Moby Lines: Part 2 - Ferry Postcards and Photographs


Page 2: 1988-




This is the second of two pages devoted to postcards and photographs of Moby Lines, originally known as Nav.Ar.Ma. or NAVARMA. The earlier ships are shown on Moby Lines - Page 1. The Table below gives links to complete postcard history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table are official postcards of the fleet in chronological order. There is also a list of ships covered in alphabetical order.

The Moby fleet is divided into two types - large ferries given 'Moby' names, and smaller 'bus-ferries' (which do not have 'Moby' names). 'Bus-ferries' is the term used for the smaller vessels in the book Le Linee di Navigazione Marittima Dell'Arcipelago Toscana by Adriana Bettot Carboncini, which is a detailed Italian-language history of services to Elba and neighbouring small islands, published in 1999. NAVARMA/Moby started out operating these small bus-ferries from Sardinia to Isola Maddalena, then Piombino to Elba, but subsequently expanded and now also serve various routes to Corsica and Sardinia.

Official and commercial postcard coverage of the Moby fleet has always been poor, and for the 'bus-ferries' it is almost non-existent. I have tried to list all major units of the Moby fleet below, but 'bus-ferries' are only listed where I have a photo or postcard. Some ships are illustrated with Moby Lines publicity pictures where postcards have not been found.

The Moby Lines fleet has increased considerably in the last few years. In 1998 they were just six major units in the Moby fleet, whereas by the start of 2001, there were eleven major units in the fleet, plus two new 25000 grt vessels that are due for delivery during the year, the Moby Wonder and Moby Freedom. There still remains at least three smaller vessels in the 'non-Moby' fleet of 'bus-ferries'. The 2001 route map is shown below:-




Two large new ferries, the Moby Freedom and Moby Wonder were introduced in 2001. They are being built by Daewoo in South Korea, and are Moby Lines' first purpose-built large ferries (the small Bastia and Giraglia were also delivered new in 1974 and 1981). They will operate overnight services from Genoa to Olbia (Sardinia), with day-time fill-in runs from Genova to Bastia, and Olbia to Civitavecchia. Options exist for two further sisters from the same builders, and there have been reports of an order for two 175m ships from Cantieri Navale Fratelli Orlando of Livorno. The pioneer Bastia route from Piombino is dropped for 2001, and Elba services are due to be operated by three large ferries (compared to four in 2000). With the arrival of the two large new ferries, it is likely that some older units will be sold or chartered out.


Ships on This Page:-
Moby Aki (Moby Lines: 2005- )
Moby Ale (Moby Lines: 1996- ) - ex-Mikkel Mols, Teisten
Moby Baby (Moby Lines: 1990- ) - ex-Svea Drott, Earl Godwin
Moby Big (Moby Lines: 1989) - later Moby King (ex-Skane)
Moby Drea (Moby Lines: 2003- ) - ex-Tor Britannia
Moby Dream (Moby Lines: 1986-1994) - ex-Stena Germanica
Moby Fantasy (Moby Lines: 1992- ) - ex-Trasmediterranea
Moby Freedom (Moby Lines: 2001- )
Moby Gum (Moby Lines: 1998-2003)
Moby King (Moby Lines: 1989-2002) - ex-Skane
Moby Kiss (Moby Lines: 1997) - ex-Stena Nordica, Reine Astrid
Moby Lally (Moby Lines: 2000- ) - ex-Kalle III, The Viking, Wasa Prince, Peder Olsen
Moby Love (2) (Moby Lines: 2002- ) - ex-Saint Eloi, Channel Entente, King Orry, Moby Love 2
Moby Love 2 (Moby Lines: 1998-2002) - ex-Saint Eloi, Channel Entente, King Orry
Moby Magic (Moby Lines: 1997-2003 ) - ex-Trasmediterranea
Moby Otta (Moby Lines: 2006- ) - ex-Tor Scandinavia
Moby Rider (Moby Lines: 1998-2007)
Moby Tommy (Moby Lines: 2006- )
Moby Vincent (Moby Lines: 1990- ) - ex-Stena Normandica, St Brendan
Moby Will (Moby Lines: 1988-1992) - ex-Gedser
Moby Wonder (Moby Lines: 2001- )
Sardegna Bella (Moby Lines: 1994-2001) - ex-Stena Germanica

