MV Kilmore
Ex Ching Ming Dao, Graip, N+T 700, Stena Shipper, Constellation Enterprise, Merzario Ionia, Stena Shipper, Norsky, Stena Shipper
Kilmore – © Dirk Jankowsky (Travemunde, 26/06/2007)
Steel twin screw ‘Stena Searunner Class’ motor vessel built in 1977 by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea (Yard No 644) as a Roll-on/roll-off cargo ferry for Stena AB, Gothenburg, Sweden
Technical Data
- Length: 151.01 m (overall) 137.010m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 21.67m – 21.87m
- Depth: 14.66 m
- Draught: 7.297m – 7.52m maximum
- Tonnage: 5186 – 5529 – 18779gt/2524 – 2468 – 6539nt/8113 – 4418dwt
- Engines: 2 x SEMT-Pielstick 12PC2-5V-400 diesels
- Power: 11475 kW/15600 bHP
- Speed: 17.0 knots
- Capacity: 12 passengers -1600 /Cargo capacity 142 x 12-metre, 2 x 15-metre trailers/Cars 500 (after rebuild)/ 1650 – 1080 lane metres
- Crew: 21
- Call Sign: SVIG, SMBW, LZRL, D6FS2
- IMO Number: 7528582
- Official Number (LR 1984 -85): 8044
- Ports of Registry: Hull/United Kingdom 🇬🇧, Piraeus/Greece 🇬🇷, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸, Visby/Sweden 🇸🇪, China 🇨🇳, Varna/Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Moroni/Comoros 🇰🇲
- Sister Ships:
1977; Merzario Ausonia, Stena Freighter, Jolly Giallo, Jolly Turchese, Stena Freighter, Global Freighter (642)
1977; Stena Runner, Alpha Progress, Hellas, Doric Ferry, European Tideway, Ideway, Stena Transfer, Transfer (643)
1977; Elk, Tor Baltica, Balticum (645)
1978; Stena Prosper, Atlantic Prosper, Merzario Ionia, Stena Ionia, Stena Gothica, Bore Gothica, Finnbirch (646)
1978; Tor Felicia, Merzario Grecia,Tor Grecia, Stena Grecia, Atlanic Freighter, Pelagitis (647)
History
June 21st 1977: Launched with the name STENA SHIPPER.
November 30th 1977: Delivered to Stena Container Line Ltd Hull, England.
November 30th 1977: Chartered to North Sea Ferries, Hull, England renamed NORSKY and commenced North Sea services.
Norsky – © Cees De Bijl (Left) and © Simonwp (Europoort, 12/09/1980)
December 1980: Renamed STENA SHIPPER.
December 1980: Chartered to Merzario Line, Genoa, Italy and renamed MERZARIO IONIA.
Merzario Ionia – © Simonwp (Genoa, December 1980)
1981: Demise chartered to Entermar Shipping Co SA, Piraeus, Greece and renamed CONSTELLATION ENTERPRISE.
Constellation Enterprise – © Simonwp (Rotterdam, 01/04/1986)
1986: Registered to Stena Challenger Ltd, Nassau, Bahamas and renamed STENA SHIPPER.
1986: Arrived in Gothenburg for repairs to one of her main engines.
June 17th 1986: Services between Gothenburg – Travemunde.
Stena Shipper – © Pieter Inpyn (Travemunde, June 1986)
Stena Shipper – © Carsten Dettmer (Travemunde, Summer 1986)(Left) and © Ulrich Streich (Right)
June 1987: Sold to Nordström & Thulin, Stockholm for delivery in September ’87.
Stena Shipper – © Simonwp (Gothenburg, 01/09/1987)
September 3rd 1987: Arrived in Travemunde on her final sailing from Gothenburg.
September 3rd 1987: Left Travemunde for Hamburg.
September 4th 1987: Arrived at Blohm & Voss yard, Hamburg for rebuilding and renamed N+T 700 (Stena RoRo were responsible for the rebuild).
🆕N+T 700 – © Ken Larwood (Blohm & Voss, September 1987)
December 25th 1987: Renamed GRAIP.
December 30th 1987: Maiden arrival in Visby.
January 1st 1988: Commenced services for Gotland Linjen between Oskarshamn – Visby (summer only Oskarshamn – Visby – Nynäshamn).
Graip – © Pieter Inpyn (Oskarshamn, Sweden, June 1988)
December 1988: Collided with a light buoy at the entrance to Oskarshamn and damaged one of her propellers. Taken out of service and sent to Cityvarvet in Gothenburg for repair.
1989: Addition to upper bridge roof, improving the officers field of vision.
Graip – © Tony Garner (Visby, 06/06/1995)
December 31st 1997: Final day in service for Gotland Linjen.
January 1st 1998: To Landskrona for lay up.
March 1998: Sold to the Chinese Government.
March 28th 1998: Renamed CHONG MING DAO.
March 29th 1998: Left Landskrona for China.
1998: Commenced service between Hong Kong and China then laid up in Shanghai.
Chong Ming Dao – © Yuxin Wang (Shipspotting)( Shanghai, 05/02/2003)
2006: Rebuilt as a RoRo cargo ferry in Shanghai.
August 2006: Chartered to Celtic Ferries, Ireland but didn’t take up service.
August 21st 2006: Sold to Gotech Fibre Ltd, Varna, Bulgaria and renamed KILMORE.
Kilmore – © Marko Stampehl (Shanghai, 23/09/2006)
November 30th 2006: Arrived Masan, South Korea for refit.
December 2006: Returned to Shanghai.
February 2007: Departed China for Europe.
March 14th 2007: Departed Gibraltar for Marseille.
May 2007: Departed Hook Head for Waterford.
May 19th 2007: Anchored off Falmouth.
May 26th 2007 – May 29th 2007: Sailed from Falmouth to Lubeck.
May 30th 2007: Chartered to Transrussia Express for services between Lubeck – St Petersburg.
Kilmore – © Cees De Bijl (Lubeck, 12/06/2007)
December 31st 2007: Charter completed and departed for Las Palmas.
2008: Chartered to Ignazio Messina (Messina Line).
Kilmore – © Eerik Laine (Barcelona, 09/08/2008)
September 3rd 2008: In Marseilles, taken out of service for 14 days owing to safety issues.
October 2008: Chartered to Logitec Lines.
October 17th 2008: Services between Marina di Carrara – Castellon de la Plana (Italy).
November 17th 2008: Spanish Authorities banned her use.
December 4th 2008: Laid up in Varna, Bulgaria.
April 18th 2010: Sold to Fencore Varna, Ltd, Moroni, Comoros for scrapping in Aliaga, Turkey.
April 29th 2010: Left Varna for Aliaga.
May 3rd 2010: Arrived Aliaga and scrapping commenced.
Kilmore – © Capt Selim San (Aliaga)
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: Cees De Bijl, Carsten Dettmer, Tony Garner, Pieter Inpyn, Dirk Jankowsky, Ken Larwood, Capt Selim San, Simonwp, Marko Stampehl, Ulrich Streich, Yuxin Wang and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
