CLdN RoRo (Cobelfret)FerriesFerrywaysP&O North Sea FerriesPast and Present

MV Bostan N (ex Ostend Way, Sapphire) – Past and Present

IMO Number: 7816501

MV Bostan N

ex Ostend Way, Sapphire, Rovinga, Azua, Rovinga, Balder Vinga

© Bram Provost

© Bram Provost

Steel twin screw motor vessel, built in 1980 by Karlskronavarvet AB, Karlskrona, Sweden (Yard No 398) as a Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) commercial vehicle ferry for Ivar Lundh & Co Ab, Stockholm, Sweden

Technical Data

  • Length: 136.05 m (overall) 110.22 m (between perpendiculars)
  • Breadth: 16.51 m
  • Depth: 11.41 m
  • Draught: 4.741 m
  • Tonnage:  1682 – 1599 gross/833 – 699 net/4550 – 3000 – 4538 deadweight
  • Engines: Two 16-cylinder Nohab-Polar F216V-A diesels
  • Power: 3531 kW/4800 HP
  • Speed: 16 knots
  • Capacity: 1,145 lane metres, 12 passengers (Bale 10500 cu.m, 186 – 332 TEU)
  • Callsign: SHWA,  HPKR, TCTQ4
  • IMO Number: 7816501
  • MMSI Number: 271002735
  • Port of Registry: Lysekil/Sweden 🇸🇪, Valletta/Malta 🇲🇹, Panama City/Panama 🇵🇦, Istanbul/Turkey 🇹🇷
  • Sister-Ships: Balder Dona (397), Balder Print, Balder Vinga, Breant (403)


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

October 5th 1979: Keel struck.

June 1980: Delivered to Engström & Larson, Lysekil, Sweden.

June 1980: Chartered out for services in the Caribbean.

June 1982: Lengthened at Finnboda Varv, Nacka (parly rebuilt at Oskarshamns).

January 1984: Chartered to Seaboard Shipping and renamed ROVINGA.

January 1985: Renamed AZUA.

1987: Renamed ROVINGA.

1987: Sold to Dag Engström Rederi A/B, Lysekil and renamed SAPPHIRE.

1987: Chartered to Cobelfret/Ford for services between Zeebrugge – Dagenham/Purfleet.

© Ted Ingham  © John Jones

© Ted Ingham (left) and © John Jones (right)

© Ken Larwood

© Ken Larwood

© Leo Johannes

© Leo Johannes

October 1999 – June 10th 2002: Chartered to P&O North Sea Ferries Ltd for services between Zeebrugge – Felixstowe.

July 2002: Chartered to Ferryways BV, Oostende, Belgium and operated between Ostend – Ipswich.

February 21st 2003: Collided with the ANGLIAN WAY on the River Orwell on approach to Ipswich.

Saturday, February 22, 2003

RO-RO VESSELS COLLIDE AT ENTRANCE TO RIVER ORWELL

At a quarter to eleven yesterday evening Thames Coastguard were informed of a collision between two Ro-Ro cargo vessels in the entrance to the River Orwell. Both vessels were on passage between Ipswich and Ostend, with one inbound to Ipswich and one outbound. The inbound vessel the “SAPPHIRE” went aground at the entrance to the River in the vicinity of No1 Buoy, Trimley Marshes, after the collision. The outbound vessel the “ANGLIAN WAY” continued on her passage to Ostend.

The Harwich Harbour Authorities were on scene very quickly with their Tug “MELTON” and their counter pollution vessel “HARWICH HAWK” and were able to establish quickly that there were no injuries to either crew and no pollution. The “SAPPHIRE” was refloated on the rising tide and after discharging her cargo in Ipswich, sailed to Ostend just before 6.00 am.

The “SAPPHIRE” is 6,568 gross registered tonnes and is registered in Sweden. The “ANGLIAN WAY” is 7,628 gross registered tonnes and is registered in Panama.

The weather at the time was light winds, fog with poor visibility and the sea state was smooth to slight. Thames Coastguard Duty Watch Manager Anthony Mayhew said: “Following the incident the Marine Accident Investigation Branch was informed, and they will make a decision as to whether to launch an investigation. The Belgian authorities have been contacted to conduct surveys on both vessels in Ostend.”

June 2003: Sold to Ostend Way Ltd, Panama (Ferryways) and renamed OSTEND WAY. Commenced service between Ostend – Ipswich.

© Pieter Inpyn  © Pieter Inpyn

© Pieter Inpyn

© Ken Smith  © Ken Smith

© Ken Smith

© Ken Smith

© Andreas Wörteler  © Andreas Wörteler

© Andreas Wörteler

June 13th 2007: Ferryways went bankrupt and she was taken out of service in Ostend.

June 16th 2007: Laid up in Ostend.

July 2007: Management Roroco NV.

July 9th 2007: Commenced services for Cobelfret Ferries between Ostend – Dartford.

© Ken Smith

© Ken Smith

January 2nd 2008: Registered to Roroco NV, Valletta, Malta.

2008: Services between Zeebrugge – Purfleet.

June 1st 2008: Commenced services between Ostend – Ipswich.

June 2008: Services between Ostend – Dartford.

© Simonwp

© Simonwp

November 2008: Laid up in Tilbury.

January 2009: Services between Rotterdam – Ipswich.

January 2009: Services between Ostend – Dartford.

February 22nd 2009: Laid up in Tilbury.

March 2009: Services between Rotterdam – Ipswich.

April 2009: Sold to Bostan Denizcilik Ltd Sti, Istanbul, Turkey (Istanbul Lines) and renamed BOSTAN N for service across the Marmara Sea between Bandirma (Turkey) and Ambarli (Turkey).

April 27th 2009 – May 17th 2009: Left Tilbury for Istanbul.

© Evgeniy   © Evgeniy

© Evgeniy (Shipspotting.com)

October 2023: Still in service.


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: Evgeniy, Pieter Inpyn, Leo Johannes, John Jones, Ken Larwood, Bram Provost, Simonwp, Ken Smith and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

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

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