Built under yard No. 376 as a ro-ro vessel by the Frederikshavn Vaerft A/S at Frederikshavn, Denmark for K/S Merc-Scandia XII at Köpenhamn (Per Henriksen) Denmark.
17 Feb. 1978 launched under the name MERCANDIAN TRANSPORTER II.
Tonnage 1.599 gross, 863 net, 3.708 dwt., dim. 105.62 x 19.23 x 10.6m, draught 4.97m., length between p.p. 96.0m.
Powered by one 12 cyl. MaK diesel engine, 4.500 hp., speed 16 knots.
1984 Renamed TRANSPORTER II.
1986 renamed MERCANDIAN TRANSPORTER II.
03 Jan. 1987 Sold to Sea Malta Co. Ltd., Valetta, Malta, renamed in PINTO.
Used in the service between Valletta-Marseille and Genoa.
03 Dec. 1998 Sold to Yantai Ferry Co., Yantai, renamed SHENG LU. Thereafter rebuilt in a passenger ferry in China. After rebuilding tonnage given as 8.264 gross.
She was then used in the ferry service between Dalian and Yantai, a very important link between east and northeast China, with 3.5 million people and 200.000 vehicles crossing each year.
17 Oct. 1999at 06.29 a fire was reported on the upper deck of the SHENG LU on a voyage from Dalian to Yantai in a position off Dalian during strong winds.
At that time she had on board a crew of 36 and 125 passengers. The strong winds halted efforts to extinguish the fire. She sank on 10.00 the same day in a position 5 mile to the south of Dalian Yuyan. Two persons missing, the rest rescued.
Malta 1987 20c sg 812
http://www.faktaomfartyg.crosswinds.net ... I_1978.htm
Marine News 1978/580,1985/346,1986/413, 1987/547, 1999/768. Navicula.
http://www.msa.gov.cn/nb/1999e.htm (look for shenglu)