A long and eventful career starting as Townsend Thoresen’s 3,335gt ro-ro freighter European Gateway in 1975 has ended on the shipbreaking beaches of Aliaga, Turkey, with the much-rebuilt vessel towed away from Piraeus on 17 July after final service as Penelope for Agoudimos Lines.
One of a four-ship series built in Bremerhaven, Germany, European Gateway served TT routes on the North and Irish Seas before sinking off Felixstowe on 19 December 1982 after a collision with Sealink’s Harwich-Zeebrugge ferry Speedlink Vanguard.
European Gateway was running between Felixstowe and Rotterdam Europoort and six lives were lost among 35 driver/passengers and more than 30 crew. Salvaged by Wijsmüller of Holland, European Gateway was towed to Perama, Greece for conversion.
