MS Helliar

In the Port of Barcelona as Clipper Racer (in 2009)
Career
Name:	Lehola (1997–2005) RR Triumph (2005–07) Triumph (2007–08) Clipper Racer (2008-11) Helliar (Since 2011)
Owner:	Estonian Shipping Co Ltd (1997–2005) Elmira Shipping & Trading (2005–07) Clipper Group Ltd (since 2007)
Operator:	Estonian Shipping Co Ltd (1997–98) Czar Peter Line (1998–99) Delom (1999–2000) Estonian Shipping Co Ltd (2000–02) Scandlines GmbH (2002–04) P&O Ferries (2005–06) P&O Irish Sea Ferries (2006–07) Baleària (2007–08) Condor Ferries (2008) Isle of Man Steam Packet Co Ltd (2008) Baleària (2008) Seatruck Ferries Ltd ( 2008-10) SNAV (2010) Northlink Ferries (Since 2011)
Port of registry:	Tallinn (1997–2005) Valetta (since 2005)
Route:	Tallinn – Helsinki – Copenhagen – Arhus (1997–98) Moerdijk – Kronstadt (1998–99) Marseille – Tunis – Sete (1999–2000) Kiel – Tallinn (2000–04) Zeebrugge – Hull (2005) Rotterdam – Hull (2005–06) Liverpool – Dublin (2006–07) Portsmouth – Channel Islands (2008) Douglas – Heysham (2008) Liverpool – Dublin (2008-10) Naples - Palermo (2010) Lerwick - Kirkwall - Aberdeen (since 2011)
Ordered:	30 September 1994
Builder:	Astilleros de Sevilla
Yard number:	569
Laid down:	20 October 1995
Launched:	13 November 1996
Completed:	15 October 1997
Identification:	Maltese Official Number 9733 IMO Number 9119397 MMSI Number 215944000 Det Norske Veritas number 19013 Callsign 9HFZ8
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Ro-Ro Ferry
Tonnage:	Gross tonnage 7,606 Deadweight tonnage 5,758 Net tonnage 2,282
Length:	122.32 m (401 ft 4 in) ovwerall, 112.20 m (368 ft 1 in) between perpediculars
Beam:	19.80 m (65 ft 0 in)
Draught:	6.21 m (20 ft 4 in)
Ice class:	Class 1A
Installed power:	Two Wärtsilä 9R32 diesel engines, 3,700 kilowatts (5,000 hp) each
Speed:	17 knots (31 km/h)
Capacity:	1,055 m (1,154 yd) lanes, 63 trailers or 266 TEU

Helliar is a ferry owned by Clipper Group and operated by Northlink Ferries. Built by Spanish shipyard Astilleros de Huelva in 1997 as Lehola for Estonian Shipping Co Ltd she has served a number of owners and operators as RR Triumph and Triumph before her sale to Clipper Group and being renamed Clipper Racer. In 2011, she was chartered to Northlink Ferries and renamed Helliar.

History

Lehola was built by Astilleros de Huelva, Spain as yard number 569.^[1] She was ordered on 30 September 1994 and her keel was laid on 20 October 1995. Lehola was launched on 13 November 1996 and completed on 15 October 1997.^[2]

She was originally registered with Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, being transferred to Det Norske Veritas on 27 November 2007.^[3]

Owners

From 1997 to 2005, Lehola was owned by Estonia Shipping Co Ltd. In 2005, she was sold to Elmira Shipping & Trading and renamed RR Triumph. In 2007, she was sold to Clipper Group Ltd and renamed Triumph, being renamed Clipper Racer in 2008.^[1] In 2011, she was chartered to Northlink Ferries. On 17 January, she was renamed Helliar at a ceremony in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands.^[4]

Service history

In late 1997, Lehola was put into service with Estonia Shipping Co Ltd on the Tallinn – Helsinki – Copenhagen – Arhus route. In August 1998 she was chartered to Czar Peter Line and put into service on the Moerdijk – Kronstadt route. In February 1999 she was chartered to Delom and put into service on the Marseille – Tunis – Sète route. In October 2000, she was returned to Estonia Shipping Co Ltd and put into service on the Kiel – Tallinn route until 31 December 2004. In January 2005, she was chartered to P&O Ferries and entered service on the Zeebrugge – Hull and Rotterdam – Hull routes. On 11 July 2005, Lehola was sold to Elmira Shipping, Piraeus, Greece. She was renamed RR Truimph and reflagged to Malta, her homeport changing from Tallinn to Valetta.^[4] She was then chartered to P&O Ferries and then P&O Irish Sea.^[1] In July 2005 she was put into service on the Liverpool – Dublin route. Her charter to P&O Irish Sea ended on 11 February 2007 and she was chartered to Baleària, Spain later that month. On 30 October 2007, RR Triumph was sold to Seatruck Ferries Ltd, remaining under the Maltese flag. In December 2007 she was renamed Triumph. From 1 February to 23 March 2008 she was chartered to Condor Ferries and put into service between Portsmouth and the Channel Islands. In April 2008 she was chartered to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and put into service on the Heysham – Douglas route. On 5 June 2008 she was put into service on Seatruck's Liverpool – Dublin route. on 12 July 2008, she was renamed Clipper Racer. In April 2009 she was chartered to Baleària. In May 2010, she was chartered to Italian ferry operator SNAV and put into service on the Naples - Palermo route. On 5 October, a contract was signed for the chartering of Clipper Racer to Northlink Ferries. On 5 January 2011, she was renamed Helliar.^[4]

Description

Clipper Racer is 122.32 metres (401 ft 4 in) long. She has a beam of 19.80 metres (65 ft 0 in) and a draught of 6.20 metres (20 ft 4 in). She is powered by two Wärtsilä 9R32 diesel engines which propel her at 17 knots (31 km/h).^[1] The engines develop 3,700 kilowatts (5,000 hp) each. She has a GT of 7,606, NRT of 2,282 and DWT of 5,758. On board there are 1,055 lane metres of trailer space, giving capacity to carry up to 63 trailers.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "M/F Clipper Racer". The Ferry Site. http://www.ferry-site.dk/ferry.php?id=9119397&lang=en. Retrieved 24 October 2009. 
2. ^ "Yard". Det Norske Veritas. http://exchange.dnv.com/exchange/main.aspx?extool=vessel&subview=yard&vesselid=19013. Retrieved 24 October 2009. 
3. ^ "Classification". Det Norske Veritas. http://exchange.dnv.com/exchange/main.aspx?extool=vessel&subview=classification&vesselid=19013. Retrieved 24 October 2009. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "M/S LEHOLA." (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/lehola_1997.htm. Retrieved 9 February 2011. 
5. ^ "Clipper Racer". Tschudi Ship Management. http://www.tschudishipmanagement.com/112eng.html. Retrieved 24 October 2009. 

External links

• Current position of Helliar