MS Hildasay

MS Hildasay berthed at Lerwick
History
Name	Leili (1999-2002) Port Everglades Express (2002-2005) RR Shield (2005-07) Shield (2007 - 2010) Hildasay (Since 2010)
Owner	Estonian Shipping Company, Tallinn (1999-2004) Eesti Merelaevandus A/S, Tallinn (2004-05) Elmira Shipping & Trading, Piraeus(2005-07) Attica Enterprise, Piraeus (2007-08) Seatruck Ferries Ltd Heysham (2008-2010) Northlink Ferries Freight (since 2010)
Operator	Estonian Shipping Company, Tallinn (1999-2002) Crowley Maritime (2002-04) Norse Merchant Ferries (2004-05) Irish Ferries (2005) Norfolk Line (2006, 2008, 2009) Northlink Ferries (Since 2010)
Port of registry	Tallinn (1999-2000) Limassol (2000-04) Tallinn (2004-05) Valetta (since 2005)
Route	Birkenhead - Dublin (2004-05) Pembroke - Rosslare (2005) Birkenhead - Dublin (2005) Heysham - Belfast (2005) Birkenhead - Dublin (2005) Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick (Since 2010)
Builder	Astilleros de Huelva SA, Huelva
Yard number	572
Launched	November 1999
Out of service	August 2006 - September 2007
Identification	IMO number: 9119426 MMSI Number 215952000 Callsign 9HGG8
General characteristics
Tonnage	7,606 GT 2,282 NT 5,758 DWT
Length	122.32 metres (401 ft 4 in)
Beam	19.80 metres (65 ft 0 in)
Draught	6.20 metres (20 ft 4 in)
Ice class	Ice Class 1A
Installed power	Two Wärtsilä 9R32 diesel engines, 7,400 kilowatts (9,900 hp)
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h)
Capacity	12 passengers, 88 trailers

Hildasay is a 7,606 GT Ro-Ro ferry which was built by Astilleros de Huelva SA, Huelva, Spain in 1999 as Leili for the Estonian Shipping Company, Tallinn. During a charter to Crowley Maritime she was renamed Port Everglades Express, reverting to Leili when the charter ended. In 2005, she was sold to Greece and renamed RR Shield. In 2008, she was sold to Seatruck Ferries, Heysham and renamed Shield. In January 2010 she was chartered to Northlink Ferries and renamed Hildasay.

Description

Hildasay is a Ro-Ro ferry, she is 122.32 metres (401 ft 4 in) long, with a beam of 19.80 metres (65 ft 0 in) and a draught of 6.20 metres (20 ft 4 in). She has a total of 1,057 metres (1,156 yd) lane capacity, which means she can carry 88 trailers, with provision for 12 passengers. She is powered by two Wärtsilä 9R32 diesel engines, which produce a total of 7,400 kilowatts (9,900 hp), giving her a speed of 17 knots (31 km/h).

History

Varbola was built by Astilleros de Huelva, Huelva, Spain as yard number 572. She was built for Estonian Shipping Company, Tallinn. Originally under the Estonian flag, she was reflagged to Cyprus in 2000. On 2 May 2002, she was chartered to Crowley Maritime, Jacksonville, Florida. Varbola was renamed Port Everglades Express for the duration of the charter. On 19 January 2004, she was sold to Eesti Merelaevandus A/S, Tallinn and reflagged to Estonia. In October 2004, the charter ended and she reverted to Leili.

In October 2004, she was chartered to Norse Merchant Ferries for use on the Birkenhead - Dublin route. From 5–27 January 2005, Leili was chartered to Irish Ferries for use on the Pembroke - Rosslare routes. Following this, Leili was chartered to Norse Merchant Ferries for use on the Birkenhead - Dublin route, transferring to the Heysham - Dublin route in June 2005.

In July 2005, Varbola was sold to Elmira Shipping & Trading, Piraeus and renamed RR Shield. She was reflagged to Malta. Norse Merchant Ferries was taken over by Norfolk Line in 2006. In August 2006 she was sent to Gdańsk Shipyard, Poland for a refit. In September 2007 she was sold to Attica Enterprise, Piraeus, and was renamed Shield in October 2007. On 1 October 2008 she was sold to Seatruck Ferries, remaining on charter to Norfolk Line.

In December 2009, she was chartered to Northlink Ferries as a replacement for their freighter Hascosay. She was named Hildasay in a ceremony in Lerwick on 10 February 2010.

External links

• Current position of Hildasay