MV Umm Al Anber

Ex Geomaster, Canada’s Tomorrow, Merchant Navigator, Lady Thone, Lagan Bridge, Ilkka

© Fotoflite (06/06/1979)

Steel twin screw “Tor Scandia” class motor vessel, built in  1972 by Ankerlökken Verft A/S, Florø, Norway (Yard No. 89), for Alander Frachtschiff GmbH, Hamburg as a roll-on and roll-off passenger and commercial vehicle ferry.

 Technical Data

• Length on deck: 108.64 – 133.7 m (overall), 100.01 – 122.50 64 m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth of hull: 20.44 m
• Depth: 12.50 m
• Draught: 4.95 m – 6.048 m
• Tonnage: 1,566 – 7750 gross/572 – 591 – 2325 net//2,628 – 2670 deadweight
• Engines: Two 8-cylinder Pielstick 8PC2L  V-400 diesels
• Power: kW/ 5968 bHP
• Speed: 17.5 knots
• Capacity: 12 passengers, 45 commercial trailers
• Call Sign: LDY53, GXOT, HO4934, VOJC, A6E2504, A6E2759
• MMSI Number: 470441000
• IMO Number: 7206330
• DNV id: 08109
• IR Number: 42929
• Official Number: 4518
• Registry: Hamburg/Germany 🇩🇪,Hamilton/Bermuda 🇧🇲, London/UK 🇬🇧, Bergen/Norway 🇳🇴, Abu Dhabi/UAE 🇦🇪
• Sister-ships: Anu (90), Lalli (88), Leila (91), Tor Scandia (82)

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Current AIS Location

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History

August 1^st 1971: Keel laid.

February 18^th 1972: Launched.

June 1^st 1972: Completed.

Courtesy of Jim Ashby

June 14^th 1972: Delivered to Alander Frachtschiff O/Y, Mariehamn, Finland. Commenced service between Helsinki – Helsingborg – Aarhus.

1973: Chartered to TOR Line then various other charters.

© Fotoflite (Felixstowe, 01/06/1973)

Andreas Wörteler Collection

© Achim Borchert (Frank Heine Collection) (March 1976)(Left) © Simonwp (Approaching Genoa)(Right)

1978: In Rotterdam, forced sale to Tejo Leasing Ltd., St. Helier, Jersey.

June 1979 – September 23^rd 1979: Chartered to Sealink UK Ltd. Commenced service between Fishguard – Rosslare.

© Jim Ashby

1980: Sold to Parang Shipping Ltd., Jersey. Renamed LAGAN BRIDGE.

1980: Chartered to Sealink.

© Kenny Kane

January 1980: Commenced service between Belfast – Heysham, also Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire.

May 1980: Commenced service between Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire.

July 31^st 1980: One trip between Heysham – Douglas.

December 13^th 1980: Final day in service between Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire.

December 16^th 1980: Arrived at Clydedock Engineering, Liverpool.

December 18^th 1980: Renamed LADY THONE Managed: Triport Ferries (Management)Ltd, chartered to B&I Line, Dublin, Ireland, and commenced service between Dublin – Holyhead.

© Fotoflite (06/06/1981)

© Simonwp (Valletta)

1983: Sold to Cenargo Ltd. Renamed MERCHANT NAVIGATOR.

© Simonwp (Left) © Fotoflite 

© Fotoflite (06/1983)

1983 – September 24^th 1983: Chartered to Townsend Thoresen. Commenced service between Southampton – Le Havre.

© Phil English (Southampton 1983)

1984: Chartered to Brittany Ferries S.A. Morlaix, France. Commenced service between Roscoff – Plymouth.

July 27^th 1984: Laid up in Le Havre.

1984 (Late): Following the three week long National Dock Strike (UK), chartered to clear a “Backlog” of freight at Ramsgate.

© Ken Larwood (Ramsgate)

October 19^th 1985: Arrived in Talcahuano and sold to Commonwealth Shipping Co., Panama. Renamed CANADA’S TOMORROW.

1985: Rebuilt to a Research/Diving vessel

1990: Registered to Geomaster. Managers: Solstad Shipping A/S. Renamed GEOMASTER.

© Fotoflite (02/10/1991)

1996: Sold to James Fisher and Sons PLC, Barrow, Furness. Converted to a Cable Laying/Repair Ship.

1996: Sold to United Arab Emirates Tel. Corp. Ltd., United Arab Emirates. Renamed UMM AL ANBER.

© Fotoflite (15/11/1996)

March 2013: Sold to Owner/Manager: E-Marine PJSC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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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: Jim Ashby, Phil English, Kenny Kane, Ken Larwood, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

Sincere thanks Nigel Scutt at Fotoflite

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