🇰🇲 MV Kilmore
ex Chong Ming Dao, Graip, N+T 700, Stena Shipper, Constellation Express, 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: 8044 (LR 1984 -85)
- Ports of Registry: Hull/United Kingdom 🇬🇧, Piraeus/Greece 🇬🇷, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸, Visby/Sweden 🇸🇪, China 🇨🇳, Varna/Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Moroni/Comoros 🇰🇲
- Sister Ships: Elk, Merzario Ausonia, Stena Runner, Stena Prosper, Stena Project, Alpha Enterprise, Tor Felicia, Imparca Express, Merzario Hispania, Stena Trader
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).
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, Shanghai, 05/02/2003 © Yuxin Wang (Shipspotting)
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 © 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, Selim San, Simonwp, Marko Stampehl, Ulrich Streich, Yuxin Wang and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
