F/B
SILVER PALOMA / MEGISTANAS
The ship as “Silver Paloma” Photo © Michele Lulurgas,
Igoumenitsa, 01/07/94
The ship as “Megistanas” in
Eleusis, photo © Pieter Inpijn
|
Ship |
Silver Paloma (1986) Megistanas (1995) |
Building Spec. |
1959 at VEB Neptun, Rostock,
Germany N° 965 |
|
GRT |
9.940 |
DWT |
2.318 |
|
Dimensions |
137,52 x 18,39 x 5,7 |
Engines |
4 9cil. Halberstadt, 9.600 hp |
|
Speed |
18
knots |
Passengers |
1.400 |
|
Beds |
428 |
Cars |
240 |
|
Lane Metres |
525 |
Sister ships |
|
|
Registry Port |
Piraeus (Silver Paloma) Valletta (Megistanas) |
Flag |
Greek (Silver Paloma) Maltese (Megistanas) |
|
Former Owners |
Deutsche
Reichsbahn 1957-86 Afroessa
Lines 1986-89 |
Former Names |
Sassnitz
1957-86 |
|
New Owners |
Sold
in India for scrap 2000 |
New Names |
Megi
2000à |
|
Line |
|
||
Was owned by the Eastern Republic of Germany’s railways, employed
between Sassnitz and Trelleborg. In 1973 was a month on Stockholm - Nadendal
(Naantali) line, in 1978 summer connected Sassnitz with Bornholm’s island port
Ronne. Was acquired by Afroessa Line, a subsidiary of Arkadia Lines, in 1986
bearing the name “Silver Paloma”. Her refit was very important: the ship,
originally a train-ferry, loses her four rail lines, the passenger capacity
passed from 1.017 to 1.400, of which 428 were berthed, as the “Sassnitz” hadn’t
berth accommodation, two lifeboats each side were removed for building up the
new stern solarium, good looking and equipped with swimming pool; the funnels
were lifted, but, for my opinion, Arkadia lost the occasion to cut one of the
two funnels, better if it were the front one. From her delivery to 1993 was on
Piraeus - Rhodes - Limassol - Haifa Line, diverting to Heraklion on summer months.
In these years my uncle worked aboard that ship as waiter; it’s interesting
that then he was employed on the “Nissos Kypros” of Salamis Lines, on the same
service, which was the original fleet mate of “Sassnitz” in Eastern German
service as “Trelleborg”. In 1994 Arkadia left this market to Poseidon Lines and
Salamis Lines, putting the ferry on Igoumenitsa - Bari line substituting the
younger “Paloma”. Was still in service with her classic name and Greek flag in
1994, despite of her 37 years of age; in 1995 was renamed “Megistanas” and
reflagged to Malta, still for the same owner and service. From 1997 was laid up
in eleusis, left only this year (2000) for the last voyage to India,
destination a scrapping yard, at the very respectable age of 41.
DEUTSCHE
REICHSBAHN F/B Sassnitz Photo by courtesy of Micke Asklander
Photo © Pieter Inpijn