MS Arrow
{{Short description|RORO cargo ferry built in 1998}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = MS Arrow Cargo Ferry at St Helier Harbour.jpg | caption = MS Arrow docked at St Helier }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = | Ship flag = | Ship name =*Varbola (1998–99)
| Ship namesake = | Ship owner =*Estonian Shipping Company (1999–2005)
| Ship operator =
| Ship registry =*{{flagicon|Estonia}} Tallinn, Estonia (1998–2005)
| Ship route =*Dartford–Vlissingen (1998–99)
| Ship ordered = | Ship awarded = | Ship builder = Astilleros de Huelva SA, Huelva | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 571 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = August 1998 | Ship sponsor = | Ship christened = | Ship completed = | Ship acquired = | Ship commissioned = | Ship recommissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship renamed = | Ship reclassified = | Ship refit = | Ship struck = | Ship reinstated = | Ship homeport = | Ship identification =*{{IMO Number|9119414}}
| Ship motto = | Ship nickname = | Ship honours = | Ship honors = | Ship captured = | Ship fate = | Ship status = | Ship notes = | Ship badge = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = | Ship tonnage =*{{GT|7,606}}
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|122.32|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|19.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = Two Wärtsilä 9R32 diesel engines, {{convert|7400|kW|bhp|abbr=on}} | Ship propulsion = | Ship sail plan = | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship boats = | Ship capacity =*12 passengers | Ship troops = | Ship complement = | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament = | Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
MV Arrow is a {{GT|7,606}} Ro-Ro ferry built by Astilleros de Huelva SA, Huelva, Spain in 1998 as Varbola for the Estonian Shipping Company, Tallinn. During a charter to Dart Line she was renamed Dart 6, reverting to Varbola when the charter ended. In 2005, she was sold to Malta and renamed RR Arrow. In 2007, she was sold to Seatruck Ferries, Heysham and renamed Arrow. In September 2022, it was revealed that she had been bought by Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for an estimated €9 million.{{cite web | url=https://www.steam-packet.com/information/news/2022/Sep/IOMSPC_Secures_ownership_of_MV_Arrow | title=Isle of Man Steam Packet Company secures ownership of MV Arrow }}
Description
Arrow is a RO-RO ferry, a sister ship to {{MS|Clipper Ranger||2}}, {{MS|Helliar||2}} and {{MS|Hildasay||2}}.
She is {{convert|122.32|m|ftin}} long, with a beam of {{convert|19.80|m|ftin}} and a draught of {{convert|6.20|m|ftin}}. She has a total of {{convert|1057|m|yd}} lane capacity, which means she can carry 88 trailers, with provision for 12 passengers. She is powered by two Wärtsilä 9R32 diesel engines, which produce a total of {{convert|7400|kW|bhp}}, giving her a speed of {{convert|17|kn|km/h}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/varbola_1998.htm |title=M/S Varbola |publisher=Fakta om Fartyg |language=sv |access-date=23 November 2009}}
History
Varbola was built by Astilleros de Huelva, Huelva, Spain as yard number 571. She was built for Estonian Shipping Company, Tallinn. On 26 August 1998, she was chartered to Dart Line, Dartford for use on the Dartford–Vlissingen route. Varbola was renamed Dart 6 in January 1999. In September 1999, the charter ended and she reverted to Varbola. In October 1999, she was chartered to Merchant Ferries for use on the Heysham–Dublin route. In January 2003, Varbola was chartered to Dart Line for use on the Dartford–Vlissingen and Dartford–Dunkirk routes. In May 2003, she was chartered to Norse Merchant Ferries for use on the Liverpool–Belfast route, transferring to the Heysham–Dublin route in April 2004.
On 18 July 2005, Varbola was sold to Elmira Shipping & Trading, Piraeus and renamed RR Arrow. She was reflagged to Malta. On 23 December 2005, she was chartered to Condor Ferries for use between Portsmouth, Jersey and Guernsey. The charter ended on 14 January 2006, following which she entered service with Norfolk Line. On 30 October 2007, she was sold to Seatruck Ferries for €15,000,000.{{cite web |url=http://www.shiplink.info/images/sale2007_11.htm |title=Ships for sale - ship sale and purchase |publisher=Shiplink |access-date=23 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008062218/http://shiplink.info/images/sale2007_11.htm |archive-date=8 October 2010 }} The ship was renamed Arrow in November. Following further service with Norfolk Line she was laid up at Liverpool in May 2009. Arrow re-entered service with Seatruck on 20 October 2009 on the Heysham–Dublin route.
