MS Europic Ferry

MS Europic Ferry was a roll-on/roll-off car ferry built in 1967 by Swan Hunter for the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company (ASNC). She was acquired by European Ferries in 1971 when they took over the ASNC and served with them under the Townsend Thoresen branding. The Europic Ferry was requisitioned by the British government in April 1982 and transported stores, equipment and troops to the South Atlantic during the Falklands War. After the war she returned to service with European Ferries until that company was sold to P&O in 1987. She was sold again to Namora Shipping in 1993 and served on routes in the Mediterranean until sold for scrapping in 2004.

Europic Ferry at Cairnryan, Scotland in 1987
History
Name:
  • Ajman Glory (2004–2005)
  • Afrodite II (1993–2004)
  • European Freighter (1991–1993)
  • Europic Ferry (1967–1991)
Owner:
Operator:
Builder: Swan Hunter (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Wallsend
Launched: 3 October 1967
In service: January 1968
Out of service: Sold for scrap 2004
Identification: IMO number: 6728563
Fate: Scrapped 2005
General characteristics
Tonnage:
Length: 450 feet (140 m)
Beam: 66 feet 6 inches (20.27 m)
Draught: 15 feet (4.6 m)
Propulsion: Two SEMT Pielstick 4-stroke single-acting diesel engines
Speed: 19.25 knots

Ferry service

The Europic Ferry was built at the Neptune Yard of Swan Hunter on the Tyne at Wallsend and was launched on 3 October 1967.[1][2] A roll-on/roll-off car ferry, as-built she had a gross tonnage of 4,190 and a deadweight tonnage of 2,740.[3][2][4] She measured 450 feet (140 m) in length, 66 feet 6 inches (20.27 m) in beam and had a draught of 15 feet (4.6 m). She was fitted with two SEMT Pielstick 4-stroke single-acting diesel engines that were installed by Lindholmens and had a maximum speed of 19.25 knots.[2][5]

The Europic Ferry entered service in January 1968 with the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company's Transport Ferry Service .[6] By mid 1968 she was on the Rotterdam, Netherlands (Europoort) to Felixstowe, England route. She cut the journey time on this route to six hours which made it the fastest North Sea ferry crossing of the time. The Europic Ferry carried road vehicles, freight (containerised and flat) and passengers and was equipped to serve meals and provide sleeping accommodation.[7] In 1971 the ship was transferred to European Ferries after they purchased the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company.[8] The Europic Ferry afterwards sailed under European Ferries' Townsend Thoresen branding.[9]

Falklands War

Requisition and preparation

After the 2 April 1982 Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands the British government assembled a taskforce to retake the islands. This included many merchant ships taken up from trade (STUFT) as well as Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service. Europic Ferry was one of the first vessels to be identified by the Ministry of Defence as required for the campaign, it was earmarked for use as a stores transport ship in early April.[3] She was officially requisitioned on 19 April and spent the next three days at Vosper & Company, Southampton being modified for military service.[10][11] She was fitted with replenishment-at-sea equipment, freshwater generators, satellite navigation and satellite communications systems. Additional crew and troop accommodation was also installed.[5] The vessel was also fitted with pintle-mounted Bren light machine guns as a rudimentary defence against low-level air attack.[12]

The Europic Ferry loaded at Portsmouth and departed for the South Atlantic on 25 April, stopping briefly at Portland Harbour on her way past.[13][5] She was loaded with ammunition, stores, fuel and vehicles including much of the support equipment for the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment.[13][14][15] She also carried equipment for No. 656 Squadron AAC, including four Westland Scout helicopters lashed to her deck, and for 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, including six L118 light guns which were secured on deck next to her superstructure.[15] A number of personnel were also carried including the ground crews for the Westland Wessex and Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters carried aboard the Atlantic Conveyor.[16]

Europic Ferry called at Freetown, Sierra Leone for fuel before arriving at Ascension Island in company with the requisitioned troop ship Norland on 8 May. The two vessels spent the day there transferring stores between the two ships before sailing to meet up with Atlantic Conveyor, Canberra, Elk and a number of navy and RFA vessels that would form part of the first amphibious landing force, some 1,000 miles (1,600 km) north-west of Tristan de Cunha. The force sailed southwards together and, after being overflown by Russian aircraft and reportedly spotting a submarine periscope, enacted wartime measures of keeping watertight doors closed and sailing in zig-zag courses.[14]

In the South Atlantic

After assembling to the east of the Falkland Islands the force sailed on 20 May as part of the first large-scale British landings, Operation Sutton. Europic Ferry formed part of the third wave of the landings which took place in San Carlos Water. Entering the bay in the early morning of she spent much of the day anchored offshore, offloading stores by helicopter and into landing craft from her stern door. The six 105mm guns and ammunition were the first items offloaded.[17] The Argentinian air force responded with air attacks that afternoon, as part of the Battle of San Carlos.[18] With clear skies the merchant ships were vulnerable to air attack and Europic Ferry suffered a near miss.[17] Commodore Michael Clapp, the Commodore, Amphibious Warfare, then ordered all merchant ships to leave the bay by midnight as he judged it too dangerous to continue offloading.[19] Europic Ferry left the bay around 11pm and rejoined the main taskforce.[17][5]

