MV Finnbirch
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Finnbirch (1996-2006) Bore Gothica (1988-1996) Stena Gothica (1985-1988) Stena Ionia (1982-1985) Merzario Ionia (1981-1982) Atlantic Prosper (1978-1984) Stena Prosper (1978)[1] |
| Operator: | Finnlines (2002-2006) Finncarriers (1992-2002) Bore RoRo (1991-1992) British Ministry of Defence (1991) Bore RoRo (1988-1991) Stena Line (1985-1988) North Sea Ferries (1985) OT West Africa Line (1982-1985) Andreo Merzario (1981-1982) Atlantic Container Line (1978-1981) [1] |
| Port of registry: | Stockholm  Sweden [1] |
| Builder: | Hyundai Heavy Industries [1] |
| Yard number: | 646 [1] |
| Launched: | 1978 [1] |
| Acquired: | 2 February 1978 |
| Identification: | Call sign: SLNK IMO number: 7528609 [1] |
| Fate: | Sunk in the Baltic Sea 1 November 2006 [1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Length: | 155.99 m (511 ft 9 in) [1] |
| Beam: | 22.71 m (74 ft 6 in) [1] |
| Draft: | 7.32 m (24 ft 0 in) [1] |
| Speed: | 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) [1] |
| Crew: | 14 |
MV Finnbirch was a Swedish roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ship built in 1978 as Stena Prosper.
Contents |
[edit] History
Finnbirch was built at Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea and delivered to her owners Stena RoRo on 2 February 1978. In 1988 the ship was sold to Finnish Rettig, and in 1995 to Bore Line. In 1999, Strömma Turism & Sjöfart in Stockholm acquired the ship and kept it until it foundered. Lindholm Shipping, Strömma Turism & Sjöfart AB was the last owner of Finnbirch and her sister ship Finnforest. Both vessels were in timecharter for the Finnish company Finnlines Plc at the time of the sinking.[2]
[edit] Sinking
On 1 November 2006, the ship sank on the east coast of Sweden.[3] At the time of the sinking, Finnbirch had a crew of 14,[3] of four Swedes and ten Filipinos.[3] The ship capsized in a heavy storm which also set an oil rig adrift. The crew were seen sitting on the ship's hull,[3] but the storm prevented rescue boats from reaching the scene and it was too dangerous to lower the helicopter crew onto the violently pitching hull.[4] All but two of the men were eventually rescued after jumping into the sea once the ship had capsized[citation needed]. One of the Filipino crew members died in the hospital after his rescue suit failed and a Swede drowned after being entangled in the wreck[citation needed]. The master of the ship broke several bones after falling, but survived[citation needed]. On 7 November 2006, the Merchant Marine Officers’ Association criticized the rescue, stating that the helicopter had been circling overhead whilst the crew members sat on the hull waiting to be rescued.[5]
If one is going to save lives it is probably best to do so while they are still on board rather than when they are in the water.
[edit] Sister Ships
The Finnbirch has 10 sister ships,[1] these are;
- Global Freighter
- Doric Ferry
- Stena Shipper
- Elk
- Baltic Ferry
- Atlantic Freighter
- Stena Project
- Cerdic Ferry
- Global Carrier
- Nordic Ferry
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "M/F Finnbirch". Ferry-site.dk. http://www.ferry-site.dk/ferry.php?id=7528609&lang=en. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ Lindholm Shipping home page[dead link]
- ^ a b c d "Nordic storm sinks Swedish ship". BBC News. 1 November 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6104870.stm. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Swedish Freighter Capsizes in the Baltic Sea". Softpedia.com. 2 November 2006. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Swedish-Freighter-Capsizes-in-the-Baltic-Sea-39219.shtml. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Ship rescue faces criticism". thelocal.se. 7 November 2006. http://www.thelocal.se/5430/20061107/. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
[edit] See also
- ISSN 1400-5735 Report RS 2008:03e Loss of M/S FINNBIRCH between Öland and Gotland, 1 november 2006 Case S-130/06." Swedish Accident Investigation Board. (Archive)
- Investigation by the Swedish Accident Investigation Board (Archive) (Swedish)
- DN Nyheter: Sju räddade från kapsejsat fartyg (Swedish)
- Fartygets historia (Swedish)
Coordinates: 56°45′03″N 17°15′06″E / 56.75083°N 17.25167°E
