NATALIA A (2018, San Marino) AKRAFELL (2010, Malta) PEGASUS (2008) ALIANCA PACIFICO (2006) MAERSK SAN JUAN (2004) INGER C (2002) ARKTIS STAR (2001) INGER_C (1997)
MACUBA until 2013 Mar MANX LION until 2011 Jan ARA J until 2007 Oct SAFMARINE ITALIA until 2002 Feb SCL ITALIA until 2000 Oct SCHWERIN until 1998 Jun ARA J until 1998 Apr
MEHMET KAHVECI A is a Turkish-flagged geared feeder containership built in Germany in 2002 and operated by Arkas Line. The vessel joined the Arkas fleet in September 2015 after an earlier career under the names TAURUS J, MAERSK ROSTOCK and DELMAS LISBOA. With a capacity of about 1,201 TEU, two cargo cranes and 289 reefer connections, she is representative of the versatile European-built feeder containerships designed for regional services where shore-side container-handling infrastructure may be limited.
The ship was completed at Peene-Werft in Wolgast, Germany, in November 2002. She measures approximately 154.6 metres in length and 24.5 metres in beam, with a gross tonnage of 14,062 GT and deadweight of approximately 18,832 tonnes. Arkas lists a summer draught of 9.5 metres and a nominal container capacity of 1,201 TEU, of which 476 TEU can be carried in the holds and 725 TEU on deck.
Vessel Details
Name: MEHMET KAHVECI A IMO: 9248916 MMSI: 271044302 Call Sign: TCA3738 Type: Geared Container Ship / Feeder Flag: Türkiye Port of Registry: Izmir Built: 2002 Completed: November 2002 Builder: Peene-Werft GmbH, Wolgast, Germany Yard Number: 501 Operator: Arkas Line Registered Owner: Arkas interests Length Overall: 154.60 m Beam: 24.50 m Summer Draught: 9.50 m Gross Tonnage: 14,062 GT Net Tonnage: 5,525–5,879 NT depending on source/measurement record Deadweight: approx. 18,832 t Container Capacity: 1,201 TEU 14-ton Homogeneous Capacity: 939 TEU Reefer Plugs: 289 Cargo Holds: 4 Cargo Gear: 2 × Liebherr cranes, SWL 45/40 t Main Engine: MAN B&W 7S50MC-C Service Speed: approx. 18.5 knots Operating Status: Active
History
The vessel was completed in November 2002 and initially carried the name TAURUS J. Shortly afterwards she entered charter service as MAERSK ROSTOCK, retaining that name until early 2007. She then became DELMAS LISBOA, before returning to the original TAURUS J name in January 2010.
Her most important ownership change came in 2015. Arkas Line took delivery of the former TAURUS J at Malta on 8 September 2015 and renamed her MEHMET KAHVECI A. Arkas described the acquisition as its 44th vessel and its ninth ship purchase during 2015. The company initially assigned her to a North African service alongside Kaptan Aytac A.
The ship has retained the MEHMET KAHVECI A name and Turkish flag ever since and remains active with Arkas Line in 2026. Current AIS data continues to show MMSI 271044302 and call sign TCA3738.
Piraeus Connection
MEHMET KAHVECI A has a particularly clear connection with Piraeus through Arkas Line's Mediterranean feeder network. She was photographed at Drapetsona Bay on 9 July 2018, already carrying her present Turkish identity and Arkas colours.
The connection continues today: port-state-control and AIS records show another Piraeus call in May 2026, demonstrating that she remains a visitor to the port more than ten years after joining Arkas.
PiraeuShips Record
MEHMET KAHVECI A was recorded at Piraeus by PiraeuShips after her acquisition by Arkas Line and renaming from TAURUS J. Her appearance in the archive documents the Turkish period of a German-built feeder containership that has served under several major liner identities, including MAERSK ROSTOCK and DELMAS LISBOA, before beginning a long second career with Arkas.
