Sassnitz

[shipstamps]

Another vessel built at the V.E.B. Schiffswerft "Neptun" Yard at Rostock in 1959 is the train ferry Sassnitz, which is shown on a 20 pfg. stamp, one of a set of three issued to commemorate 125 years of German railways. The 20 pfg. stamp, issued both with and without perforations, shows the new station at Sassnitz harbour with a train of the East German Railways moving on board the train ferry Sassnitz which is a vessel of 7,461 gross tons (6,657 net), 450 ft. long, 60 ft. 4 in. beam and 20'/2 ft. draft. She has four oil engines (made by Halberstadt) geared to two shafts.
She commenced service on the run between Sassnitz, East Germany and Trelleborg, Sweden, in the autumn of 1959 and can carry 30 cars and between 36 and 40 goods wagons according to type, together with 1,000 passengers. No berths are necessary since the voyage between the two ports is accomplished in just under four hours at a service speed of 18 knots. Light alloy metals have been used extensively in her construction.

SG E537 Sea Breezes 10/61

[aukepalmhof]

Built as a train ferry (ro-ro) on the yard of VEB Neptun at Rostock for at that time East Germany Sate Railways (Deutsche Reichsbanh), East Germany.
1959 Launched under the name SASSNITZ.
Tonnage 6.164 gross, 2.318 net, 1.843 dwt., dim. 137.5 x 18.4 x 5.8m. (draught).
Powered by four 9 cyl. Halberstadt diesels, each 2.400 hp., twin screws, speed 18 knots.
Accommodation for 888 day passengers with a crew of 115.
The superstructure, funnels and masts are made of aluminum-manganese alloy (Hydronalium).
She is fitted out with stern and bow rudders.
Strengthened for ice.
Three decks, the train deck has four sets of rails with a total length of 1.287ft. Can carry 36-40 freight wagons or 16 passenger wagons.
Has 12 lifeboats made of aluminum, of which two are fitted out as motorboat.

06 July 1960 in service between Sassnitz to Trelleborg, the crossing takes less that 4 hours.
During 1973 she was chartered for one month for the Stockholm- Nadendal (Naatali) Line.
During the summer of 1978 she was in the service between Sassnitz and Ronne a port on the Danish Island Bornholm.

1986 Sold to Sunrise Shipping Co. Ltd., Malta, renamed SILVER PALOMA. The same year transferred to Greek registry and sailed for Vytina Maritime Shipping Co. (Afroessa Line), a daughter company of the Arkadia Lines.
She was refitted from a train-ferry to a car-ferry, with accommodation for 1.400 passengers of which 428 could berth, and 240 cars.
Two lifeboats were removed to fit her out with a new stern solarium, swimming pool and her funnels were lengthened.
After her refit placed in the service between Piraeus – Rhodes - Limassol and Haifa, diverting during the summer months to Heraklion.
1994 In the service between Igoumenitsa - Bari Line
1995 Sold to Megistanas Shipping Ltd., Malta, renamed MEGISTANAS. Under Malta registry. Used in the same service. Laid up from 03 Oct. 1995 ( a other source gives laid up in 1997) at Eleusis, Greece.
2000 Sold to unspecified Belize flag interests, and renamed MEGI.
She made only one voyage under that name, before she was sold to Indian shipbreakers.
Arrived Alang 31 July 2000.

Marine News 2002/435. Navicula. Scheepvaart 1984. Blauwe Wimpel 1990/312. Log Book Vol 25/210
http://members.xoom.virgilio.it/adriatica/sileng.htm

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