MV Munster (1968)
MV Munster was built in 1968 and operated initially for the British and Irish Steam Packet Company (B+I Line). The c. 5000-ton ship (as built) had capacity for 1,000 passengers and 220 cars. The ship was also known as the Farah In and Tianpeng before being scrapped in 2002.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Operator |
|
| Builder | Nobiskrug, Rendsburg |
| Yard number | 657 |
| Launched | 25 January 1968 |
| Out of service | 2002 |
| Identification | IMO number: 6812522 |
| Fate | Scrapped 2002 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 4,007 GT |
| Length | 110.22 metres (361.6 ft) |
| Beam | 18.09 metres (59.4 ft) |
| Draught | 4.5 metres (15 ft) |
| Speed | 22 kn (41 km/h) |
| Capacity | 1,000 passengers, 220 cars |
History
The ship was initially ordered by the Scandinavian Lion Ferries but was purchased by B+I Line before completion for operations on the Dublin to Liverpool route.[1] The original intended owners had specified a strengthened hull to operate through ice, and McNeill noted her as the only "ice-capable" regularly on the Irish Sea in her era.[2] Sister ships of a broadly similar design were Prins Bertil, Gustav Vasa, Kronprins, Karl Gustav, Innisfallen|1969 and MV Leinster (1968); the latter two for B+I Line.[1] Munster had no Sky lounge above the bridge which could identify her from her B+I sisters.[1]
The top speed of 22 kn (41 km/h) from four diesel engines allowed the ship to make the daytime crossing from Dublin Port to Carriers' Dock, Liverpool in 7 hours. Bow and stern doors allowed a turnaround time of 1 hour. The ship was equipped with bow thrusters and stabilizers.[2]
From the later 1970s the ship began to diverge from the Liverpool—Dublin route, with charters to Brittany Ferries and Egersund Thyborøn as well as use on south Irish Sea routes.[3] From 1983 she was sold and renamed Farah In and used on Aqaba — Suez.[3]
The ship was sold to Dalian Steamship of China in 1991 and renamed Tianpeng. It was scrapped in 2002.[3]
References
- Boyle (2018).
- McNeill (1971), pp. 44–45.
- Asklander (2017).
Sources
- Boyle, Ian (2018). "B&I Line — Page 2: Post War Ships 1945-1995". Simplon Postcards. Munster (5) (1969-1983). Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- Asklander, Micke (2017). "M/S Munster". Facts about Ships (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- McNeill, D. B. (1971). Irish Passenger Steamship Services. Vol. 2: South of Ireland. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 0715352482. OCLC 60074874.