Irish Ferries Enthusiasts ::Seatruck Ferries

Riverdance

Built	1977 Rickmers Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany
Size	6,041gt 116.31M x 18.22M x 5.3M
Capacity	Lane Meters: 752 (65 trailers) 12 Drivers
Engines Speed	2 x MARK (4,410kW) 16kts
Route	Warrenpoint-Heysham

Riverdance was built as Mashala in 1977 and regestered in Hamilton, Bermuda. She was imedately chartered to Gilnavi for int Mediterranean freight service. Her Bermuda flag was retained when Mashala was sold, in 1987, to sail as Halla in the Caribbean for Seaboard, renamed again in 1988 as Tikal and again when purchased by Schiaffino Lines in 1989. Whgen Schiaffino Lines sold out to Sally Ferries, Schaiffino was sent to the Irish Sea, operating for Belfast Freight Ferries to Heysham. Renamed Sally Eurobridge in 1993, she spent the first past of 1994 on charter to North Sea Ferries, with her name shortened to Eurobridge, and returned to Sally Eurobridge when returned. It was back to Eurobridge in 1995 for a charter to Norfolk line untill 1996 when she was taken up by Seatruck on charter and renamed Riverdance. She was brought outright in 1997 by Stetruck

Moondance

Built	1978 Rickmers Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany
Size	5,881gt 116.31M x 18.22M x 5.3M
Capacity	Lane Meters: 752 (65 trailers) 12 Drivers
Engines Speed	2 x MARK (4,413kW) 16kts
Route	Warrenpoint-Heysham

The early career of the Moondance followed the same pattern with registry in Bermuda (under the name of the Emadala Shipping Co) and use on Gilnavi services to Egypt and Lebanon and bought by the Italian company in 1987. Emadala was acquired by Cenargo in 1990 and, flying the Bahamas flag, was chartered to sail as Merchant Victor making a first acquaintance with Warrenpoint on the Merchant Ferries service from Heysham and charters to Crowley Caribbean and North Sea Ferries before being leased by Seatruck in 1997.