Livestock carrier Falconia arriving Napier 16.5.16.
History
1972: hull launched by L.H. Salthammer Batbyggeri A/S (yard 107) at Vestnes.
23.1.73: completed by Aukra Bruk SY (yard 46) as general cargo vessel Esteflut.
999 grt; 2,600 dwt; 77.1 m LOA; 13 m beam.
Owner MS Esteflut Reederei Julius Hauschildt KG, manager Kustenschiffahrt Bauer & Hauschildt KG, Germany.
24.4.81: caught fire at Alexandria and having dangerous cargo onboard, towed out of harbour for fire to be extinguished and explosives dumped in deep water.
Later towed to Bremerhaven and sold in damaged condition for repair and conversion to livestock carrier at Svendborg.
1982: r/n Philomena Purcell by new owner Sonderborg Rederi A/S (Panama flag) and operator “Corral Line” (subsidiary of Clausen Foundation).
new 1,236 g; 2,650 d; 88.3 m LOA;
1983: Sonderborg similarly converted Gerard Patrick Purcell ex Lubbecke (1970).
1984: Seamus Purcell passed on shares in his Irish beef processing and the world’s largest livestock export company Purcell Brothers to family members with son Gerry having largest share parcel and M.D.
11.89: t/f K/S Sonderborg, Denmark (DIS).
2000: Receivers appointed by National Irish Bank as Purcell Bro’s. suffer PDS 6.8 mn. loss on risky exchange dealings related to cattle shipments, but company rescued in deal brokered by Seamus Purcell.
2002: r/n Falcon when Sonderborg became bankrupt and fleet transferred to Corral Line ApS.
2004: Corral Line sold majority of fleet to Vroon but kept Falcon and r/n Falconia.