Naples ferry captain, Gianluigi Aponte started MSC – Mediterranean Shipping Co in 1970 and built the fleet up with second-hand conventional cargo ships. In 1978 he acquired TARANTEL from Norway’s Wilhemsen Lines and renamed her REGINA S under the Panama flag.
The ship was built in 1960 by Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg-Finkenwerder (Yard no 749) and Wilhelmsen had converted her into an 11,641 grt/10,333 dwt multi-purpose, cargo/container ship in 1970.
Main engine was a 10-cylinder, two-stroke Burmeister & Wain 10-74VTF-160 of 12,500bhp at 115 rpm for a speed of 17.5 knots.
REGINA S served MSC until January 1985, when she arrived at Chittagong, Bangladesh for demolition.