Once celebrated by thousands of Tasmanians when it arrived on our shores in 1985, the time has come for the former Abel Tasman ferry to make its final journey.
News outlets in Greece — where the ship has been moored since 2015 — have reported the ferry, now called Theofilos, is on its way to Turkey to be demolished for scrap metal.
When the TT-line's new commercial ferry, German-built Abel Tasman, arrived in Devonport, Tasmania, in 1985, it received a hero's welcome.
"It was such a huge leap forward from its predecessor," said Mitchell Bruce, creator of the Ferries in Tasmania website.
The Abel Tasman replaced the Empress of Australia, which used to provide three crossings per fortnight between Tasmania and the mainland.
It also marked the beginning of the corporation TT-Line operating ferry services across the Bass Strait.
The Abel Tasman increased the crossings to six weekly overnight crossings between Devonport and Melbourne, with passenger numbers surpassing expectations.
This ship maintained the service until 1993, when it was replaced by the much larger Spirit of Tasmania.
Once providing a link to the mainland for many Tasmanians and visitors or new residents, news of the ferry's final voyage stirred up nostalgia for readers of the ABC Hobart Facebook page.
School trips to Tasmania, moving states, band tours and even a proposal mid-journey — Tasmanians shared their memories with us of the Abel Tasman during its heyday.
"Played aboard with my band Wild Pumpkins at Midnight in exchange for our fares to Melbourne on our first mainland tour in 1986… there was lots of rolling, and we couldn't stand to play double bass!" Michael Turner said.
"We sailed back on it after being caught in Queensland when Ansett collapsed," Anne Mitchell said.
"The boat was full with people sleeping everywhere — even on the floor of the main public area — not a square inch of space left!"
Accident prone
In 1990, the Tasmanian government announced the Abel Tasman would be replaced by a larger ferry, Peter Pan, which was renamed The Spirit of Tasmania.
The Abel Tasman was later sold to a Greek shipping company called Ventouris Ferries in 1994, leaving Tasmania for the last time.
Over the course of the ship's life in Greece, it was plagued by mechanical troubles and changes in service across the Greek island's domestic routes.
In 1995, the ship crashed into the Greek port of Chios after a mechanical failure meant it entered the port at full speed, crushing a car and causing significant damage.
In 2008, the ship struck a reef while operating between Piraeus to Chios, causing flood damage to parts of the ship.
When Mitchell Bruce heard the Abel Tasman was leaving Greece to be scrapped in Turkey, he had mixed feelings.
Mitchell said he was told by contacts in Greece that there was hope that the ship would be purchased and upgraded, but due to the cost that hope faded quickly.
The pang of nostalgia
The Abel Tasman hasn't been in Tasmanian waters for more than 30 years, but it's clear the ship's mark on Tasmania was significant.
One Tasmanian recalled sailing on the ship while she was in Greece in 2000, only realising when she was aboard.
Mitchell Bruce said while the ship will no longer sail the waters of Europe, it will forever be part of Tasmania's rich shipping history.
"It was really viewed as something special."