Ships on Page 1:-
Bastia (Moby Lines: 1974- )
Elba Prima (Moby Lines: 1967-2007)
Giraglia (Moby Lines: 1981- )
Maria Maddalena (Moby Lines: 1959-1978)
Moby Blu (Moby Lines: 1982-2003) - ex-Free Enterprise II
Moby Love (1) (Moby Lines: 1986-19933) - ex-Prince Phillipe
Moby Prince (Moby Lines: 1985-1991) - destroyed by fire 1991 (ex-K.Juliana)
Moby Vincent (Moby Lines: 1990- ) - ex-Stena Normandica, St Brendan

Associated Pages:-
Moby Lines - Page 1
Corsica Ferries
SNCM
Trasmediterranea
www.mobylines.it - Moby Lines official home page, with fleet lists
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page

Search This Website:-
powered by FreeFind





Table of Ship Histories
Name Other names Built Moby Baby Svea Drott, Earl Godwin 1966 Moby Big Skane 1967 Moby Blu Free Enterprise II 1965 Moby Dream Stena Britannica, Viking 6, Goelo 1965 Moby Freedom 2001 Moby King Skane 1967 Moby Kiss Stena Nordica, Hellas, Stena Nautica, Reine Astrid, Al Mansour 1975 Moby Love 2 St Eloi, Channel Entente, King Orry 1973 Moby Lally Kalle III, The Viking, Wasa Prince, Peder Olsen 1974 Moby Rider Frederick Carter, Thenia, Hansa Link, Norse Lagan, Moby Rider 1967 Moby Vincent Stena Normandica, St Brendan, Wasa Sun 1974 Moby Lines Fleet List
Part 2 - 1988-



Moby Will
(Moby Lines: 1988-1993)

Moby Will was built as the Gedser in 1968, operating between Gedser (Denmark) and Travemuende (Germany). She later served as the Malta Express, and was bought by NAVARMA in 1988. She was sold in 1993, and carried the name Al Judi in 2000.

Photograph of Moby Will.
Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se



Photograph of Moby Will.
Photo: © Frank Heine - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se.






Moby Dream (Moby Lines: 1986-1994)
Sardegna Bella (Moby Lines: 1994-2001)

Moby Dream had a varied career before acquisition by NAVARMA. She was built in 1967 as the Stena Germanica, sold to Alaska as the Wickersham, then to Sally in 1974 as Viking 6. Sally chartered her to Brittany Ferries for a period as Goelo, then sold her to Sol Lines, serving as Sol Olympia and Sun Express. She was acquired by Moby Lines in 1986, and renamed Moby Dream. In 1994 she was passed on to a Moby subsidiary, Sardegna Lines, as Sardegna Bella. The Sardegna Bella was sold for demolition by Moby Lines in 2001 after having been laid up in Livorno for more than a year.

A complete postcard history of this ship is available on this link.


Editions "U Segnu", of Ajaccio, postcard serial 649 of Moby Dream.



The photograph below is taken from a NAVARMA timetable.






Moby Vincent (Moby Lines: 1990- )
Moby Kiss (Moby Lines: 1996-1998)

Moby Vincent and Moby Kiss were built for Stena Line as Stena Normandica and Stena Nordica, and were part of a series of four ships intended for the charter market. The other two sisters are currently owned by rivals Corsica Ferries. Moby Vincent was bought by NAVARMA in 1990, having operated as the St Brendan for Sealink since 1985. She was chartered out to Wasa Line as Wasa Sun during 1993, reverting to the name Moby Vincent the following year. She remains in the 2001 fleet.

A complete history of Moby Vincent is available on this link.
Additional photos of Moby Vincent are shown on this link.
A complete history of Moby Kiss is available on this link.


Simplon Postcards issue sp1271 of the Moby Vincent, released December 2001.
Photographed at Bastia in August 2001 by Ian Boyle.



Moby Vincent at Bastia in August 2001.
Further photos are shown on this link.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 2001



Moby Vincent at Bastia in August 2001.
Further photos are shown on this link.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 2001



This card shows one of the sisters passing the Corsican village of Erbalunga.



