MS Stena Scandinavica (1973)

MS Stena Scandinavica ( IMO number: 7226603) was a car/passenger ferry built in 1974 by Titovo Brodogradiliste in Kraljevica, Yugoslavia for Stena Line. Between 1978—1981 the ship sailed for Irish Ferries as Saint Killian. In 1981—1982 the ship was lengthened by 32.10 m (105 ft 4 in) at Amsterdamsche Droogdok Maatschaapij in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Subsequently she was renamed Saint Killian II and remained in Irish Ferries service until 1997.^[2]

In 1998 the ship was sold to Greek interests and renamed Medina Star, but was laid up. From 2002 until 2005 she sailed as Egnatia III for Hellenic Mediterranean Lines and Algérie Ferries. She was laid up from 2005 until 2007, when she was scrapped in Alang, India.^[2]

Service history

The Stena Scandinavica was one of four identical ships built by Yugoslavian shipyards for Stena Line in 1972—1974. She was delivered to Stena on 27 June 1973, primarily for use on their Gothenburg—Kiel service,^[2][3] but she also sailed on the Korsør—Kiel and Gothenburg—Frederikshavn services. In January 1974 she was rebuilt with additional cabins ay Sölvesborgs Varv.^[2]

In February 1978 the Stena Scandinavica was sold to Irish Ferries,^[2] after the late Captain Coleman Raftery said she was a perfect vessel to expand the Ireland France routes. She was purchased for IR£9 million to join the Saint Patrick. Before entering service for her new owners she was chartered back to Stena Line until April 1978.^[2] Following the charter she made a visit to Dún Laoghaire to promote the route. In her first month she ran alongside the Saint Patrick from Rosslare, and also started sailings from Cork to Cherbourg and Le Havre.

By the early 80s Irish Continental needed more capacity on the Ireland-France routes, and instead of getting new tonnage, it was decided to lengthen Saint Killian. Between February 1981 and February 1982 the Saint Killian was lengthened by 32.10 m (105 ft 4 in) at Amsterdamsche Droogdok Maatschaapij in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Her capacities were increased by 517 passengers and 98 cars. On 26 February 1982 she was renamed Saint Killian II and was subsequently placed back on the Ireland—France service. On Christmas Eve 1986 a fire disabled the ship off the coast of Cornwall. The vessel was taken under tow to Falmouth where she received temporary repairs, and in January 1987 moved to Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, Germany where she was fully repaired. In February 1987 she resumed service. In 1997 the Saint Killian II was withdrawn from service following her final departure from Ringaskiddy to Le Havre on September 27, 1997, where she was laid up and put for sale.

In October 1998 the Saint Killian II was sold to Cape Enterprise Ltd, Panama and renamed Medina Star. She sailed to Piraeus, Greece, where she was laid up. In 2000 she was sold to Green Island Maritime Ltd, and in 2001 the Commercial Bank of Greece, but remained laid up. In 2002 the ship was chartered to Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, renamed Egnatia III and refitted, entering service on the Patras—Igoumenitsa—Korfu—Brindisi service in May 2003. In June 2004 she was charted to Algérie Ferries for use on their services from Bejaia, Algiers and Oran to Marseille, and Oran to Alicante. After end of the charter to Alregie Ferries in January 2005 the Egnatia III was laid up at Eleusis Bay, Greece. In September 2007 she was sold to the scrapyard at Alang, India and was subsequently scrapped.^[2]

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