Following the introduction of the chartered Visentini newbuild Wedellsborg, the Danish shipping company Nordana has announced replacement of its former DFDS ro-ro ships Skodsborg, Skanderborg, and Schackenborg. The 14,805gt crane-fitted ro-lo vessels, which were built in Japan for DFDS with an 1,884 lane metre or 654TEU capacity, have operated between the Mediterranean, Latin America and the United States since they were new in 1979, when Nordana was owned by DFDS.
Built as Dana Africa, Dana Arabia and Dana Caribia, they were renamed when DFDS sold Nordana to Dannebrog in 1984. Designated as ‘omni-carriers’, the sisters have considerable flexibility through heavylift, container, lo-lo, ro-ro and car-carrying capabilities, and stern ramp, side door or cargo hatch access. They were innovative in being able to make a ‘Mediterranean moor’ to offload ro-ro cargo in ports, while other liners waited for quayside berths.
Despite her age, Schackenborg has been sold for further service in the Philippines as Super Shuttle Ro-Ro 11. A fourth omni-carrier, Dana America, was built and became Stjernborg, but left Nordana in 1998 when sold to Demline. She was renamed Fast Challenger, but was later chartered back to Nordana. MD
