MS Stena Fantasia
Encyclopedia
MS Stena Fantasia is a ferry launched in 1979 as the Scandinavia . She spent a large part of her career serving the Dover
-Calais
cross channel ferry route with successive operators. She is currently in service with Polferries
as the Wawel.
for services in the Eastern Mediterranean. She was launched at the Kockums
Varv AB shipyard in Malmö
, Sweden on 1 December 1979 and delivered to Rederi AB Nordö on 17 March 1980, opening a service between Koper, Yugoslavia
and Tartous
, Syria
in April 1980. On 7 June 1980, the Scandinavias sister ship, Zenobia capsized on her maiden voyage roughly 2 km away from Larnaca
, Cyprus
, this precipitated the end of Rederi's Yugoslavia to Syria service . In April 1982 the two remaining vessels Scandinavia and her sister Ariadne were sold to Bulgaria
n So Mejdunaroden Automobile Transport (SOMAT)
and the Scandinavia was renamed Tzarevetz . Under SOMAT ownership, the Tzarevetz was operated using the MedLink brand running trans-Mediterranean services until 1984 when she was chartered back to Rederi AB to run a service between Greece
and Italy
. A further charter in 1987 saw her transfer first to the Baltic Sea
, and then later in 1988 a brief charter running a service in the North Sea
for DFDS
. In November 1988, both the Tzarvetz and her sister, which had been renamed Trapezitza were sold to Sealink British Ferries
.
she was renamed to Fiesta and undertook some charter work in Africa. After only a few trips, the Fiestas crew resigned due to worries over piracy near Lagos
, Nigeria
and she was consequently laid up in the Fal
. Sealink
eventually decided to use the two vessels, in a pooling agreement with SNCF
to provide a joint service running between Dover
and Calais
. As a result of this decision, the Fiesta and her sister, now named Fantasia were sent to Lloyd Werft
, Bremerhaven
in June 1989 to be converted from freight carriers to passenger carriers . As part of the pooling agreement, the Fantasia was to be given to SNCF
, as a result of this, whilst at Bremerhaven, the two vessels swapped names . The Fantasia returned to Dover on 8 March 1990, her owners had in the meantime been acquired by Stena Line
. The joint services were renamed initially to Sealink Stena Line
, under the new branding, in October 1990 it was announced that the Fantasia would become the Stena Fantasia .
In December 1990 she was sent to A&P Appledore
for a major overhaul following maneuverability issues and bow visor problems at Calais on 2 December, returning just after Christmas
with her new name . Ongoing maneuverability issues resulted in a starboard hole following her spending 8 hrs pinned against the mooring quay in Dover during bad weather on 8 January 1991. She was sent to Rotterdam
for repairs and at the same time her stern was adjusted to make it compatible with the docks at Calais . The maneuverability issues were not finally fixed until a further refit in Gothenburg
beginning 6 November 1991 returning to Dover-Calais service in December 1991.
In 1993, the Stena Fantasia became the first cross-channel ferry to carry a McDonalds restaurant, having been installed during a refit at Bremerhaven that year . In July 1995 SNCF
announced their intention to withdraw from the pooling agreement which had been set up in 1989 to operate a new service under the name of SeaFrance
from 1996. As a result of this, Stena Sealink Line
dropped the 'Sealink' to become Stena Line
as of 31 December 1995. The Stena Fantasia continued service with Stena Line
and transferred on 10 March 1998 to the newly formed joint venture of P&O Stena Line
with the merger of P&O European Ferries
and Stena Line
s eastern channel routes . As a result of this change, and the new companies attempt to merge the two fleets, the P&O Stena 'Brand World' was rolled out across the fleet, this included the renaming of all vessels in the new fleet, Stena Fantasia consequently became P&OSL Canterbury during her December 1998 refit .
Under P&O Stena Line
P&OSL Canterbury continued the Dover
-Calais
route, on 11 August 1999 she was hired out on charter to the Daily Mail
to enable passengers to view the European Solar Eclipse . This era was not without fault, with further bow door problems in April 2000 and flooding of a machine room in May 2001 causing her to be taken out of service for repairs both times . In October 2002, P&O
bought Stena Lines' 40% share in P&O Stena Line
and the vessel was speedily renamed PO Canterbury, then returning after her winter refit as the Pride of Canterbury for a short service in Spring 2003 . In Mid-May 2003, Pride of Canterbury was laid up in Dunkirk awaiting disposal, thus ending her 13 year career on the Dover
-Calais
route . She was sold to GA Ferries of Greece
in October 2003 but did not depart until March 2004 .
, Greece
and Brindisi
, Italy
from June 2004 , this however was not to last and in September 2004 the Alkmini A was sold to Polferries
and transferred to the Baltic Sea
as the Wawel operating a route from 15 February 2005 between Swinoujscie
, Poland
and Ystad
, Sweden
. In October 2008 she was chartered to DFDS
to continue this route, both DFDS
and Polferries
now operate this route in collaboration .
