Scrapping of Finnjet advances at fast pace in India

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By Jukka Perttu
     
      The dismantling of the former Finnish passenger ship, the Finnjet, is proceeding at full speed in Alang, on the west coast of India.
      A quarter of the ship has already been dismantled, and nearly half of the scrap material has been sold. Buyers are after iron, aluminium, and various equipment.
      Local merchants are pleased to take furnishings, such as beds, as well as radar and navigation equipment, in addition to life preservers and lifeboats.
     
About 100 men spend eight ours a day to chop the vessel into peaces.
      Moveable effects have already been taken out of the vessel.
      Detached pieces are dragged to the shore by winch, and are reduced to smaller pieces with a cutting torch.
      The work at one of the world’s largest scrapyards began in September. Now it appears that it will take another eight months to finish the job.
     
The current economic climate does not favour Rishi Ship Breakers, which paid EUR 7 million for the Finnjet.
      The value of scrap metal has plummeted so fast that the company is believed to have sustained millions of euros in losses in the wake of the deal.
     
When it was built in 1977, the Finnjet was the largest and fastest car ferry of its time, and the pride of Finland, as it sailed between Helsinki and the West German port of Travemünde.
      The service to Travemünde was closed down in the late 1990s, and the vessel was moved to various routes, including service from Helsinki to Tallinn, and Rostock.
      In 2005 the Finnjet became a residential ship. In its final years it changed ownership, and names, many times.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 2.1..2009


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Indian daily: Scrapping of Finnjet to commence on Thursday (19.6.2008)
  Yet more offers made to rescue Finnjet from being scrapped (5.6.2008)
  Finnjet houses Katrina evacuees (12.12.2005)

JUKKA PERTTU / Helsingin Sanomat
jukka.perttu@hs.fi