MV Volcan de Tacande

Career
Name:	1973-1974: Stena Nordica 1974-1981: Stena Danica 1981-1984: Stena Nordica 1984-1987: Stena Nautica 1987-1992: Versailles 1992-1996: Stena Londoner 1996-2000: SeaFrance Monet 2000-2005: Volcan de Tacande
Owner:	1973-1987: Stena 1987-1996: SNCF 1996-2000: SeaFrance 2000-2005: Armas
Operator:	SeaFrance
Port of registry:	Calais,  France
Route:	Dover-Calais
Builder:	Brodogradiliste Jozo Lozovina Mosor, Trogir, Yugoslavia
Yard number:	163
Launched:	17 June 1973
Identification:	IMO number: 7321661
Status:	Scrapped.
General characteristics
Tonnage:	6,333 GT
Length:	124.85 m (410 ft)
Beam:	21.87 m (72 ft)
Installed power:	12,310 kW
Propulsion:	Two Lindhomen/Pielstick 18PC2V diesels
Speed:	22 kn (40.74 km/h)
Capacity:	1,800 passengers, 425 cars (1974), 450 (1977)

MV Volcan de Tacande is a ferry last owned by Armas, which was operated on routes around the Canary Islands. She was built by Brodogradiliste Jozo Lozovina Mosor, Togir, Yugoslavia in 1974 (Yard No. 163) for Stena Ab, Göteborg as a roll-on roll-off car and commercial vehicle ferry, under the name Stena Nordica. It was launched on 17 June 1973.^[1]

From 1996 to 2000, she was owned by SeaFrance under the name SeaFrance Monet.^[2]

Service History

Stena

Stena Nordica, a steel twin screw motor vessel, was built by Brodogradiliste Jozo Lozovina Mosor, Togir, Yugoslavia in 1974 (Yard No. 163) for Stena Ab, Göteborg as a roll-on roll-off car and commercial vehicle ferry, which was launched 17 June 1973. On 2 June 1974, the Stena Nordica was renamed Stena Danica, which was then renamed back to Stena Nordica in December 1981.^[3] On 2 May 1983, the Stena Nordica arrived at a builders yard in Antwerp for conversion to a new role. Amongst things done was the moving of loading doors from port side to starboard side.

10 June 1983 saw the ship being taken over by Nautica (Belgien) N.V. Ostend, Belgium; and by 16 June commenced service between Ostend - Dover. In August 1983, the ferry suffered complete engine failure and had to be withdrawn for repairs, which lasted over a week. In March 1984, the ferry underwent another renaming, being named the Stena Nautica.^[4]

SNCF

In the late spring of 1986, SNCF formed a subsidiary company Dieppe Ferries to manage the future of their Newhaven service. The Stena Nautica was now chartered to SNCF in Dieppe, France and was renamed to Versailles. Where it was simultaneously transferred to the French flag and commenced service between Newhaven - Dieppe.

On 22 January 1990, SNCF Versailles became registered to Societé Propietaire des Navaires (SPN), Paris, France. At the same time selling 49% of the ferry operations to Stena Sealink Line UK, London, England. In future Sealink Dieppe Ferries would be known as Sealink SNAT and would operate in a new livery. Following months of industrial unrest, Sealink SNAT announced that the Newhaven to Dieppe route was to be closed or sold off. Following this announcement, the crew under this route immediately went on strike. By April 1993, it was announced that the Newhaven to Dieppe route had been purchased by Sealink Stena Line, Ashford, England. The ferry was then rebuilt at A,&P. Appledore, Southampton, England. By 22 May 1992, the ship - now named Stena Londoner - commenced service between Newhaven - Dieppe.

The agreement between Stena Sealink Line and French partners S.N.A.T. would terminate from 31 December 1995. From that time onwards S.N.A.T. would trade as SeaFrance. 3 March 1996 was the final day between Newhaven - Dieppe.^[5]

SeaFrance

In June 1996, the Stena Londoner was renamed SeaFrance Monet, registered to G.I.E. Versabil, Calais, France. It underwent a rebuild in Dunkerque and by 3 July 1996 it commenced service between Calais and Dover. After 7 December 1997, during operation between Calais - Dover, the SeaFrance Monet was laid up in Dunkerque. Subsequently, in May 1998 she was laid up in Le Havre. However, on 29 March 2000, Monet collided with a pier in Calais, during stormy weather, where she sustained stabiliser damage. She was sold to Naviera Armas S.A., Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain in a broken down condition on 18 May 2000. On 24 May, Monet was towed from Dunkerque to Vigo, Spain for engine repairs, arriving on 30 May 2000.^[6]

Armas

On 11 September 2000, the SeaFrance Monet was renamed Volcan de Tacande and commenced service with Armas around the Canary Islands - services included: Los Cristianos - San Sebastian de la Gomera - La Estaca. On a voyage from Los Cristians to San Sebastián de La Gomera, on 30 January 2005, the vessel lost all power due to a flooded engine room. All passengers had to be evacuated. Eventually, the vessel was towed to Port of The Palms where she was later declared a total loss.

In May 2005, she was sold for breaking; and in June 2005, she arrived in Turkey for scrapping.

References