Tropic Postcards serial T28, photographed by Frank Heine.
Moby Kiss was not bought by NAVARMA until 1996, six years after her sister. She had served as Oostende-Dover ferry Reine Astrid since 1983.
She soon passed out of the Moby fleet, being chartered then sold to Comanov as the Al Mansour. She initially retained the Moby whale, as shown below.






Moby Big (Moby Lines: 1989)
Moby King (Moby Lines: 1989-2002)

Moby Big was built as the Swedish Railways (SJ) train ferry Skane in 1967, operating between Sweden and Germany. She was bought by NAVARMA in 1989, and renamed Moby Big. This was later changed to Moby King.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Chantry Classic CC/S218, showing Moby King leaving Livorno.
Photo: Norman Tracy.






Moby Baby
(Moby Lines: 1990- )

Moby Baby was built in 1966 as Swedish ferry Svea Drott. She then served as the Sealink ferry Earl Godwin, until purchase by NAVARMA in 1990. She remains in service on the Elba-Piombino route.

A complete history is this ship is available on this link.


Official NAVARMA card of Moby Baby
This is the only official NAVARMA or Moby Lines card of any ship that I have come across so far .
The card was published by Mario Mercantelli on Elba, serial number 19245.



Simplon Photographs issue isp1003 Moby Baby shown off Piombino in 1997 by Ian Boyle.



In 2000, Moby Dream had received the dreaded hull 'artwork'.
This photo was taken at Piombino in August 2000 by Ian Boyle.






Moby Ale
(Moby Lines: 1996- )

Moby Ale was built as the Danish ferry Mikkel Mols in 1969. Between 1980 and 1996 she served as Teisten on Icelandic services. She introduced the additional 'artwork' to the fleet. I do not have any postcards of Moby Ale.


Simplon Photographs issue isp1003 Moby Baby arriving at Portoferraio, Elba, 2000 by Ian Boyle.






Moby Fantasy (Moby Lines: 1992- )
Moby Magic (Moby Lines: 1997-2003)

JJ Sister:- 9120grt - 140.82m long - 18173kW=22 knots - 1080passnegers/747 berths - 250 cars
Manuel Soto:- 9120grt - 140.82m long - 19710kW=23.5 knots - 1200passnegers/714 berths - 320 cars

Moby Fantasy and Moby Magic were built as Manuel Soto and JJ Sister in 1975/76 by Union Naval de Levante S.A. Valencia for Trasmediterranea services to the Canary Islands. In 1985, JJ Sister inaugurated a short-lived service from Genoa to Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Cadiz and the Canary Islands. In 1997 Manuel Soto was sold to Moby Lines and renamed Moby Fantasy for Genoa-Bastia and Livorno-Olbia services. In 1994 JJ Sister was chartered to Corona Line as Balanga Sister. In 1997 JJ Sister followed her sister to Moby Lines and was renamed Moby Magic for Genoa-Bastia and Livorno-Olbia services. On 11th September 2003, Moby Magic ran aground off Olbia. She did not return to service. Moby Fantasy was in a collision in June 2006, and was laid up in Naples.


I do not have any postcards of the Moby Fantasy or Moby Magic; they are shown below in a publicity picture from a Moby Lines timetable.



Photograph of Moby Fantasy.
Photo: © Lars Helge Isdahl, Livorno 5th June 2003 - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se.



Photograph of Moby Fantasy.
Photo: © Frank Lose, Livorno 21st June 2003 - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se.



Photograph of Moby Magic.
Photo: © Frank Lose, Livorno 23rd June 2003 - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se.
Moby Fantasy arriving at Civitavecchia Photo: � Ian Boyle, 24th August 2009 More images of Moby Fantasy at Civitavecchia Moby Fantasy arriving at Civitavecchia Photo: � Ian Boyle, 24th August 2009 Moby Fantasy arriving at Civitavecchia Photo: � Ian Boyle, 24th August 2009 Moby Gum
(Moby Lines: 1998-2003)

This large ro-ro ferry was previously the Freccia Rossa of Grimaldi Lines. It was acquired in 1998 and operates from the commercial port of Livorno, which is some distance from the ferry port where other survives depart.


