Cargo 'MERLE' ready for breaking up at Alhos Vedros (Tagus river estuary, South bank).

She is probably the best example I know of the fact that ships are just like humans. Some have it easy throughtout their lifes, others are ill-fated and are exposed to all sorts of harms and evils...and never make it!

In just one year, here's in brief what happened to her:
- her original owners (Dutch?) went bankrupt;
- she was seized on court's orders in the UK, and subject to arrest;
- she was auctionned out and bought by a new company (Turkish?);
- officially released and free to go, she was met by an abnormal storm during her 'maiden' voyage to her new home, and was washed aground in Northern Portugal;
- she was left for two months amidst sand dunes, while a debate was going on on what to do with her;
- she was finally pulled back to sea and put afloat, undoubtly a success salvage mission;
- she was then taken to Lisbon, and now...there she is!

I cannot hide I feel sorry for her faith, having seen her during her prison days on the beach, and seeing her again now, demolition ready!...Works must have started already as at least her two anchors are gone...Sad to see her go.

Bye, Merle!

Main characteristics:
MMSI: 518701000
Callsign: E5U2648
Type: General Cargo / Multipurpose
Length: 80 m
Beam: 11 m
Gross tonnage: 1548 t
DWT: 2412 t
Maximum draft: 4 m
Year of build: 1991
Builder: VERVAKO - HEUSDEN, NETHERLANDS
Main engine: SBV 6 M 628
Description of the engine, generators and other: 6 cylinders, DEUTZ GROUP KOLN - GERMANY
Flag : Cook islands (since 01/12/2012) ex Gibraltar since 01/12/2005
Class society: GERMANISCHER LLOYD
Manager: FURKAN SHIPPING INVESTMENT - ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Owner: PRO NYKI SHIPMANAGEMENT - RHOON, NETHERLANDS (to be confirmed)
Former names:
FREYA until April 2007