MVAncona

MVAnconamoored inSplit,Croatia,July 2010
History
Name	1966–1969:Svea 1969–1972:Hispania 1972–1978:Saga 1978–1998:Knossos 1998–2003:Captain Zaman II 2003–2010:Ancona
Owner	1966–1969:Rederi AB Svea 1969–1978:Swedish Lloyd 1978–1998:Minoan Lines 1998–2003:Ferro Ferryboat & RoRo Transport 2003–2010:Blue Line International
Operator	1966–1969:Rederi AB Svea 1969–1978:Swedish Lloyd 1978–1998:Minoan Lines 1998–2001:Diler Lines 2001–2002:Comanav 2003–2010:Blue Line International
Port of registry	1966–1969:Sweden,Stockholm 1969–1978:Sweden,Gothenburg 1978–1998:Greece,Heraklion 1998–2000:Belize,Belize City 2000–2003:Turkey,Istanbul 2003–2010:Cyprus,Limassol
Builder	Lindholmens varv,Gothenburg,Sweden
Yard number	1096
Launched	3 March 1966
Completed	1966
Acquired	27 October 1966
Maiden voyage	30 October 1966
In service	10 November 1966
Out of service	2010
Identification	IMO number:6608098
Fate	Scrapped atAlang,Indiain 2010.
Notes	Beached for scrap on December 15, 2010.
General characteristics (as built, 1966)
Class and type	Saga-classferry
Tonnage	7,883GRT 2,510DWT
Length	141.20 m (463 ft 3 in)
Beam	20.90 m (68 ft 7 in)
Draught	5.34 m (17 ft 6 in)
Installed power	4 ×Pielstick-Lindholmen6PC2-2L400 diesels, combined 7,415 kW
Propulsion	2 propellers
Speed	18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity	670 passengers 670 berths 100 cars
General characteristics (asAncona,2003)
Tonnage	12,394GT 1,910 tDWT
Capacity	1,532 passengers 583 berths 285 cars
Notes	Otherwise the same as built

MSAnconawas a car-passengerferryowned byBlue Line Internationaland operated on it service linkingAnconain Italy toSplit, Croatia.She was built in 1966 byLindholmens varvinGothenburg,Sweden, forRederi AB SveaasMSSvea.AsSvea,she was used on the joint Sweden–United Kingdom service operated byEllerman's Wilson Line,Swedish Lloydand Rederi AB Svea.In 1969Sveawas sold to Swedish Lloyd and renamedMSHispania.In 1972, she was renamedMSSaga.In 1978, she was sold toMinoan Linesfollowing the closure of Swedish Lloyd's passenger services and renamedMSKnossos.In 1998, she passed toDiler Lines,becoming theirMSCaptain Zaman II.In 2003, she was sold to Blue Line and was renamedAncona.She was sold for scrap in October 2010 and breaking up was commenced on 15 December 2010.

Concept and construction

In the mid-1960s, Rederi AB Svea], Swedish Lloyd and Ellerman's Wilson Line decided to establish a joint service between Sweden and the United Kingdom, appropriately named England–Sweden Line, abbreviated ELS.Each participant company had a new ship built for the service; Rederi AB Svea and Swedish Lloyd opted to order two identical sister ships (MSSagaand MSSvea) fromLindholmens varvinGothenburgand Ellerman's Wilson ordered a slightly smaller vessel (MSSpero) fromCammell LairdinBirkenhead.Swedish Lloyd also ordered a third ship of theSaga/Sveadesign (MSPatricia) for its UK–Spainservice.

All three ships built for the UK–Sweden service were based on an essentially traditional concept with subdued and luxurious interior fittings and without full-height car decks,with a service speed of 18 knots (33.34 km/h; 20.71 mph).Rederi AB Svea'sSveawaslaunched from drydockon 3 March 1966 and delivered to her owners on 27 October the same year.

Service history

1966–1969: Rederi AB Svea

Following delivery to Rederi AB Svea,Sveasailed from Gothenburg to herport of registry,Stockholm.On 30 October 1966, she made an introductory cruise around theStockholm archipelago.Subsequently, she sailed back to Gothenburg and entered service on the Gothenburg–Hullroute on 10 November 1966,running parallel to Ellerman's Wilson Line'sSpero,while Swedish Lloyd'sSagasailed on the Gothenburg–Tilburyroute.

