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Mv Western Light

ex Ariadni, Soca, Trapezitza, Fantasia, Channel Seaway, Fiesta, Seafrance Cezanne

Nigel Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw motor vessel, originally built in 1979 by Kockhums Varv (shipyard) AB, Malmo, Sweden (Yard No. 568), as ARIADNI for Rederi AB Nordo, Sweden, as a passenger/roll-on roll-off and commercial vehicle ferry. Launched October 13th , 1979.

Technical Data

Length

163.51 m

Breadth of Hull

27.63m

Draught

6.58m

Tonnage

25,122 gross, 11,331 net, 10,500 deadweight

Engines

Two 7-cylinder Sulzer 7RLA56 diesels

Power

13020kW

Speed

19 knots

Capacity

1,800 passengers, 650 cars/ 80 trailers

Call Sign

MMSI Number

312126000

IMO Number

7806099

Registry

Belize

Sister Vessel

Wawel

History

February 23rd 1978: Order contract signed

October 13th 1979: Christened ARIADNE and launched.

January 1980: Delivered to Rederi Ab Nordö, Malmö.

February 1980: Renamed SOCA.

February 1980: Introduced by UMEF between Koper, Yugoslavia - Tartous, Syria.

1981: Sold to So Mejdunaroden Automobile Transport, Bourgas, Bulgaria. (S.O.M.A.T). Renamed TRAPEZITZA.

1981: Commenced service for MedLink in the Mediterranean Sea.

1984: Commenced service between Livorno - Iran - Iraq.

1986: Chartered to Callitzis Rederei (Greece).

1987: Commenced service between Trieste - Igoumenitsa - Patras.

September 1988: Chartered to DFDS A/S, Copenhagen. Commenced service between Copenhagen - Helsingborg - Harwich - Immingham.

October 1988: Sold to Sealink (UK) Ltd, London, England, put under the Bahaman flag. Renamed FANTASIA.

February 23rd 1989: Left Velletta.

March 2nd 1989: Arrived Bremerhaven for minor overhaul/refit.

May 7th 1989: Renamed CHANNEL SEAWAY. Commenced service between Dover - Calais. As well as freight she carried overflow traffic when space was available.

October 17th 1989: Arrived at Lloyd Werft GmbH, Bremerhaven, Germany. Rebuilt as a passenger ferry. The existing superstructure was modified and extended to the stern. To make room for new passenger areas, the upper vehicle deck was cut free and lowered, taking advantage of redundant headroom for double-stacked containers. The vehicle decks were converted from stern-loading to drive-through, and large sponsors were added on both sides

Roy Thornton Collection

February 1990: French misgivings about the name FANTASIA saw her become FIESTA before entering service, whilst FIESTA (1) became FANTASIA.

The Channel Seaway under conversion to become the Fiesta at Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven © M Fournet

May 8th 1990: Re-delivered after rebuild.

May 13th 1990: Arrived in Calais.

May 29th 1990: Registered owner Societé Propietaires des Navaires, Paris, France, 49% of which owned by Stena Line AB.

July 1st 1990: Commenced service between Dover - Calais as a freight ferry.

July 9th 1990: Commenced service between Dover - Calais as a car and passenger ferry.

January 1996: Returned to builders yard for first major refit.

July 12th 1995: Agreement between Stena Sealink Line and French partners SNAT ( Societe Nouvelle d’Armement Transmanche) would terminate from December 31st 1995. From that time onwards SNAT would trade as SeaFrance and Stena Sealink Line would trade as Stena Line.

January 1996: Renamed SEAFRANCE CÉZANNE operating between Calais - Dover

1999: Stena Line sold their share in the company to SNAT.

June 3rd 2005: To Arno Dunkerque for refit

July 12th 2005: Expected to return to service.

August 2005: Returned to service in “freight only” capacity.

2006: Still in service.

October 2nd 2006: Out of service for maintenance work. The 2006/2007 overhaul schedule up to the end of February 2007:

“SEAFRANCE CEZANNE” 19th February - unconfirmed.

2008: Remains in service with Seafrance on the Calais-Dover service.

February 13th 2009: Withdrawn from service for layup.

February 14th 2009: Moved to Dunkerque for layup.

February 17th 2009: It was announced that Seafrance are to lay off 650 staff (about a third of there work force) after disastrous financial losses during 2008. The Seafrance Cezanne and the Seafrance Nord Pas de Calais were to be displaced from the fleet leaving only 3 ships on the Dover-Calais service. The agreement was eventually changed with only the Seafrance Cezanne being displaced.

May 2010: Listed as laid up and out of class by Bureau Veritas, vessel remains for sale in the port of Dunkerque.

September 2010: Remains laid up in Dunkerque awaiting her fate.

December 2010: Observed still laid up in Dunkerque.

July 2011: Reported to have been sold. The vessel has been renamed "Western Light" and re-flagged to Belize. She currently remains in the Port of Dunkerque, France.

July 7th 2011: Registered Owner, KIMIYA SHIPPING INC, Care of Condor Maritime Dienstleistung GmbH & Co KG, Neuer Wall 80, 20354 Hamburg, Germany. Ship Manager, CONDOR MARITIME DIENSTLEISTUNG, Neuer Wall 80, 20354 Hamburg, Germany.

September 16th 2011: Enters dry dock at ARNO Dunkerque.

September 18th 2011: Departs dry dock and returns to her original berth in the port of Dunkerque.

September 27th 2011: Noted to be taking on bunkers at the port of Dunkerque.

October 7th 2011: Departed Dunkerque for Malta.

October 15th 2011: AIS destination changed to Dubai.

November 4th 2011: Last seen on AIS in the Gulf of Aidan showing a destination of Dubai with an arrival date of 10/11/11.

November 8th 2011: Reported to be heading for Alang, India.

November 16th 2011: Her final voyage complete she is beached at Alang, India for demolition.

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All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions found. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Micke Asklander (Faktaomfartyg), Joe (Ferry Fantastic), Brian Fisher, Derek Sands, Robert Fournier, Ted Ingham, M Fournet and Jean-Guy Hagelstein for their assistance in compiling this feature.