: 2999 – 2996 – 9368 gross/1242 – 783 net/ 5300 – t deadweight
- Engines: 2 Vee Oil 4SA x MaK 12M453AK diesels
- Power: 6714 kW/9000 bHP
- Speed: 17.0 knots
- Capacity: 12 passengers/1272 lane meters/TEU 448
- Call Sign: LIEF, IBIJ, 6YRC6, 3FJB8, V3MA4, 2VCV2
- MMSI Number: 241694000
- IMO Number: 7724265
- Official Number (LR 1981 – 1982): 19349
- Port of Registry: Oslo/Norway 🇳🇴, Naples/Italy 🇮🇹, Nassau/The Bahamas 🇧🇸, Montego Bay/Jamaica 🇯🇲, Belize City/Belize 🇧🇿
- Sister-Ship: Norwegian Crusader (792), Norwegian Conqueror (796)
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 1st 1978: Keel laid.
Andreas Wörteler Collection
© Michael Neidig
April 28th 1979: Launched.
July 6th 1979: Delivered as NORWEGIAN CHALLENGER to Steineger & Wik, Norway and registered to K/S A/S Stevi II, Norway.
1980: Services for Norient Line between Hamburg – Bremerhaven – Rotterdam – Antwerp – Jeddah – Singapore – Hong Kong – Keelung – Busan – Tokyo.
1981: Chartered to OT Africa Line for services Venice – Tripoli.
September 1982: Chartered to Ignazio Messina, Italy and renamed JOLLY BRUNO. Registered to Medorient Shipp. Line Inc, Panama.
1993: Sold to Merchant Ferries, Nassau, Bahamas and renamed MERCHANT BRILLIANT. Services Heysham – Warrenpoint.
© Aubrey Dale (Warrenpoint, 08/05/1995)
November 1st 1995: Services Heysham – Dublin.
April 2002: Norse Merchant Ferries services Heysham – Dublin.
2003: Sold to Proofband, Nassau, Bahamas.
November 15th 2004: Sold to Brilliant International Shipping, Montego Bay, Jamaica. Services Purfleet – Rotterdam.
© John Jones (09/04/2005)(Both)
© Ken Smith (Gravesend, 19/06/2005)
2006: Norfolk Line services.
© Simonwp
September 2007: Chartered to Scandlines.
October 7th 2007 – December 30th 2007: Services Rostock – Hango.
December 2007: Sold to Phoenix Logistics.
December 31st 2007: Came off service and sailed to Belfast.
© Andreas Wörteler (Kiel Canal, 31/12/2007) (All)
January 8th 2008 – April 24th 2008: Chartered to Seatruck Ferries for services Heysham – Warrenpoint.
April 2008: Chartered to Norfolkline for services Heysham – Belfast.
© Ian Collard (Left) © Stephen Brown (Right)
May 27th 2008 – May 31st 2008: Chartered to Isle Of Man Steam Packet.
July 15th 2008: Passed through the Kiel Canal.
July 16th 2008: Arrived Gdansk, Poland.
September 2008: Sold to Williston Impex Co, Belize City, Belize and renamed ZOYA.
© Jacub Bogucki (Gdansk, 20/10/2008)
November 2015: Sold to Avantis Maritime Co-Mai, Majuro, Marshall Island and renamed BEKAA DREAM. Chartered to Suardiaz for services Marselle – Barcelona – Tunisia.
October 2018: Sold to Bekaa Dream Shipping Offshore, Beirut, Lebanon.
© Giwrgos Mertis (Drapetsona, 24/10/2019)
January 2020: Sold to Creta Cargo IV Maritime Co, Piraeus, Greece and renamed IOSIF K.
September 24th 2020: After extensive refit at Spanopoulos shipyard in Salamina, services within the Cyclades Islands.
March 5th 2022: Refit at Spanopoulos shipyard
April 4th 2022: Resumed service.
© Dennis Mortimer (Perama, 20/06/2022) (Left) © Giwrgos Mertis (Perama, 03/08/2022) (Right)
© Dimitris Mentakis (Piraeus, 23/06/2024)
August 2024: Still in service in the Cyclades, Dodecanese and Sporades Islands.
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: Jacub Bogucki, Stephen Brown, Ian Collard, Aubrey Dale, John Jones, Dimitris Mentakis, Giwrgos Mertis, Dennis Mortimer, Bram Provost, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
