Steel twin screw motor vessel built by OY Wartsila Ab Helsinfors, Finland (Yard No. 432) for Gedser-Travemunde Ruten A/S, Gedser, Denmark, as a passenger, car and commercial vehicle ferry in 1981. Launched January 1st, 1981.

1986: Owners changed name to GT-Linien A/S, Gedser.

March 1987: Owners went bankrupt..

March 13th 1987: Sold to ASX 10969 A/S, Gedser for continued service.

April 26th 1988: Sold to Sea-Link Ab, Nassau, Bahamas (Sea-Link Ab, Nacka, Sweden ). Transferred to GT Link A/S, Nassau, Bahamas.

April 28th 1988: Renamed TRAVEMÜNDE LINK

December 6th 1988: Sold to Rederi Ab Gotland, Nassau, Bahamas. (Rederi Ab Gotland, Visby). Chartered to Sally Line Ltd. Renamed SALLY STAR.

December 7th 1988: Commenced service between Ramsgate - Dunkerque.

December 20th 1988: Two and a half miles off Ramsgate with 373 passengers on board when a fire broke out in the engine-room. The crew immediately sealed it off and alerted the fire services with 25 firemen being airlifted by helicopters from RAF Manston, while several lifeboats stood by. The passengers were evacuated to the upper decks where they remained calm and were fed by the crew. Attempts by THE VIKING to take her into tow failed and the vessel eventually arrived in Ramsgate under tow of a tug.

December 21st 1988: Towed to Dunkerque for repairs.

January 26th 1989: Left repair yard for sea trials and trial berthing at Dover Eastern Docks to confirm that the vessel would be able to berth there in an emergency, then returned to Dunkerque in the evening to take up service the following day.

January 27th 1989: Resumed service.

December 27th 1989: Left Ramsgate for extensive refit and alterations at Humber Ship Repairers Ltd., Immingham

January 19th 1990: Having returned from her 16 day refit relieved SALLY SKY which left for a refit lasting almost three months.

1990: New livery with an extra red band on the upper white section of the hull.

1990: Passenger certificate reduced to 1,050.

August 25th 1994: Inward-bound on a freight run fro Dunkerque West when, eight mile off Ramsgate, a explosion caused a serious fire in her engine room. The fire quickly took hold and smoke and flames could be seen from the shore. The vessel was evacuated and firemen were lifted in by helicopter to prevent the flames from spreading. Towed to Ramsgate for further evacuation and fire extinguished.

She was later towed to Arno Shipyard, Dunkerque for repairs.

October 14th 1994: Resumed service.

1995: The company revamped its image with a new logo and the adoption of Silja Line (parent company) seals head on the hulls and funnels of the ships.

March 9th 1997: Involved in a minor collision in Ramsgate harbour with catamaran HOLYMAN DIAMANT. Left later the same day for repairs at Arno Shipyard, Dunkerque.

April 13th 1997: Completed her final crossing between Dunkerque - Ramsgate.

May 1997: Transferred to Finland Levantlinjen Ab, Mariehamn, Finland (made up of a consortium between Rederi Ab Hoburgen, Visby, and Rederi Ab Gotland, Visby).

May 8th 1997 - September 14th 1997: Chartered to Silja Line, Åbo, Finland. Introduced between Vasa - Umeå under the trading banner of "WASA EXPRESS".

December 14th 1997: Left builders yard for Visby.

January 1st 1998: Commenced service for Destination Gotlands between Oskarshamn - Visby and in the summer period served Oskarshamn - Visby - Nynäshamn.

© Andreas Wörteler

June 1999 - August 1999: Only services between Visby - Nynäshamn.

June 2000 - August 2000: Only services between Visby - Nynäshamn.

November 21st 2003: Bareboat chartered to Color Line, Oslo, Norway. On her first day in service she was transferred to the Norwegian ships register.

November 30th 2003: Final day in service for Destination Gotland Visby - Oskarshamn - Visby.

December 15th 2003: Taken over by Color Line.

January 8th 2004: Left Visby for rebuilding in Fredericia, Denmark.

February 10th 2004: Registered to Thjelvar A/S, Larvik, Norway. Renamed COLOR TRAVELLER.

March 10th 2004: Commenced services between Larvik - Hirtshals. (only being able to carry 150 passengers) .

April 21st 2004: Maiden crossing between Larvik - Strömstad.

June 2004 - August 2004: Commenced service between Larvik - Frederikshavn. (allowed to carry 1000 passengers)

August 2004: Commenced service between Larvik - Hirtshals.

June 2005 - August 2005: Operated between Larvik - Frederikshavn.

August 2005: Introduced between Larvik - Hirtshals.

December 15th 2006: Final day in service between Larvik - Hirtshals.

December 15th 2006: Left Larvik for Fredericia.

December 2006: Completion of charter to Color Line and re-delivered to Rederi Ab Gotland. Renamed THJELVAR.

December 28th 2006: Arrived in Visby and laid up

January 17th 2007: Remained at berth 3 in Visby.

May 10th 2007: Moved from Visby to Slite for further lay-up.

July 1st 2007: Left Slite for Öresundsvarvet, Landskrona for repairs and alteration.

August 2007: Chartered to Scandlines.

October 1st 2007: Renamed ROSTOCK. Managed by Scandlines A/S and transferred to German registry (home port Rostock).

October 4th 2007: Left Landskrona for Rostock.

October 5th 2007: Berthing trials in Gedser.

October 15th 2007: Commenced service between Rostock - Gedser.

November 8th 2007: Operated a single trip between Rostock - Hangö - Rostock.

March 2008: On a journey to Gedser she lightly grounded.

October 3rd 2008: Arrived Örskov, Fredrikshavn for hull inspection.

October 2008: Taken out of service and laid up in Rostock.

October 2008: Moved to Sassnitz for further lay-up.

April 2009: Moved to Puttgarden.

June 2009 - 2010: Sub chartered by Scandlines to Comarit for services between Almeria - Nador.

© Daniel Ferro

August 20th 2010: Charter to Scandlines and subsequent sub charter to Comarit/Comanav completed. Departs for Landskrona, Sweden to be handed back to her owners Rederi AB Gotland.

August 24th 2010: Passes through the Dover Straits on route to Landskrona. ETA at Landskrona 27/8/10. Rumours suggested she may see service on the English Channel.

September 2010: Re-named Thjelvar.

October 5th 2010: Departs Landskrona for Norrkoping.

October 6th 2010: Arrives at Norrkoping to lay up.