In May 2012 and 2013, Arrow was chartered to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for the Isle of Man TT. In October 2013, the Steam Packet Company confirmed a three-year charter which commenced on 28 April 2014 with a purchase option.{{cite web| url=http://www.steam-packet.com/AboutUs/News/2013/Sep/SPC%20SECURES%20FREIGHTER%20ON%20LONG-TERM%20CHARTER/| title=Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Secures Freighter On Long-Term Charter| publisher=Isle of Man Steam Packet Company|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118181013/https://www.steam-packet.com/AboutUs/News/2013/Sep/SPC%20SECURES%20FREIGHTER%20ON%20LONG-TERM%20CHARTER/|archive-date=18 January 2018|url-status=dead| access-date=1 October 2013}} During the summer of 2014, while not required in Steam Packet Company service, the vessel was temporarily sub-chartered to operate between Jersey (Channel Islands) and Portsmouth (England). She resumed services in the Irish Sea in the winter.{{cite web|title=Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's new freight vessel to begin operations |url=http://www.steam-packet.com/aboutus/news/2014/Apr/ISLE%20OF%20MAN%20STEAM%20PACKET%20COMPANY%E2%80%99S%20NEW%20FREIGHT%20VES |publisher=Isle of Man Steam Packet Company |access-date=6 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506181752/http://www.steam-packet.com/aboutus/news/2014/Apr/ISLE%20OF%20MAN%20STEAM%20PACKET%20COMPANY%E2%80%99S%20NEW%20FREIGHT%20VES |archive-date=6 May 2014}}
In April 2015, Arrow was called in to cover freight traffic as the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company fast craft {{ship|HSC|Manannan||2}} was out of service for nearly a week and {{MS|Ben-my-Chree||2}} was required to carry as many passengers as possible.{{Cite web |url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/steam-packet-now-the-ben-is-delayed-by-fog-1-7196596 |title=Steam Packet: now the Ben is delayed by fog |access-date=23 April 2015|work=IOM Today |date=7 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411072621/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/steam-packet-now-the-ben-is-delayed-by-fog-1-7196596 |archive-date=11 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}
On 18 March 2016, Arrow was called in to cover freight services to the Channel Islands for Condor Ferries as the regular vessel, MV Commodore Clipper, was covering routes while {{HSC|Condor Liberation||2}} underwent repairs.{{Cite web|url=https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2015/03/31/condor-take-steps-to-keep-their-services-running-after-new-ship-liberation-taken-out-of-action/| title=Condor take steps to keep their services running| publisher=Jersey Evening Post| date=31 March 2015| access-date=5 August 2021}}
On 25 June 2020, while under subcharter to NorthLink Ferries, Arrow ran aground at the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour. She was freed by harbour tugs and continued to the quayside.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-53176815| title=Investigation after freight ferry runs aground at Aberdeen harbour| publisher=BBC News| date=25 June 2020| access-date=26 June 2020}}
From 19 July 2021, she was chartered by Caledonian MacBrayne to carry freight on the busy Stornoway to Ullapool route, freeing {{MV|Loch Seaforth|2014|2}} to make additional passenger crossings.{{cite web| url=https://www.calmac.co.uk/mv-arrow| title=MV Arrow - Ullapool to Stornoway| publisher=CalMac| accessdate=21 July 2021}} On 23 July 2021, damage caused by a rope getting wrapped in the ship's propeller resulted in the vessel being withdrawn from service. On 25 July 2021, she went to Belfast for repairs, arriving there on 27 July. Repairs were completed on 2 August and she returned to service from Stornoway on the following evening.{{cite news |last=Merritt |first=Mike |date=25 July 2021 |title=Ship brought in to relieve pressure on Stornoway ferry breaks down within a week |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/3338530/ship-brought-in-to-relieve-pressure-on-stornoway-ferry-breaks-down-within-a-week/ |work=Press and Journal |location= |access-date=27 July 2021}} The charter is due to end on 7 September. In December 2021, due to thick fog at Heysham causing several cancelled sailings for the Isle of Man Steam Packet in the week before Christmas, Arrow was brought in to help clear the backlog of freight, which allowed Ben-my-Chree to carry her full complement of passengers.{{cite news |title=Freight vessel brought in after sailing disruption |url=https://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/freight-vessel-brought-in-after-sailing-disruption/ |access-date=21 December 2021 |work=3fm News |date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221072516/https://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/freight-vessel-brought-in-after-sailing-disruption/ |archive-date=21 December 2021 |location=Braddan, Isle of Man}}
From 17 January to the end of March 2023, Arrow was chartered by Caledonian MacBrayne to assist with freight operations on the busy Stornoway to Ullapool route during the closure of the port at Uig. She was used only four times (18 February, 8, 15 and 16 March) when {{MV|Loch Seaforth|2014|2}} freight sailings were cancelled due to the weather conditions, and to substitute her when there was significant traffic.{{Cite web |title=MV Arrow charter {{!}} Transport Scotland |url=https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/mv-arrow-charter-1/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=www.transport.gov.scot}}
On 30 October 2023, CalMac announced that Arrow would be chartered again for the Stornoway to Ullapool route, due to {{MV|Alfred}} being unable to use the linkspan in Stornoway. The charter would initially run from 2 to 15 November, with CalMac looking to extend the contract beyond that time.{{cite news| url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23895774.move-charter-two-emergency-ferries-amidst-new-scots-ferry-delay/| title=Move to charter two 'emergency' ferries amidst new Scots ferry delay| publisher=The Herald| date=1 November 2023| access-date=2 November 2023}}
On 28 March 2025 she began a year long charter to DFDS Seaways operating from Portsmouth to St Helier, Jersey as the main freight vessel after DFDS won the contract to serve the island.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynnj58414o | title=Isle of Man's MV Arrow chartered to Channel Islands for a year | date=27 February 2025 }}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Arrow (ship, 1998)}}
- [http://www.shipais.com/showship.php?mmsi=215951000 Current position of Arrow]
{{Seatruck Ships|state=collapsed}}
{{2020 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arrow}}
Category:Ships of Seatruck Ferries
Category:Merchant ships of Malta