Old car ferry to cross the Atlantic soon

[ombugge]

Another old Norwegian car ferry is going to serve out her days in the Caribbean.
This car ferry will soon leave Norway and head across the Atlantic, bound for Mexico:

MF «Rauma», General information
Ship type Car ferry
Built 1988 at Trønderverftet , Hommelvik (building no. 61 )
Flag state Molde
Register MF «Rauma»
Register port Molde
Owner Fjord1
Shipping company 1988 - 2001 - Møre og Romsdal Fylkesbåtar
2001 - Fjord1 MRF
Call signal JXVE
IMO ‑ no. 8704054
MMSI ‑ no. 257349400
Technical data [a
Length 84.1 m
Width 14.2 m
Draft 435 m
Top speed 14 knots
Propulsion 1 617 kW
Tonnage 1393 ( BT )
Passengers 399
Vehicle 87 PBE (105 at handover)
MF «Rauma» on Commons

From smp.no today:

I estimate that the trip will take about four weeks. It all obviously depends on the weather and wave height, says Olsen - who has previously sailed five or six retired ferries from Norway to Africa.

2 days across the Atlantic

The itinerary is roughly Norway-Las Palmas-Caribbean-Mexico. The actual trip across the Atlantic he thinks takes approx. 12 days.
Although it can be challenging, he believes the first test will be to cross the Bay of Biscay.
But the ferry is in good condition, quite large and can withstand a lot. So it should go well, Stein-Arve Olsen thinks.

By the way, he also has a competent ferry crew of eight with him.

Over 100 would join

When I went out and advertised for crew for the trip, I received over 100 inquiries. Of course, it was mostly sailors, also those who had a past on “Rauma”. But there were also troubadours and others who volunteered for service, Olsen laughs.

Sorry, too late to apply for a position.

[cmakin]

Back in the 80s, I remember taking a waterjet powered catamaran ferry from Cancun to Cozumel. I seem to recall that it was originally Norwegian. I am guessing that it wasn’t financially successful, since by the 90s, it was no longer in service there.

[ombugge]

Lots of Catamaran ferries built in Norway back in late 1970-80s are still in use around the world. Most built by Westermoen, Fjellstrand and Br.Aa
Fjellstrand also had a yard in Singapore for some time.

Here is a Fjellstrand 130’ Catamaran offered for sale:

Search Used Yachts and Boats for Sale - SYS Yacht Sales

Here a Westermoen type:

Broč (former Sunnhordland, bnr 38), a Westamaran Type W95 , built in 1975, still operating in Croatia (photo taken on Mar 19, 2013)

[cmakin]

Here is a photo I snapped in '86.

Ferry by

[ombugge]

Looks like an early Fjellstrand Catamaran fast ferry (blt. 1980-85)

Another Fjellstrand built Fast Ferry, This one built in the 1990s and trading Shekou - Hong Kong v.v.

M/V NEW FERRY II 新輪貳 (Kvaerner Fjellstrand Flying Cat 40)

PS> I have travelled many times on this and other fast ferries on that route.