One of the ships around the world that was trading with her name only for 2 months was the 2009 built OXL FANTASY.
She was built in China by Jiangzhou Union Shipbuilding at Rui Chang as BELUGA FANTASY for Beluga Heavy Lift homeported at Monrovia (LBR Flag) trading until 7th May 2011 where she was renamed OXL FANTASY still with LBR Flag. She was seen in Malta back to Monday 9th May, 2011 still with Beluga Heavy Lift funnel colours and livery with only the word Beluga on her hull was painted over.
Her interesting deck cargo were 2 High Speed Craft – the FASTCAT SHANKLIN built by Kvaerner Fjellstand (S) Pte Ltd, Singapore as yard number 020 in 1996 trading as WATER JET 2 until 1999, SUPERCAT 18 until 27th June 2000 where she was sold to Wightlink (UK) and renamed as FASTCAT SHANKLIN homeported in Portsmouth (GBR Flag) operating on the Wightlink Ryde Pier to Portsmouth route from 2000 to 2009. She was sold on to new owners Severn Link and in January 2010 she was re-painted into a new livery for use with Severn Link travelling between IIfracombe and Swansea as part of a new catamaran service with a shorter travel time of 50 minutes.
By August 2010 the planned ferry service had been postponed indefinitely and was put up for sale along with her sister ship RAPPAREE formerly FASTCAT RYDE which was also built by Kvaerner Fjellstand (S) Pte Ltd, Singapore as yard number 018 in 1996 trading as WATER JET 1 until 1999, SUPERCAT 17 until 10th July 2000 where she was sold to Wightlink (UK) and renamed as FASTCAT RYDE homeported in Swansea (GBR Flag).in 2010 she was sold and renamed RAPPAREE. The projected service failed to materialise and in August she returned to Southampton.
During May 2011, they were both sold to the Russian company Alien Shipping and transported to the Black Sea as deck cargo aboard OXL FANTASY. Both HSC’s were due to be renamed SOCHI 1 and SOCHI 2, homeported at Novorossiysk, Russia by Rosmoport.
OXL FANTASY was renamed to HHL MISSISSIPPI with Hansa Heavy Lift trading until 2019 where she was sold again and still trading as HOUTMANGRAHT.
Watermarked Photos are by Capt. Lawrence Dalli otherwise stated. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Tuesday 20th July ,2021
