1970s Focus on car transportation

Olof Wallenius passes away quite unexpectedly. Wallenius Lines carries out the earlier decision to phase out the tanker business in favour of car carriers. A whole new vessel type is developed to make transportation of cars but also other rolling cargo more efficient. When small, efficient Japanese cars become even more popular during the oil crisis, Wallenius Lines is ready to deliver and for the first time Wallenius Lines carries more than 500,000 vehicles a year.

1970

Olof Wallenius passes away
Olof Wallenius passes away at the age of 68. His wife Signe and daughter Margareta decide together with the management team to continue to run the company. His son-in-law John Kleberg is appointed president of the company.

1972

Over 500,000 vehicles
Wallenius Lines carries more than 500,000 vehicles in one year for the first time ever.

Short-sea shipping phased out
Wallenius Lines phases out its North Sea and Baltic Sea traffic serviced by small RoRo vessels and concentrates entirely on transoceanic shipping.

1973

The last tanker
MT SOYA-BALTIC, once the world’s largest combined ore/oil carrier, is sold. The company now no longer operates any tankers.

1974

Bulk vessel with car hold
Car-shipping customers demand shipping in special and separate car holds. Wallenius Lines has major bulk cargo contracts for the USA and Far East traffic, and satisfies customer requirements by building bulk carriers with three separate car garages and four bulk holds.

MS OTELLO, and a year later, MS AIDA are delivered. They have the capacity to carry 45,000 tonnes of bulk cargo and 3,500 cars.

1975

The first PCC
MS DON JUAN and MS DON CARLOS, developed solely to carry cars by using the RoRo technique, are the company’s first PCC (Pure Car Carrier) car carriers. A year later, sister vessel MS DON CARLOS is delivered, and as they travel faster than their predecessors, they reduce transport times considerably.

The new vessels have 12 permanent decks and loading is performed via two ramps on the starboard side of the vessels. They can carry 4,900 cars, the company’s largest car carriers to date.

1977

First PCTC’s
Freight customers express interest in starting to ship heavy vehicles. Therefore, the PCTC (Pure Car Truck Carrier) type of vessel is developed, with hoistable cargo decks for flexible clearance, and reinforced truck decks to handle the heavier loads. The vessels are loaded using both a side and a stern ramp.

MS RIGOLETTO and MS TRAVIATA, with their 13 decks and 4,070-car capacity, are the first vessels delivered.

New part-owner in Wallenius Lines
Axel Johnson (Nordstjernan and Försäkrings AB Sirius) acquires 25 per cent of the company’s shares.

1978

Middle East traffic increases
Countries in the Middle East develop their infrastructures, leading to heavy demand for all kinds of construction equipment, trucks and cars. For a time, Wallenius carries half of all the RoRo cargoes between Europe and the Gulf.

Delivery of a new vessel
MS TOSCA is delivered. She has the capacity to carry 5,640 cars, or 3,490 cars and 360 trucks.

1979

Wallenius Lines places an order with Swedish shipyard Kockums for two giant car carriers, 6,200 cars and other cargo.

 

The Fleet 1970 – 1979

AIDA (4)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor RoRo Car Bulk Carrier/Pure Car Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 3,500 cars + 45,000 tons ore/ 6,400 cars
  • Length (m): 221.3
  • Beam (m): 32.3
  • Deadweight (m/t): 51,644/28,565
  • Gross tonnage: 33,905/23,768
  • Built: November 1973
  • Converted: 1980
  • Builder: Stocznia Gdynska im Komuny Paryskiej, Gdynia
  • Sister ship: Otello (5)

ATLANTIC CINDERELLA

  • Owner: Wallenius-Bremen GmbH & Co KG Schiffahrtsges. Bremen, and from December 1974 Rederi AB Wallenco/Wallship, Stockholm
  • Flag: GER and from 1974 SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam Turbine RoRo Car Container Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 1,000 cars + 885 TEUs
  • Length (m): 212.2
  • Beam (m): 28
  • Deadweight (m/t): 18,445
  • Gross tonnage: 15,437
  • Built: February 1970
  • Builder: At. & Ch. de Dunkerque et Bordeaux (France-Gironde), Dunkerque

DON CARLOS (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor Pure Car Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 5,000
  • Length (m): 202.6
  • Beam (m): 28.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 15,000
  • Gross tonnage: 14,479
  • Built: April 1976
  • Sold: 1994 sold to Australia and converted into the world’s most modern cattle carrier
  • Builder: Oy Wärtsilä Ab, Turku
  • Sister ship: Don Juan (2)

DON JUAN (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor Pure Car Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 5,000
  • Length (m): 202.6
  • Beam (m): 28.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 15,000
  • Gross tonnage: 14,480
  • Built: December 1975
  • Sold: 1994
  • Builder: Oy Wärtsilä Ab, Turku
  • Sister ship: Don Carlos (2)

FALSTAFF (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Walltank, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor LoLo Car Bulk Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 1,800
  • Length (m): 185.7
  • Beam (m): 24.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 28,515
  • Gross tonnage: 18,656
  • Built: December 1967
  • Purchased: March 1977
  • Sold: February 1981
  • Builder: Öresundsvarvet AB, Landskrona
  • Former name: ex Daphne
  • Sister ships: Faust (2), Fidelio (2)

