MV Mariam is a Bolivian-flagged passenger ferry with a 228 gross tonnage (GT). Built in 1982 at Westermoen Hydrofoil shipyard, the ship is a catamaran 29.00 metres (95 ft 2 in) in length with a capacity of about 200 passengers. Built as Venture 84, the ship was in service with the French ferry operator Emeraude Lines from 1983 to 1996, serving a route between the Channel Islands and France. From 1996 to 2008, the ship was operated by Cypriot ferry operator Fergün Denizcilik as Fergün Express III.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Venture 84, Trident, renamed Trident III in 1986 |
| Owner | Emeraude Lines |
| Port of registry |  France |
| Route | Channel Islands — France |
| Builder | Westermoen Hydrofoil |
| Completed | 1982[1] |
| In service | April 1983 |
| Out of service | 1996 |
| Identification | IMO number: 8205694 |
| Fate | Sold to Fergün Denizcilik |
  Saint-Malo Saint Helier Prior to 1996, the ship mainly served the Saint-Malo to Saint Helier route | |
| Name | Fergün Express III |
| Owner | Fergün Denizcilik |
| Port of registry |  Turkey |
| Route | Northern Cyprus |
| Acquired | 1996 |
| Out of service | August 2009 |
| Identification | IMO number: 8205694 |
| Name | |
| Out of service | 2010 |
| Identification |
|
| Name | Mariam or St. Mariam |
| Port of registry |  Bolivia |
| In service | August 2010 |
| Identification | IMO number: 8205694 |
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Westamaran W95 catamaran |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 29.00 m (95 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 8.00 m (26 ft 3 in)[4] |
| Depth | 3.1 meters[3] |
| Propulsion | two 1800 hp main engines |
| Speed | 28 knots |
| Capacity | approximately 200 passengers |
As of 2010[update], the ship is Lebanese-owned and operated as medical aid cargo ship which, in August 2010, was intended to sail to the Gaza Strip to break Israel's four-year blockade of Gaza.
Design and construction
editThe ship, built as Venture 84, is a Westamaran W95 catamaran.[5][6] The Westamaran line was designed by Herald Heinriksen of Westermoen Hydrofoil of Mandal, Norway.[7] Featuring asymmetrical hulls, the Westamaran models were designed as a replacement for hydrofoils, and were considered more seaworthy in Norwegian waters and easier to operate than hydrofoils.[6][7] The immediate predecessor of the W95, the W86, has been called a "breakthrough" for high-speed craft in Norway, and according to Bjørn Foss of More and Romsdal College, Westamaran catamarans "dominated the fast ferry market in Norway" for several years.[7] Westmaran ships have seen use world-wide.[6]
The W95 has a maximum cruising speed of 28 knots, powered by two 1800 horsepower main engines that consume up to 625 litres of fuel per hour.[7]
History
editVenture 84 entered service as a vessel of the French ferry operator Emeraude Lines in April 1983, and was renamed Trident.[6] While Emeraude Lines would go on to operate several W95 ferries, Trident had the distinction of being the only ship the company ever bought new from the builder.[6] The company's advertising mentioned the ship's "large air-conditioned passenger saloon with a panoramic view and bar".[6] Trident was used mainly for the route from Saint Malo to Saint Helier, on a 70-minute schedule with a daytrip fare of 195 French Francs.[6] In 1986, the ship was renamed Trident III, often written Trident 3.[6] The ship continued the Channel Islands-France service until 1996 when it was purchased by ferry operator Fergün Denizcilik of Kyrenia, Cyprus.[5][6]
Renamed Fergün Express III, the ship joined a ferry service that had been operating since 1986.[5] In January 2008 the ship was withdrawn from its class at the Türk Loydu classification society for reasons including an overdue survey.[8] In August 2009, the ship was purchased by shipowner Ghassan El Assaad el Bakri of Tripoli, Lebanon and renamed Ladi Faten.[1][8] In August 2010, it was sold to "undisclosed interests", reflagged under the Cambodian flag of convenience, and renamed Jounieh Star.[1] The ship has recently been registered under the Bolivian and Jordanian flags.[1]
As Mariam
editAs of 2010[update] the ship is known as Mariam or St. Mariam. It is currently a Lebanese medical aid cargo ship which, in August 2010, was intended to sail to the Gaza Strip to break Israel's four-year blockade of Gaza. It sails under the Bolivian flag.[9] The ship carries 50 women, mostly from Lebanon, but also a group of American nuns.[10] Its actions are coordinated by Lebanese lawyer Samar al Hajj.[9][11] According to The Guardian, the women on board have all adopted the ship's name and call themselves "Mariam."[12]
Its first mission, in late August 2010, was delayed because Cyprus would not allow it (and its sister ship the Naji Alali) to sail through its waters;[13] because Lebanon is still officially at war with Israel, the ship cannot go to Gaza directly from Lebanon and would have to sail through a third country.[14] Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman was unequivocal in his insistence that the Mariam not reach Gaza: "Our position is absolutely clear and firm – under no conditions or provocations can any flotilla or ship harm our country's political independence and reach the Gaza Strip."[15]
As of September 2010[update], representatives of the Mariam voyage are in talks with Greece to use a Greek port for departure to Gaza.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Mariam (8205694)". Equasis. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ AFP (August 20, 2010). "Lebanese all-women aid ship to head to Gaza". The Jordan Times. Amman, Jordan: Jordan Press Foundation. Retrieved Aug 26, 2010.
- ^ a b Registro Internacional Boliviano de Buques (Bolivian International Registry of Ships) (2010-08-25). "Buques Actuales (Current Ships)". La Paz: Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 2010-08-29.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Mariam - Sheepstype: Passagierschepen - Roepteken: CPA 860 - vesseltracker.com". vesseltracker.com. August 26, 2010. Retrieved Aug 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c Timoleon, Tim (May 2005). "Istanbul and Turkey Operators" (PDF). Classic Fast Ferries. pp. 12–14. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Timoleon, Tim (January 2003). "The French Connection" (PDF). Classic Fast Ferries. pp. 4–6. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- ^ a b c d Foss, Bjørn (June 1991). Economy and Speed in Commercial Operations (PDF). First International Conference on Fast Sea Transportation. Trondheim, Norway. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2010-08-29..
- ^ a b Türk Loydu (2010-07-23). "Class Suspensions – Withdrawals – Reinstatments/Reassignments". Istanbul: Türk Loydu Foundation. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Keinon, Herb (23 August 2010). "Lebanese ship delays departure to Gaza". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Power of women protest movements". BBC News. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ Kennedy, Elizabeth A. (19 August 2010). "Organizers: Lebanese ship to sail for Gaza Sunday". WTOP-FM. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ Sherlock, Ruth (6 August 2010). "Gaza aid flotilla to set sail from Lebanon with all-women crew: Arabic singer joins crew of nuns, doctors, lawyers and journalists for humanitarian mission despite Israeli warning". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ Bakri, Nada (21 August 2010). "Ship Postpones Aid Mission Set for Gaza". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "World in Brief". The Chronicle Herald. 22 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ "Israel – Interview with FM Avigdor Liberman on Reka Radio". International Security Research and Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 25 August 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Activist group to help Palestinian refugees return home". The Daily Star. Beirut.
External links
edit| External images | |
|---|---|
 Closeup of wheel-house. | |
| Several photos as Trident/Trident III'. | |
| View of port side. |