From early on, the ELS service faced fierce competition fromTor Line,which had also initiated a UK–Sweden service in 1966.Unlike the ELS ships, Tor Line'sMSTor AngliaandMSTor Hollandiahad modern furnishings, full-height car decks and had a service speed of 22 knots (40.74 km/h; 25.32 mph).Possibly due to the high level of competition, Rederi AB Svea decided to withdraw from the joint UK–Sweden service in March 1968, whenSveawas sold to Swedish Lloyd for a delivery in 1969.

1969–1978: Swedish Lloyd

Swedish Lloyd took overSveaon 7 January 1969 when the ship arrived at theBurmeister & Wainshipyard for rebuilding for the UK–Spain service. In April 1969, she was renamedHispaniaand entered service on theSouthampton–Bilbaoroute, running parallel to her sister shipPatricia.On 29 November 1970,Hispaniawas moved to the Gothenburg–Tilbury service, running parallel toSaga.During the off-season, Swedish Lloyd marketed round trips on their ships as four-day mini cruises,makingHispaniaand her sister ships some of the firstcruiseferriesin the world.

Competition from Tor Line remained fierce on the line service and, in February 1972, the joint ELS service was radically cut down On 7 February, Swedish Lloyd soldSagatoStena Line,andHispaniawas in turn renamedSaga.On 25 February, Ellerman's Wilson Line withdrewSperofrom the service,leavingSaga(ex-Svea) as the only ship of the England–Sweden Line.

In 1975–76, Tor Line introduced notably larger and faster sister vessels,MSTor BritanniaandMSTor Scandinavia,to the UK–Sweden service.TheSagacould not compete with the more modern tonnage and, on 2 September 1977, Swedish Lloyd abandoned the Gothenburg–Tilbury service.The Southampton–Bilbao service had been abandoned a month before,and as a result bothSagaandPatriciawere laid up at Lindholmens varv in Gothenburg.

1978–1998: Minoan Lines

In March 1978,Sagawas sold to the Greece-basedMinoan Lines.On 6 April 1978, she was renamedKnossosand subsequently entered service on Minoan LinesPiraeus–Heraklionroute. On 16 September 1980, the ship suffered an engine room fire while in Piraues.In 1985, she again sailed parallel to one of her sister ships, when Minoan Lines acquiredFestos,ex-Saga.

In 1988,Knossoswas moved to the Piraeus–Chaniaservice, where she remained until October 1995 when Minoan Lines decided to abandon the route.Knossoswas laid up until March 1996, when she started sailing on thePatras–Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Ancona service. In the following year, the service was shortened to Igoumenitsa–Corfu–Brindisi, with calls at Corfu omitted during the winter season.

1998–2003: Diler Lines and Comanav

In February 1998,Knossos(as well asFestos) was sold toFerro Ferryboat & RoRo Transport.Knossoswas renamedCaptain Zaman IIandFestosbecameCaptain Zaman I.Both ships entered service on the Turkey-basedDiler Lines'Istanbul–Odessaroute. In August the same year, the route of the ships was altered intoBrindisi–Igoumenitsa.During the summer seasons of 2001 and 2002,Captain Zaman IIwas chartered toComanavfor service betweenNadorandSètein France. Following the end of her 2002 charter to ComanavCaptain Zaman IIwas laid up atTuzla,Turkey.

2003–2010: Blue Line

Anconamoored atSpliton August 4, 2010

On 17 January 2003,Captain Zaman IIwas sold to the Croatia-basedSEM Maritimefor service with its subsidiaryBlue Line International.The ship was renamedAnconaand entered service on Blue Line's Ancona–Split service on 1 April 2003.During the summer season, the service also included occasional calls atHvarandVis.

Retirement

Anconawas withdrawn from service in 2010 due to the newSOLAS 2010regulations coming into effect.Scrapping was commenced atAlang, India,on 15 December 2010.

External links

• Blue Line official website