Photo of Moby Gum leaving Livorno
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 2000






Moby Rider
(Moby Lines: 1998-2007)

Moby Rider was built as Canadian freight ferry Frederick Carter in 1968. Subsequent names included Fred, Flavia II, Athena and Thenia. In 1988 she was used by Nordo Link as the Hansa Link between Malmo and Travemuende. In 1991 she was chartered to Norse-Irish ferries as the Norse Lagan. She was bought by Moby Line in 1998, entering service as Moby Rider the following year.

A complete history is this ship is available on this link.


Photograph of Moby Rider.
Photo: © Martin Jensen - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se






Moby Love 2 (Moby Lines: 1999-2002)
Moby Love (2) (Moby Lines: 2002- )

Moby Love 2 originally entered service in 1975 as the train ferry Saint Eloi. She was renamed Channel Entente in 1989, and sold to the Isle of Mann SP co in 1990. Following a major refurbishment, she was renamed King Orry, until withdrawn and sold to Moby Lines in 1998. In 2002 she was renamed Moby Love, the second ship of this name. I have seen no Italian postcards of Moby Love 2/Moby Love.


Simplon Postcards released the card sp2162 shown below in April 2001.
Moby Love 2 is shown leaving Portoferraio (Elba) in August 2000, photographed by Ian Boyle.
The hull 'artwork' has not been finished on this side of the ship - compare with the picture below.



Another August 2000 photograph by Ian Boyle, shown arriving Portoferraio (Elba)






Moby Lally
(Moby Lines: 2000- )

Moby Lally was acquired to introduce a new service from Civitavecchia to Olbia (Sardinia) in 2000. She was built in 1974, and previously operated as Kalle III, The Viking, Wasa Prince and Peder Olsen.

Kalle III was a sistership to Djursland II, built in 1974 by Schichau Unterweser AG, Bremerhaven, Germany. It had originally been intended that she serve on the Grenå-Hundested route as Kattegat II, but she was moved to Juelsminde-Kalundborg as Kalle III from delivery. Between 1983-89 she was chartered to Sally UK for Ramsgate-Dunkerque service as The Viking. Between 1989-91 she ran for Vaasanlaivat as the Wasa Prince. From 1991 to 2000 she served Bornholm as the Peder Olsen, and was then sold to Moby Lines as the Moby Lally, for whom she remained in service in 2008.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Photograph of Moby Lally.
Photo: © Lars Helge Isdahl, Portoferraio 4th June 2003 - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se



Photograph of Moby Lally.
Photo: © Martin Lear, Portoferraio 4th June 2003
Click to open larger image in new window






Moby Freedom (Moby Lines: 2001- )
Moby Wonder (Moby Lines: 2001- )

Moby Freedom and Moby Wonder are due to be introduced in July 2001, and are being built by Daewoo in South Korea. They will operate overnight services from Genoa to Olbia (Sardinia), with day-time fill-in runs between Genova to Bastia, and Olbia to Civitavecchia. Moby have an option on two further sisters with Daewoo, plus there are reports of an order for two 175m ships from Italian builders in Livorno (where the new Corsica Ferries ships have been built).

Additional photos of Moby Freedom are shown on this link.


Simplon Postcards issue sp1270 of the Moby Freedom, released December 2001.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Bastia, August 2001






Moby Drea
(Moby Lines: 2003- )

Moby Drea was built in 1975 as Tor Britannia for the Goteborg-Amsterdam and Goteborg-Felixstowe services of Tor Line. Her sister Tor Scandinavia followed a year later in 1976. They were both 16000grt, carried 1358 passengers, and had a high speed of around 25knots. In 1980, there was a brief partnership between Tor Line and SESSAN Line, marketed as SESSAN-Tor Line.

In 1981 the the passenger operations of Tor Line were acquired by DFDS Seaways. The two ships were initially marketed as DFDS-Tor Line. From 1983, Tor Britannia operated some services between Harwich and Esbjerg, which was achieved much faster than running-partner Dana Anglia due to Tor Britannia's higher speed. She later served on most other DFDS Seaways routes, including Harwich-Hamburg, and routes from Ijmuiden to Norway and Sweden. In 1991, Tor Britannia was renamed Prince of Scandinavia. 2001 she operated between Newcastle and Ijmuiden.

