MS Express Aphrodite

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox ship begin}}

{{Infobox ship image

| Ship image = "Express Aphrodite" - Piraeus, 2000.jpg

| Ship caption = Express Aphrodite at Piraeus in 2000.

}}

{{Infobox ship career

| Hide header =

| Ship name = *1977–1991: St. Columba

  • 1991–1996: Stena Hibernia
  • 1996–1997: Stena Adventurer
  • 1997–2007: Express Aphrodite
  • 2007–2021: Masarrah
  • 2021: Asarrah

| Ship owner =

| Ship operator = Namma Shipping Lines (2007–2021)

| Ship registry = {{flag|Gabon|civil}} (2021)

| Ship route =

| Ship ordered =

| Ship builder = Aalborg Vaerft, Denmark

| Ship original cost =

| Ship yard number = 214

| Ship way number =

| Ship laid down =

| Ship launched = 17 July 1976

| Ship completed = 1977

| Ship christened =

| Ship acquired = 1977

| Ship maiden voyage = 1977

| Ship in service = 1977-2021

| Ship out of service = December 2021

| Ship identification = {{IMO Number|7507019}}

| Ship fate = Scrapped at Gadani, Pakistan, December 2021.

| Ship notes =

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

| Hide header =

| Header caption =

| Ship class =

| Ship tonnage = {{GT|11,690}}

| Ship displacement =

| Ship length = {{convert|129.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| Ship beam = {{convert|20.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| Ship draught = {{convert|4.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| Ship depth =

| Ship decks =

| Ship deck clearance =

| Ship ramps =

| Ship ice class =

| Ship power = 2{{nbsp}}×{{nbsp}}Stork-Werkspoor 16T410

| Ship propulsion =

| Ship speed =

| Ship capacity = *1,700 passengers

| Ship crew =

| Ship notes =

}}

The MS Express Aphrodite was a ferry originally named St. Columba. Built in 1977, at the Aalborg Shipyard in Denmark, St. Columba was originally a Sealink UK ferry, operating between Holyhead and Dún Laoghaire in the Irish Sea. She laterally operated between Duba and Jeddah for Namma Shipping Lines. She was beached at Gadani for scrapping in December 2021.

Fire

File:The "St Columba" at Dun Laoghaire - geograph.org.uk - 1769370.jpg]]

File:St Columba & train Carlisle Pier (geograph 2363353).jpg

On 31 January 1990, a fire broke out in the engine room of St. Columba. None of the 199 passengers on board were injured, however a fireman suffered a fractured ulna.

The Captain praised the work of the staff on board the ferry in preventing the spread of the fire, and keeping the passengers safe and re-assured. As there was too much oil to re-ignite the engines, the ship had to be towed for the remainder of the journey to Holyhead port.

Ownership by Stena Line

In 1990, Sealink was taken over by Stena Line, and with this new investment, came an £8 million re-fit for St Columba, and her name was changed to Stena Hibernia. In 1996, with the introduction of the HSS fast ferries, Hibernia was again re-named, this time as Stena Adventurer, with the intention of her moving to the English Channel to serve the Dover to Calais route. This move, however, never materialised, and Stena Adventurer was sold to Agapitos Express Ferries of Greece.

Ownership by Agapitos Express Ferries

Stena Adventurer was renamed Express Aphrodite.

Ship's names

  • St. Columba (1977–1990)
  • Stena Hibernia (1990–1996)
  • Stena Adventurer (1996–1997)
  • Express Aphrodite (1997–2007)
  • Masarrah (2007–2021)
  • Asarrah (2021)

Scrapping

File:The "Stena Adventurer" at Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 1109511.jpg.]]

Masarrah was beached as Asarrah at Gadani Ship Breaking Yard, Pakistan, on the morning of 2 December 2021 for scrapping.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-02|title=Former Sealink / Stena Line Ferry Beached in Pakistan|url=https://www.niferry.co.uk/former-sealink-stena-line-ferry-beached-in-pakistan/|access-date=2021-12-02|website=Ferry News and Information Site – niferry.co.uk}} She was flying the flag of Gabon at the time.

File:At Safaga port, Red Sea (3418647008).jpg.]]

References

{{Reflist}}

  • https://web.archive.org/web/20110711165356/http://www.hhvferry.com/stcolumba.html
  • {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130201221810/http://www.sealink-holyhead.com/sealink/ships/st_columba_sealink/fire.html Article title]}}
  • {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20091106021136/http://www.sealink-holyhead.com/sealink/ships/st_columba_sealink/home.html Article title]}}

{{clear}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Express Aphrodite}}

Category:1976 ships

Category:Cruiseferries

Category:Ships built in Aalborg

Category:Ships of British Rail

{{ferry-stub}}