“Merced II” (1982-1985)

There were a few years, between 1982 and 1985, when Compañía Trasatlántica Española chartered two German “con-ro” type ships to strengthen the “feeder” traffic with Northern Europe, thus fulfilling commitments with its regular customers and those of the consortium of companies to which it belonged. At that time, Manuel Padín García was the commercial director of the century-old shipping company, which had managed to maintain its presence in maritime transport with a network of routes that made it possible for Trasatlántica to be present in various American and European ports.

These two ships were renamed “Merced II” and “Camino II” and retained their German crew with the presence on board of a chief officer from Compañía Trasatlántica Española. They were part of the so-called chartered fleet that covered line number 3, Antilles-Miami-Gulf USA, with stops at the ports of San Juan in Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, Miami, New Orleans, and Houston. In mid-1985, they were returned and replaced by the “Carmen” and “Olandia” ships, which were “full container” type.

Almost thirty years had passed since the beginning of that stage when we read the news of the scrapping of the ship “Merced II”, after several name changes and navigation scenarios, stranded on the beach of Mumbai (India), where it arrived on April 25, 2011.

Travemünde, on the shores of Lübeck Bay (Germany), is an important port of communication with the Nordic countries and is home to the famous German sailing ship “Passat”, one of the twins of the sadly famous “Pamir”, so linked to the maritime history of Santa Cruz de La Palma and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. There was the Schilichting Werft shipyard, where ship number 1,401 took shape, contracted by the company Partenreederei ms Neugraben, which was put into service in February 1978 under the name “Neugraben”.

With management by Horst Bartels, in 1979 it was chartered to the Italian company Merzario and for a few months of that year sailed under the name “Merzario Emilia”. At the end of that same year, it regained its original name and in October 1982 was chartered by Compañía Trasatlántica Española, in a three-year contract. At the end of that period, it was renamed “Atalanta” and shortly after regained the name “Neugraben”.

Starting in February 1986, the ship in this story embarked on a long pilgrimage during which it sailed under the names “Impala I” (1986-1988), “Zvani” (1988-1990), “Impala” (1990-1991), “Sangha” (1991-1994), “Pelrider” (1994-2004), “Global Princess” (2004-2007), and “Jhowhar” (2007-2011). In its final stage, it flew the flag of Jerusalem Shipping, a shipping company from the United Arab Emirates based in Dubai.

With a gross tonnage of 7,235 tons, a net tonnage of 2,028 tons, and a deadweight of 7,500 tons, it measured 126 m in overall length - 110.83 m between perpendiculars - 20 m in beam, 11.71 m in depth, and 8.16 m in draft. Powered by two Atlas Mak engines, with a power of 8,000 horsepower over two shafts and a speed of 15 knots. It had the superstructure at the bow, the funnel was located on the port side, and for loading and/or unloading operations, it had three cranes on the starboard side, as well as a ramp at the stern for roll-on/roll-off cargo. The cargo capacity was 555 TEUs. IMO Code 7707968.

Photos: Gianpaolo