In 2003, Prince of Scandinavia was sold to Moby Lines. After modifications, she re-entered service as the Moby Drea between Livorno and Olbia.


Photograph of Moby Drea
Click to open larger image in new window



Moby Drea at Livorno, 14th June 2004
Photo: © Lars Helge Isdahl - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se
Click to open larger image in new window



Moby Drea at Livorno, 16th August 2004
Photo: © Jan Vinther Christensen - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se
Click to open larger image in new window



Moby Drea at Livorno, 19th June 2006
Photo: © Carlos Moreno Trobat - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se
Click to open larger image in new window






Moby Aki
(Moby Lines: 2005- )

Moby Aki at Livorno, 24th May 2005
Photo: © Lars Helge Isdahl - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se
Click to open larger image in new window



Moby Aki at Livorno, 20th May 2005
Photo: © Francesco Bassano - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se
Click to open larger image in new window



Moby Aki at Ancona, 18th May 2005
Photo: © Dubravko Nonkovic - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se - Igor Brboleza collection
Click to open larger image in new window






Moby Otta
(Moby Lines: 2006- )

Moby Otta was built in 1976 as Tor Scandinavia for the Goteborg-Amsterdam and Goteborg-Felixstowe services of Tor Line, one year after her sister Tor Britannia. They were both 16000grt, carried 1358 passengers, and had a high service speed of around 25knots (over 26knots maximum). In 1980, there was a brief partnership between Tor Line and Sessan Line, marketed as SESSAN TOR LINE.

In 1981 the passenger operations of Tor Line were acquired by DFDS Seaways. The two ex-Tor ships were initially marketed as DFDS TOR LINE. The logo was soon removed, and Tor Scandinavia began to serve on other DFDS Seaways routes. Tor Scandinavia was renamed Princess of Scandinavia in 1991. Although her sister Prince of Scandinavia was sold in 2003, DFDS announced late 2004 that Princess of Scandinavia would be fitted with new sprinkler systems, catalytic converters and upgraded cabins and bar area, ensuring suitability for continued service.

Princess of Scandinavia was sold to Moby in 2006 and renamed Moby Otta.


Moby Otta at Livorno, 19th June 2006
Photo: © Carlos Moreno Trobat - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se
Click to open larger image in new window



Moby Otta at Livorno, 19th June 2006
Photo: © Carlos Moreno Trobat - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se
Click to open larger image in new window






Moby Tommy
(Moby Lines: 2006- )

Ariadne Palace (2) was built in 2002 by Samsung Heavy Industries, South Korea. Three ships were built in this class: Oceanus, Prometheus and Ariadne Palace (2), all of which have since been sold. Ariadne Palace (2) was sold to Moby Lines as Moby Tommy in 2006.


Moby Tommy at Olbia, 25th May 2007
Photo: © Roby - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se
Click to open larger image in new window



Moby Tommy at Olbia, 25th May 2007
Photo: © Roby - Scan: www.faktaomfartyg.se
Click to open larger image in new window
Moby Lines - Page 1 - Corsica Ferries - SNCM - Stena Line - Trasmediterranea
Top of Page - Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards - Home Page �1999-2009 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site) All Rights Reserved Free Web Counter Times viewed since 27/02/2008:

Name	Other names	Built
Moby Baby	Svea Drott, Earl Godwin	1966
Moby Big	Skane	1967
Moby Blu	Free Enterprise II	1965
Moby Dream	Stena Britannica, Viking 6, Goelo	1965
Moby Freedom		2001
Moby King	Skane	1967
Moby Kiss	Stena Nordica, Hellas, Stena Nautica, Reine Astrid, Al Mansour	1975
Moby Love 2	St Eloi, Channel Entente, King Orry	1973
Moby Lally	Kalle III, The Viking, Wasa Prince, Peder Olsen	1974
Moby Rider	Frederick Carter, Thenia, Hansa Link, Norse Lagan, Moby Rider	1967
Moby Vincent	Stena Normandica, St Brendan, Wasa Sun	1974