© Jürgen Stein Steel twin screw motor vessel built by Schichau-Unterweser Ag, Bremerhaven (Yard No. 2269) in 1976 for Gedser-Travemunde Ruten A/S, Gedser Denmark. Launched August 23rd, 1976.
 Technical Data
Registry - Gedser, Nassau, MMSI Number - 308906000 IMO Number - 7500451 Length - 123.4m (overall) (1976), 143.84m (1990) Breadth - 20.54m (extreme) Depth - 11.99m Draught - 5.82m (maximum) Tonnage - 4,998 gross (1976),14,558 gross (1990), 14,300 (1992) 1,728 net (1976), 7,196 net (1990) 2,342 deadweight (1976), 4,150 deadweight (1990) Engines - Two 9-cylinder Stork-Werkspoor 9TM410 diesels. Power - 12,000 hk Speed - 18.5 knots Capacity - 800 passengers (1976), 1155 (1990) 314 Cars (1976), 325 (1990) or 55 commercial trailers Call Sign - C6BR6 (SALLY SKY/LARKSPUR)
History September 26th 1974: Ordered. April 9th 1976: Keel struck. August 23rd 1976: Launched. December 18th 1976: Delivered to I/S Gedser-Travemünde Ruten A/S, A/S Östersöens Faergedrift, Sydfalster Kommune and M. Thorviks Rederi A/S. December 19th 1976: Commenced service between Gedser - Travemünde. December 1976: Registered to Gedser-Travemünde Ruten A/S, Gedser. March 5th 1977: Ran aground outside Gedser, remaining stuck for 12 hours before re-floating and being able to continue her journey.
 © Jürgen Stein
September 4th 1978 - September 14th 1978: Chartered to NATO as a troop-transport. May 1980: Sale of 34% of shares to DFDS V/ A/S Boröy, Norway. May 1986: Sale of the DFDS share to other interests. January 14th 1986: Final day operating between Gedser - Travemünde. January 15th 1986: Repairs to engine damage at Rickmers Werft, Bremerhaven.
 © Christoph Podloucky
February 17th 1986: Sold to Thorsviks Rederi A/S, Oslo, Norway (Nassau, Bahamas)(Sally Line U.K. Ltd.) and renamed VIKING 2.
 © Christoph Podloucky
April 1986: Chartered to Sally Line U.K.
 © Ted Ingham
April 25th 1986: Maiden voyage Ramsgate - Dunkerque. Sailed with a complete French crew from the Captain, officers, deck and catering crew to reception staff. 1987: There was a reorganisation of Sally Line’s parent company in Finland. The outcome was that Rederi AB Sally sold its 33% share of Viking Line, while the other two partners in Viking Line bought up an equally large part of Sally’s shareholding.December 1988: Sold to Johnson Line AB, Nassau, Bahamas. Refit at ARNO, Dunkerque, where she was renamed SALLY SKY. Bareboat-chartered to Sally Line (UK) Ltd., Ramsgate.
 Nigel Thornton Collection
1988: Old livery was thought to be “Rather aggressive” so it was decided to cut down on the amount of red. Therefore, instead of the whole of the ships’ hulls being painted red, only the lower half would be this colour with the remainder being white. The funnel colour would also be simplified in that it would be white with two slim red bands near the top. The word “Sally” would be painted on the white section of the hull in red letters. The major change as far as the ships were concerned was that the vessels would now drop the “Viking” name.January 19th 1990: Arrived at Humber Ship Repair Immingham, England to be lengthened by 20.4m. April 10th 1990: Resumed service between Ramsgate - Dunkerque.
  © Andreas Wörteler
1990: New livery with an extra red band on the upper white section of the hull. 1990: Sold to Johnson Line Ab, Nassau, Bahamas Inc. & EffJohn International (Sverige) AB, Nassau, Bahamas. 1991: Sold to Saudi Maritime Holding (Liners) Ltd. & Johnson Line AB, Nassau, Bahamas. 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.
 © Andreas Wörteler
December 1996: Withdrawn from service between Dunkerque - Ramsgate and given a thorough upgrading of her passenger facilities in preparation for her new freight role. December 1996: Laid up. February 1997: Renamed EUROTRAVELLER, operating on a reduced passenger certificate and was to be crewed by former RMT personnel. The main reason for retaining the vessel was that she would act as back-up to the fast craft operation of Holyman Sally. March 1st 1997: The joint Holyman Sally fast craft passenger operation commenced and “Sally Freight” continued.March 13th 1997: Commenced service for Holyman Sally Ferries between Ostend - Ramsgate.
  Nigel Thornton Collection (left) and © Andreas Wörteler (right)
July 29th 1998: The Sally Direct passenger service commenced between Ramsgate - Ostend
  © Andreas Wörteler
November 20th 1998: Irreversible financial loses led to Sally Direct and Sally Freight links coming to an end. The Slovenian company, TransEuropa Shipping Lines, with its partners H R Services Ltd., Diaz Haulage, Ostend Cargo Handling Services and the Port of Ostend, commenced operations without so much as missing a single sailing November 20th 1998: Final day in service with Sally Direct between Ostend - Ramsgate. November 1998: Laid up in Dunkerque. 1999: Registered to Sally Line Ltd., Nassau, Bahamas. Chartered to TransEuropa Shipping Lines, Nassau. April 1999: Renamed LARKSPUR. October 1999: Sold to TransEuropa Shipping Lines (Registered to Forsythia Maritime Co. Ltd., Nassau, Bahamas), still laid up in Dunkerque.
 © Andreas Wörteler
August 27th 2000: Maiden voyage between Ostend - Ramsgate. July 20th 2004: Started a new passenger service between Ostend and Ramsgate. Makes four daily crossings with cars, mobile homes, caravans and motor cycles but initially no coaches or foot passengers.
  © Andreas Wörteler
May 13th 2005:Left Ostend for an underwater survey and some repairs in Zeebrugge. May 15th 2005: Returned to service.
 © Nigel Thornton
May 5th 2006: To Arno Dunkerque for refit/dry-docking. Anticipated return to service on the 10th May 2006.
 © Robert Fournier
May 13th 2006: Sailed from Dunkerque direct to Ramsgate to resume service. May 7th 2007: To Zeebrugge for underwater survey May 8th 2007: Resumed. July 2008: Reportedly suffering mechanical problems. January 24th 2009: Grounded in Ramsgate for 2 hours. Able to remove herself. August 6th 2009: Detained for 2 days in Ostend owing to deficiencies in safety regulations. August 8th 2009: Resumed service. August 22nd 2009: To ARNO, Dunkerque for remedial work resulting from detention + annual survey. August 27th 2009: Left Dunkerque bound for Ostend then resumed. September 10th 2009: To ARNO suffering from rudder problems. September 23rd 2009: Left ARNO and sailed to Ostend. September 25th 2009: Resumed service.
|