Europic Ferry returned to San Carlos on 26 May to discharge her remaining stores and personnel.[5] At around this time a hand-applied mottled grey camouflage scheme was painted onto the vessel, the only merchant ship to be camouflaged during the war (though some had their funnel markings painted out).[12] In mid-June the ship was back outside the Total Exclusion Zone, acting as a floating platform for works to Chinook helicopters which had transported on the Contender Bezant. Personnel of No. 18 Squadron RAF worked on the deck of Europic Ferry to make the helicopters airworthy before they were flown to the carrier Hermes. On 15 June the second Chinook to be serviced was lashed to the deck during a heavy swell and Europic Ferry's officers considered jettisoning it to avoid risking the ship. The swell passed and the Chinook, undamaged by the ordeal, was successfully flown off on 16 June.[20] Europic Ferry afterwards sailed to Port Stanley, which had surrendered to British forces on 14 June to load stores and equipment.[5] She sailed for the United Kingdom on 23 June carrying returning troops of 2nd and 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment.[10][21]

Later career
The Europic ferry at Larne, Northern Ireland in 1990

Europic Ferry was returned to European Ferries later in 1982. She continued to serve on the Felixstowe – Rotterdam route before switching to Townsend Thoresen's Western Channel service.[22] The vessel came into the ownership of P&O in 1987 after they completed a takeover of European Ferries and was soon sailing under their P&O European Ferries branding.[23] Europic Ferry spent some time on the Preston, Lancashire – Larne, Northern Ireland route.[24] In 1991 she was sold by P&O to Howill Shipping and leased back on a hire purchase arrangement.[25] Around the same time she was renamed European Freighter 1991.[26]

The vessel was sold to Namora Shipping Ltd, Cyprus in 1993 and renamed Afrodite II.[27] She sailed under their Med Link Lines and was to have been employed on the Chios – Mytilene freight route in Greece from 2003.[28] She was sold for breaking in 2004 and afterwards renamed Ajman Glory.[29][30] She was broken up at Alang, India in 2005.[31]

References
  1. Board of Trade Journal. H.M. Stationery Office. 1967. p. 994.
  2. Clegg, William Paul; Styring, John S. (1969). British Nationalised Shipping 1947–1968. David & Charles. p. 277.
  3. Villar, Captain Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War: The Falklands Experience. London: Conway Maritime Press and Lloyd's of London Press. p. 39. ISBN 0851772986.
  4. Publications, Benn (1981). International Shipping and Shipbuilding Directory. Benn Publications. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-510-49716-3.
  5. Villar, Captain Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War: The Falklands Experience. London: Conway Maritime Press and Lloyd's of London Press. p. 172. ISBN 0851772986.
  6. Board of Trade Journal. H.M. Stationery Office. 1968. p. 304.
  7. De Kampioen (in Dutch). ANWB BV. 1968. p. 540.
  8. Collis, Kathryn (2013). The Herald. Xlibris Corporation. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-4836-3835-5.
  9. Downie, George (1974). Jane's Freight Containers. F. Watts. p. 251.
  10. Villar, Captain Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War: The Falklands Experience. London: Conway Maritime Press and Lloyd's of London Press. p. 169. ISBN 0851772986.
  11. Brown, David (1987). The Royal Navy and Falklands War. Pen and Sword. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-4738-1779-1.
  12. Villar, Captain Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War: The Falklands Experience. London: Conway Maritime Press and Lloyd's of London Press. p. 45. ISBN 0851772986.
  13. Villar, Captain Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War: The Falklands Experience. London: Conway Maritime Press and Lloyd's of London Press. p. 15. ISBN 0851772986.
  14. Villar, Captain Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War: The Falklands Experience. London: Conway Maritime Press and Lloyd's of London Press. p. 42. ISBN 0851772986.
  15. Villar, Captain Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War: The Falklands Experience. London: Conway Maritime Press and Lloyd's of London Press. p. 44. ISBN 0851772986.
  16. Brown, David (1987). The Royal Navy and Falklands War. Pen and Sword. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-4738-1779-1.
  17. Villar, Captain Roger (1984). Merchant Ships at War: The Falklands Experience. London: Conway Maritime Press and Lloyd's of London Press. p. 48. ISBN 0851772986.
  18. Brown, David (1987). The Royal Navy and Falklands War. Pen and Sword. p. 290. ISBN 978-1-4738-1779-1.
  19. Clapp, Michael; Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (1997). Amphibious Assault Falklands: The Battle of San Carlos Water. London: Orion Books. p. 185. ISBN 0-75281-109-6. OCLC 833138058.
  20. Brown, David (1987). The Royal Navy and Falklands War. Pen and Sword. p. 411. ISBN 978-1-4738-1779-1.
  21. Privratsky, Kenneth L. (2014). Logistics in the Falklands War. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Books. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-47382-312-9. OCLC 890938195.
  22. Ships Monthly. Waterway Productions Limited. 1999. p. 24.
  23. Yates, Nigel (2001). Kent in the Twentieth Century. Boydell & Brewer. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-85115-587-6.
  24. Gardiner, Robert (1992). The Shipping Revolution: The Modern Merchant Ship. Conway Maritime Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-55750-765-5.
  25. Ships Monthly. Waterway Productions Limited. 1991. p. 7.
  26. Lloyd's Maritime Directory. Lloyd's of London Press. 1993. p. 434. ISBN 9781850444749.
  27. Ships Monthly. Waterway Productions Limited. 2004. p. 6.
  28. Sea Breezes: The Ship Lovers' Digest. C. Birchell. 2003. p. 268.
  29. Steamboat Bill: Journal of the Steamship Historical Society of America. Steamship Historical Society of America. 2004.
  30. Marine News. 2004. p. 284.
  31. "AJMAN GLORY – IMO 6728563 – Callsign JYA02 – ShipSpotting.com – Ship Photos and Ship Tracker". Ship Spotting. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
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