The vessel was ordered by Panalpina, Basel for their coastal service in West Africa and was built as the MS MERLIN II (Yard No. 10512) in Bodenwerder, near Hameln on the river Weser in West Germany. The builders were the Arminius Werke GmbH, which in the meantime have ceased to build ships and are engaged in steel construction. Due to the low bridges on the river, the ship was shifted to Bremerhaven for completion, where the deckhouse and the crane were installed. The keel was laid on 12.10.1989 and the ship was launched on 17.02.1990 and delivered on 30.03.1990 to her owners Mediana Shipping Co. Ltd. Limassol, Cyprus. The ship was registered under Cyprus flag with home port Limassol (official No: 708901, call sign: P3QK3). IMO No. 8920610.
The ship is a deck cargo vessel / landing craft and all dry cargo is carried on deck. A bow ramp allows to roll-on and to roll-off trucks and other vehicles, either in port or onto beaches. Additionally a large, hydraulic crane (Liebherr, 18 mt SWL on 3-20 m) was installed to give more flexibility for cargo work in the poorly equipped African ports. Below the main deck, tank space is provided for fresh water and gas oil to supply drilling rigs and ships offshore.
Commercial operation of the vessel was by A.S.B., Air Sea Broker Ltd., Basel, a company of Panalpina, Basel. Since delivery the vessel was engaged in coastal trading in West Africa, between Nigeria and Angola, mainly for the oil industry. The vessel was handled by a Filippino crew of 8 to 9 men.
On 01.11.1995 the owners transferred the technical management of the ship to ABC Maritime AG, Nyon, Switzerland.
In September 1999 during one of the vessel's regular dry dockings in Walvis Bay, Namibia, the original Caterpillar engines 3408-DI-TAU (2 x 402 BHP at 1800/366 RPM, giving about a speed of 7 knots) were replaced by two Cummins diesel engines type: 6-KTA-19-M3 increasing the power output by about 50 % to 2 x 600 BHP. Newly designed, larger propellers and new tail shafts, made of stronger material were fitted. This new propulsion plant increased the speed of the vessel to about 10 knots.
On 28.11.2011 the MS MERLIN II was renamed in Port Gentil, Gabon to MERLIN II and she was reflagged to St. Vincent and The Grenadines with home port Kingstown (official No: 9570, call sign: J8B3098).
In late 2013 the vessel was sold to Angola and handed-over to her new owners on 17.12.2013. Probably she flies now Angolan flag, her new name is unknown.
HPS-SwissShips, August 2014