SS Saint Edmunds

St Edmunds was launched and christened on 14 November 1973 by Caroline Marsh, wife of the then British Railways Board Director Richard Marsh, at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead.[1] It was due to be launced a day previous, but due to bad weather it was prosponed a day.[2]

It underwent sea trials after and in December 1974, it was brought into BR service at Parkeston Quay in Harwich. It was operated by BR's subsidiary Passtruck (Shipping) Co. Ltd. of London under the brand of Sealink. It operated on the Harwich to Hook of Holland route. It operated on this route until May 1982 when it was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence.

On 12 May 1982, just over a month since the start of the Falklands War, St. Edmunds was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for use by the Royal Navy. Between the 13th and 19th may, St. Edmunds was modified at HMNB Devonport, becoming a troopship. It also received two helipads, a satellite comunications system, two freshwater generating plants and had Replenishment at Sea gear fitted.[2]

On 20 May, St. Edmunds, set sail from Devonport for the Falkland Islands with 5th Brigade troops along with some members of the Royal Air Force.[2] Upon the Argentine surrender, St. Edmunds provided rest and recreation facilities for troops.

On 30 June, St. Edmunds transported Argentine Prisoners of War to Puerto Madryn.[1] Upon return to the Falklands, St. Edmunds was used to ferry troops between the Falklands and Ascension Island. It later became an accomidation ship at Port Stanley.

On 17 July, St. Edmunds transported 9 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers to Ascension. St. Edmunds returned to the UK and was based at HMS Calliope on the Tyne in Gateshead.[3] On 28 January 1983, the MoD compulsory purchased St. Edmunds from British Rail.[1]

Upon the ships return, there was a dispute between the National Union of Seamen and the MoD regarding the pay type the crew would receive. On Good Friday 1983, St. Edmunds was commissioned formally into the Royal Navy as HMS Keren and had a crew of 35.[3] The RN crew then set about learning the ship ready to take the ship back to the Falklands. However, a few weeks later, HMS Keren was decommissioned and became MV Keren.[3]

In May 1983, Keren sailed for the Falklands and was used as a floating landing stage. With the addition of extra-refrigeration storage in the car decks and a new water osmosis plant was fitted. Keren carried approximately 1000 troops.

In July 1985, Keren returned to the UK and after a government funded refit at Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton. She was then laid up near Portsmouth for sale.

In January 1986, Keren was sold to the Cenargo Group who operated the Ferrimaroc service between Almeria in Spain and Nador in Morocco. At this point the ship was renamed SCIROCCO. Between 18 June and 16 September 1986, the ship was chartered to Tirrenia di Navigazione in Italy to operate between Genoa and Sardinia, later changing to the Genoa to Alicante route. In 1987, she was chartered to Comanav and then Cia. Transmediterranea for Barcelona to Palma route and then in 1988 it moved to the La Goulette to Marseilles route.[4]

On 8 January 1989, it arrived at Southampton were she was referbished. By February the ship had been chartered British Channel Island Ferries operating from Poole to Gurnsey and Jersey. The ship was renamed ROZEL. In January 1992, it returned to Cia. Transmediterranea and was renamed SCIROCCO where it operated the Málaga to Melilla route. On 16 May 1993, it returned to Ferrimaroc returning to the Almeria to Nador route, operating under the Gibraltar Flag.[2]

During the summer of 1993, the ship was chartered to Compagnie Marocaine de Navigation (COMANAV) for there Nador to Port-Vendres. Remaining with COMANAV during 1994, it was used on the companies Genoa to Tunis route. On 15 March 1994, the ship returned to Ferrimaroc's Nador - Almeria route, remaining on this route until 2004 when it was sold to El Salam Maritime Transport in Egypt were it was renamed Santa Cathtine I. It was chartered to COMANAV returning to the Nador to Port-Vendres route.[2]

In 2005, it was chartered to Algerie Ferries and was used on pilgrim services from Suez. On 30 May 2006, it was renamed SARA 3 and operated on a route between Jeddah and Sawakin. It was sold in June 2009, it was sold to Indian Breakers.[2]