FAUST (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Walltank, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor RoLo Car Bulk Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 1,600
  • Length (m): 185.7
  • Beam (m): 24.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 28,515
  • Gross tonnage: 18,656
  • Built: October 1967
  • Purchased: May 1977
  • Sold: February 1981
  • Builder: Öresundsvarvet AB, Landskrona
  • Former name: ex Sonette
  • Sister ships: Falstaff (2), Fidelio (2)

FIDELIO (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor RoLo Car Bulk Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 1,800
  • Length (m): 185.7
  • Beam (m): 24.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 28,393
  • Gross tonnage: 18,781
  • Built: July 1966
  • Purchased: July 1976
  • Sold: March 1981
  • Delivered: 1976
  • Builder: Öresundsvarvet AB, Landskrona
  • Former name: ex. Citadel
  • Sister ships: Falstaff (2), Faust (2)

FIGARO (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Walltank, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor LoLo Car Bulk Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 2,600
  • Length (m): 200
  • Beam (m): 27.9
  • Deadweight (m/t): 36,428
  • Gross tonnage: 23,187
  • Built: March 1972
  • Sold: June 1978
  • Builder: Baltic S B & Eng. Works, Leningrad
  • Sister ships: Madame Butterfly (2), Rigoletto (5), Traviata (3)

MADAME BUTTERFLY (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor LoLo Car Bulk Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 2,600
  • Length (m): 199.8
  • Beam (m): 27.9
  • Deadweight (m/t): 35,657
  • Gross tonnage: 23,188
  • Built: January 1970
  • Sold: May 1978
  • Builder: Baltic S B & Eng. Works, Leningrad
  • Sister ships: Figaro (2), Rigoletto (5), Traviata 83)

MIGNON (1)

  • Owner: Partrederiet för ms Mignon
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor RoRo Car Trailer Container Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 250 or 58 trailers+ 30 TEUs
  • Length (m): 112.7
  • Beam (m): 16.1
  • Deadweight (m/t): 5,182
  • Gross tonnage: 2,847
  • Built: December 1970
  • Sold: August 1974
  • Builder: AB Finnboda Varf, Stockholm

MONTMORENCY/ATLANTIC RELUDE/INCOTRANS PRELUDE

  • Owner: Rederi AB Wallenco7Wallship, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor RoRo Car Container Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 180 cars + 132 TEUs/100 cars + 430 TEUs
  • Length (m): 133.9/162.4
  • Beam (m): 19.41
  • Deadweight (m/t): 5,400/9,663
  • Gross tonnage: 4,262/11,077
  • Built: December 1972
  • Lengthened: 1978
  • Builder: Oy Wärtsilä Ab, Turku, Finland
  • Renamed: Atlantic Prelude July 1978, Incotrans Prelude December 1983
  • Sister ships. Mont Laurier, Mont Louis, Mont Royal

OTELLO (5)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor RoRo Car Bulk Carrier/Pure Car Carrier
  • Capacity car/trucks: 6,300 or 3,500 cars + 45,000 tons ore
  • Length (m): 221.5
  • Beam (m): 32.3
  • Deadweight (m/t): 51,646/28,283
  • Gross tonnage: 33,806/23,761
  • Built: December 1974
  • Converted: 1980
  • Sold: 1994
  • Builder: Stocznia Gdynska im Komuny Paryskiej, Gdynia
  • Sister ship: Aida (4)

RIGOLETTO (6)

  • Owner: Wallenius Lines, Stockholm
  • Management: Wallenius Marine
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: PCTC
  • Capacity car (RT43): 4,100
  • Capacity car/trucks: 3,160 cars + 330 trucks
  • Length (m): 190
  • Beam (m): 32.2
  • Draft (m): 9.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 13,438
  • Gross tonnage: 17,502
  • Main engine/Power (kW): 12.8
  • Built: October 1977
  • Recycled: Green recycling 2011
  • Builder: Hitatchi Zosen-Hiroshima Works, Innoshima, Japan
  • Charter: Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
  • Sister ship: Traviata (4)

TOSCA (4)

  • Owner: Wallenius Lines, Stockholm
  • Management: Wallenius Marine Singapore
  • Flag: SNG
  • Ship Type: PCTC
  • Capacity car (RT43): 5,700
  • Capacity car/trucks: 3,490 + 330 trucks
  • Length (m): 195.6
  • Beam (m): 31.7
  • Draft (m): 9.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 12,572
  • Gross tonnage: 16,883
  • Main engine/Power (kW): 15.3
  • Built: November 1978
  • Recycled: Recycled in China 2010
  • Builder: Nippon Kokan KK Tsu Shipyard, Japan
  • Charter: WWL
  • Sister ship: Aniara (2)

TRAVIATA (4)

 

  • Owner: Wallenius Lines
  • Management: Wallenius Marine
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: PCTC
  • Capacity car (RT43): 4,600
  • Capacity car/trucks: 2,460 cars + 360 trucks
  • Length (m): 190
  • Beam (m): 32.2
  • Draft (m): 9.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 13,380
  • Gross tonnage: 17,511
  • Main engine/Power (kW): 12.8
  • Built: December 1977
  • Recycled: Recycling 2012
  • Builder: Hitatchi Zosen – Hiroshima Works, Innoshima, Japan
  • Charter: Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
  • Sister ship: Rigoletto (6)

Ordered but sold before delivery:
Mont Royal
Mont Laurier
Mont Louis