DFDSFerriesPast and PresentRederi AB Gotland

MV Visborg (Ex Visby (2003)) – Past and Present

IMO Number: 9223784

MV Visborg

Ex Visby (2003)

© Carsten Dettmer

© Carsten Dettmer (Nynashamn, 26/07/2017)

Steel ‘SF 1500 Class’ twin screw motor vessel built in 2003 by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, China (Yard No 9130004) as a Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship for Rederi AB Gotland (Destination Gotland)

Technical Data

  • Length: 195.80 m (overall) 176 m (between perpendiculars)
  • Breadth: 25.0 m
  • Depth: 9.3 m
  • Draught: 6.60 m
  • Tonnage: 29746 gross/9505 net/4730t deadweight
  • Engines: 4 x Wärtsilä 12V46C diesels
  • Power: 50400 kW/HP
  • Speed: 28.5 knots (max)
  • Capacity: 1500 passengers/500 cars/1600 lane meters
  • Call Sign: SGPH, 9HA5499
  • MMSI Number: 229455000
  • IMO Number: 9223784
  • DNV GL id Number: 34860
  • Port of Registry: Visby/Sweden , Valletta/Malta
  • Sister Ships: Drotten (9130005)

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

June 24th 1999: Contract date.

November 8th 2000: Keel laid.

July 3rd 2001: Launched.

Deck Plan (Destination Gotland)

January 27th 2003: Completed, christened and delivered to Rederi Ab Gotland, Visby.

January 28th 2003: Left China for Visby.

February 25th 2003: Arrived at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg for stabilizer adjustment.

February 26th 2003: Left Blohm & Voss for Visby.

February 28th 2003: Maiden arrival at Visby.

© John Wilson

© John Wilson

March 2nd 2003: Open to viewing in Visby.

March 8th 2003 – March 9th 2003: Visited by special guests in Stockholm.

© Andreas Wörteler  © Andreas Wörteler

© Andreas Wörteler (Nynashamn, 24/07/04)

March 21st 2003: Arrived in Visby.

March 26th 2003: Trials to Oskarshamn.

March 28th 2003: In service for Destination Gotland between Visby – Oskarshamn / Nynäshamn.


© Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke

© Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke

© Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke

© Mohawk Myke © Mohawk Myke  © Mohawk Myke  © Mohawk Myke

© FOREward Thinking, a nautical flavour

April 11th 2003 – April 12th 2003: With a Destination Gotland “PR exhibition” aboard visited Stockholm.

January 26th 2004 – February 6th 2004: Öresundsvarvet, Landskrona for warranty inspection and reinforcement of the ship’s rudder.

April 19th 2004 – April 30th 2004: Öresundsvarvet, Landskrona for reinforcement of her rudder.

© Simonwp

© Simonwp (Oskarshamn, 01/08/2006)

© Simonwp

© Simonwp (Nynashamn, 01/07/2009)

© Carsten Dettmer

© Carsten Dettmer (Nynashamn, 26/07/2017)

December 16th 2020: DFDS announcement;

Ferries in place for DFDS’ new Ireland – France freight route”

The ferries VISBY, KERRY, and OPTIMA SEAWAYS are ready to welcome lorries and their drivers on the new Rosslare – Dunkerque freight route. From 2 January, the route will enable customers to keep their freight transport within the EU and avoid the customs formalities that will apply to transport passing via the UK.”………

“Visby and Kerry are chartered ships, including crews, and Optima Seaways is our own ferry, which currently operates between Sweden and Lithuania.”………

“ There will be six weekly departures from each port. The first departure will be on Saturday 2 January from Rosslare. Sailing time will be just under 24 hours.”……….

Source: DFDS

December 25th 2020: Sailed from Visby to Skagen Anchorage.

December 28th 2020: Arrived in Dunkerque West.

© Simon Stapley

© Simon Stapley (Dunkerque West, 29/12/2020)

 

© Julien Carpentier (Dunkerque West, 29/12/2020)
© Julien Carpentier (Dunkerque, 01/02/2022)

February 3rd 2022: Resumed service Dunkerque – Rosslare.

© Julien Carpentier (Dunkerque, 03/03/2022)

July 11th 2022: Came off service and sailed to Damen, Dunkerque (East) for minor repairs to her hull.

 

© Julien Carpentier (Dunkerque, 11/07/2022)

July 11th 2022: Resumed sailings Dunkerque – Rosslare

February 21st 2023: Came off service in Dunkerque.

February 21st 2023: Sailed to Landskrona.

February 23rd 2023: Arrived Landskrona and laid up.

March 11th 2023: Left Landskrona for Klaipeda.

March 12th 2023: Arrived Klaipeda.

March 21st 2023: As refit relief vessel, took up service Klaipeda – Karlshamn.

© Gena Anfimov © Gena Anfimov © Gena Anfimov

© Gena Anfimov (Klaipeda, 25/03/2023)

May 7th 2023: Came off service at Klaipeda. Left Klaipeda for Almeria (eta 15/05/2023).

May 15th 2023: Arrived Almeria.

Courtesy of Sergej Jevstignejev  © Antonio Martín Cancho

Image courtesy of Sergej Jevstignejev (Left) © Antonio Martín Cancho (Right)

May 20th 2023: Balearia services for Almería – Nador.

© Mike Barker

© Mike Barker (Almeria, 20/05/2023)

September 24th 2023: Came off service at Almeria and sailed to Klaipeda (via Gothenburg (eta 02/10/2023)).

October 2nd 2023: Arrived Klaipeda.

October 3rd 2023: Entered service Klaipeda – Karlshamn (replacing REGINA SEAWAYS)

© Gena Anfimov

© Gena Anfimov (Klaipeda, 03/11/2023)

November 20th 2023: DFDS charter complete, came off service at Klaipeda.

December 8th 2023: Arrived Öresund shipyard, Landskrona.

December 26th 2023: Left Landskrona for Almeria and 3 year charter to Balearia.

January 1st 2024: Arrived Almeria.

January 5th 2024: Took up Balearia services Valencia – Ibiza – Palma.

© Manuel Hernández Lafuente © Manuel Hernández Lafuente

© Manuel Hernández Lafuente (Valencia, 07/01/2024)

© Manuel Hernández Lafuente

© Manuel Hernández Lafuente (Valencia, 24/01/2024)

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: Gena Anfimov,  Mike Barker, Stephen Brown, Antonio Martín Cancho, Julien Carpentier, Brian Cloney, Carsten Dettmer, FOREward Thinking,  Sergej Jevstignejev, Simonwp, Manuel Hernández Lafuente , Simon Stapley and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

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

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