MV Pelagitis

Ro-Ro Cargo Pelagitis in Souda (Crete)
History
Name	Pelagitis (2010) [1] Atlantic Freighter (1987–2010) Stena Grecia (1983–1987) Merzario Grecia (1978–1983) Tor Felicia (1978)
Owner	Ainaftis (2010-Present) Stena Line (1978–1987)
Operator	Ainaftis
Port of registry	Greece (2010-present)  Bahamas, Nassau (1978–1987)
Builder	Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan, South Korea
Yard number	647
Launched	22 December 1977
Completed	1978
Identification	Call sign: SVBC8 IMO number: 7528611 MMSI number: 241053000
Notes	[2]
General characteristics
Tonnage	5,466 GT 3,995 NT 8,661 DWT
Length	154 m (505 ft); 143 m (469 ft)
Beam	21.67 m (71.1 ft)
Draught	7.319 m (24.01 ft)
Ramps	Stern loading; shore based
Installed power	Two NKK-Pielstick diesel engines 11,638 kW (combined)
Propulsion	Two propellers Bow thruster (1,000 hp)
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Capacity	12 passengers 75 drop trailers (plus tank top)

MV Pelagitis is a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry formerly operated by Marine Atlantic from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, Canada. The vessel was completed in 1978 by Hyundai Shipbuilding Company Limited in and delivered to the Stena Line which operates in Northern Europe.^[2][3] She was sold on 12 March 2010 and given her current name Pelagitis.^[4]

Throughout her career, the vessel sailed under the names Atlantic Freighter, Merzario Grecia, Stena Grecia, and Tor Felicia.^[5]

Loading and unloading the vessel each take over three hours.^[6] Eight trailers are loaded at one time using a "yard tractor train system". The vessel represented 19.6 percent of Marine Atlantic's fleet in 2005.

In 1990 asbestos was found in use on the vessel.^[7][8] Management made the decision to encapsulate the asbestos. In November 2007, 60 workers on Atlantic Freighter were told they should be tested for asbestos exposure.

Atlantic Freighter was chartered by the United States Military Sealift Command in December 1990, and served two supply missions to the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War.^[9][10] The vessel was captained by Neil Hillier, and crewed by 25 volunteers. Fisheries and Oceans Minister, Fred Mifflin was credited with five years of efforts to secure the right for the crew to wear the United States Merchant Marine Expeditionary Award.