MV Bali Sea

The MV Bali Sea was a roll-on/roll-off rail ferry, previously a heavy-lift ship. It started its life recovering ships and moving oil platforms, undergoing several name changes in the process. It became a rail ferry in 2000, shipping trains across the Gulf of Mexico. In 2021, when new ferries[2] were introduced, the Bali Sea was taken out of service and sent to the Alang Ship Breaking Yard in Gujarat, India for decommissioning and eventual scrapping.

Bali Sea with loading up with Ferrosur trains in Coatzacoalcos
History
NameBali Sea
OwnerNone
OperatorFrigg Shipping (1982-85), Wijsmuller Transport/Dockwise (1985-95), Gulf South Shipping/CG Railway (1995-2021)
BuilderMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Launched25 December 1981
Completed1982
In service1982
Out of service2021
RenamedFrom Dan Lifter in 1985, from Super Servant 5 in 1995
Identification
FateScrapped 4 July 2021
General characteristics
Tonnage
  • 24,201 GT
  • 15,547 NT
  • 76,061 DWT
Length175.4 m (575 ft 6 in)
Beam35.8 m (117 ft 5 in)
Draught4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
Speed20.5
Notes[1]

History
MV Dan Lifter carrying the crippled Sir Tristram in 1982

The ship, a semi-submersible heavy-lift ship at the time, was christened sometime in 1981 with the name Dan Lifter and was sent into service with Frigg Shipping Ltd. in 1982. A year later, it recovered RFA Sir Tristram after the Falklands War. In 1985, it went to Wijsmuller Transport with the name Super Servant 5 to move oil platforms. It stayed in Wijsmuller for 10 years, before being passed over to Gulf South Shipping, who passed the recently renamed Bali Sea to CG Railway. It operated as a rail ferry between Coatzacoalcos in Mexico and Mobile, Alabama, on a 900-mile (1,400 km) route, carrying a maximum of 115 rail cars.[3] In 2019, the Bali Sea was showing its age. As a result, new ferries were ordered from China, both of which arrived in 2021.[2] With the arrival of the first, MV Cherokee, The Bali Sea was renamed Bala, sailed to Nhava Sheva, and decommissioned.[4]

References
  1. "Ship BALA (Ro-Ro Cargo)". www.marinetraffic.com.
  2. "CG Railway Celebrates Completion of New Rail Ferry's Maiden Voyage, Takes Delivery of Second Rail Ferry". media.gwrr.com.
  3. "NIVOMAG level switches in a rail carrier ship" (PDF). old.nivelco.com.
  4. "BALA, Ro-Ro Cargo Ship - Details and current position". www.vesselfinder.com.
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