Ships Monthly

SUPERFLEXERS SAIL ON

Russell Plummer follows the careers of 15 vessels from a large and distinctive series built from the late 1980s.

Well over three decades have passed since Superflex Alfa, completed in August 1987, became the first of a series of passenger/vehicle ferries delivered to Danish owners from the Sunderland yards of North East Shipbuilders, which had been created in 1986 by an amalgamation of Austin and Pickersgill Ltd from Southwick and Pallion-based Sunderland Shipbuilders.

The lead vessel of 15, all but one of which was built on Wearside, the 4,101gt double-ender, now named , is still operating, chartered to Gozo Channel Line for service between Mgarr, Gozo and Cirkewwa, Malta. Other later sisters remain active on routes in places as diverse as the Øresund, Adriatic, Mediterranean, Mexico, the Caribbean and

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