M/s "Żerań" was commissioned on 13.08.1987. The maiden trip stared on next day and was to Purfleet and Middlesbrough,
as temporary replacement for m/s "Inowrocław" (IMO 7804053), that was released from that duty for planned maintenance.


Otherwise than RO-RO's for Australian route, five B-488 RO-RO's from Gdynia Shipyard turned out to be excellent business
for Polish Ocean Lines. They replaced a whole bunch of aging general cargo ships working so far for Mediterranean lines.
Four ships made it possible to offer regular service with port calls each 10 days, plus one vessel as reserve or boost.
Along time, apart from regular duty, they often participated in transporting military equipment or e.g. Airbus 380 parts.

The ships offered 1200 m lane, accessible via 12 m wide Navire ramp with ca. 200 t SWL and a 50 ton hydraulic lift;
They were designed to carry general cargo, roll trailers, road trailers, cars, and special vehicles. Container capacity was
ca. 498 TEU (42 on tank top, 173 on 2nd Deck, 40 on ramp and 156/243 on Upper Deck (two/three layers), incl. 25 reefers.
Two 25 t SWL fork lifts, two 5,5 t SWL fork lifts and one tugmaster for roll trailers completed the cargo handling equipment.
Later, there were plans to lengthen the ships, but it was never never done.

Two medium - speed engines (4080 hp each) with two controllable pitch propellers provided speed of 15,0 kn (trial 16,0 kn).
Accommodation for crew up to 32, pilot and 6 passengers, once counted as tallest superstructure in Polish merchant navy(!),
but included also swimming pool and sauna.

B488/1 ŻERAŃ, IMO 8302272, 1987;
http://www.shipspotting.com/ships/ship.php?imo=8302272

B488/2 TYCHY, IMO 8302284, 1988;
http://www.shipspotting.com/ships/ship.php?imo=8302284

B488/3 DĘBICA, IMO 8302296, 1988;
http://www.shipspotting.com/ships/ship.php?imo=8302296

B488/4 CHODZIEŻ, IMO 8302301, 1988;
http://www.shipspotting.com/ships/ship.php?imo=8302301

B488/5 WŁOCŁAWEK, IMO 8302313, 1989;
http://www.shipspotting.com/ships/ship.php?imo=8302313

M/s "Dębica" was sold already in 1993 to Ignazio Messina; other ships continued work for subsidiary POL - Levant.
M/s "Chodzież" is the last one original Polish Ocean Lines' ship still in service (2020), creating 1/3 of current fleet:
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=3225987