, Cyprus
on 7 June 1980.
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
-Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
cross channel ferry route with successive operators. She is currently in service with Polferries
Polferries
Polferries is the largest Polish ferry operator.The Polish Baltic Shipping Company was established on 31 January 1976 as a state-owned shipping company. Under the operating name Polferries, the company runs ferry routes across the Baltic Sea between Poland and Scandinavia.In 1996 Polferries...
as the Wawel.
Early years
The Stena Fantasia started life as the Scandinavia, ordered by and for Rederi AB Nordö, MalmöMalmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
for services in the Eastern Mediterranean. She was launched at the Kockums
Kockums
Kockums AB is a shipyard in Malmö, Sweden owned by the German shipyard Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel. HDW itself is a subsidiary of the German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems....
Varv AB shipyard in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden on 1 December 1979 and delivered to Rederi AB Nordö on 17 March 1980, opening a service between Koper, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Tartous
Tartous
Tartus is a city on the Mediterranean coast of Syria. Tartus is the second largest port city in Syria , and the largest city in Tartus Governorate. The population size is 98,000 .- Geography and climate :...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
in April 1980. On 7 June 1980, the Scandinavias sister ship, Zenobia capsized on her maiden voyage roughly 2 km away from Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, this precipitated the end of Rederi's Yugoslavia to Syria service . In April 1982 the two remaining vessels Scandinavia and her sister Ariadne were sold to Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n So Mejdunaroden Automobile Transport (SOMAT)
Šomat
Šomat is a settlement in the Slovenske gorice hills in the Šentilj Municipality in northeastern Slovenia.-External links:*...
and the Scandinavia was renamed Tzarevetz . Under SOMAT ownership, the Tzarevetz was operated using the MedLink brand running trans-Mediterranean services until 1984 when she was chartered back to Rederi AB to run a service between Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. A further charter in 1987 saw her transfer first to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, and then later in 1988 a brief charter running a service in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
for DFDS
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
. In November 1988, both the Tzarvetz and her sister, which had been renamed Trapezitza were sold to Sealink British Ferries
Sealink
Sealink was a ferry company based in the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1984, operating services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Channel Islands, Isle of Wight and Ireland....
.
Sealink to Stena
Following the purchase by Sealink British FerriesSealink
Sealink was a ferry company based in the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1984, operating services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Channel Islands, Isle of Wight and Ireland....
she was renamed to Fiesta and undertook some charter work in Africa. After only a few trips, the Fiestas crew resigned due to worries over piracy near Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and she was consequently laid up in the Fal
River Fal
The River Fal flows through Cornwall, United Kingdom, rising on the Goss Moor and reaching the English Channel at Falmouth. On or near the banks of the Fal are the castles of Pendennis and St Mawes as well as Trelissick Garden. The River Fal separates the Roseland peninsula from the rest of...
. Sealink
Sealink
Sealink was a ferry company based in the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1984, operating services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Channel Islands, Isle of Wight and Ireland....
eventually decided to use the two vessels, in a pooling agreement with SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
to provide a joint service running between Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
and Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
. As a result of this decision, the Fiesta and her sister, now named Fantasia were sent to Lloyd Werft
Lloyd Werft
Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven GmbH is a dockyard in Bremerhaven, established in 1857 by Norddeutscher Lloyd. The yard employs 500 workers in an area of 260. 000 m². Ships with a draught down to 11,5 m can be accommodated.-External links:* website...
, Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the free city-state of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms an enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the River Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham...
in June 1989 to be converted from freight carriers to passenger carriers . As part of the pooling agreement, the Fantasia was to be given to SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
, as a result of this, whilst at Bremerhaven, the two vessels swapped names . The Fantasia returned to Dover on 8 March 1990, her owners had in the meantime been acquired by Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
. The joint services were renamed initially to Sealink Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
, under the new branding, in October 1990 it was announced that the Fantasia would become the Stena Fantasia .
In December 1990 she was sent to A&P Appledore
A&P Group
A&P Group Ltd is the largest ship repair and conversion company in the UK, with three shipyards located in Hebburn, Middlesbrough and Falmouth. The Company undertakes a wide variety of maintenance and repair work on commercial and military ships with projects ranging from a two day alongside repair...
for a major overhaul following maneuverability issues and bow visor problems at Calais on 2 December, returning just after Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
with her new name . Ongoing maneuverability issues resulted in a starboard hole following her spending 8 hrs pinned against the mooring quay in Dover during bad weather on 8 January 1991. She was sent to Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
for repairs and at the same time her stern was adjusted to make it compatible with the docks at Calais . The maneuverability issues were not finally fixed until a further refit in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
beginning 6 November 1991 returning to Dover-Calais service in December 1991.
In 1993, the Stena Fantasia became the first cross-channel ferry to carry a McDonalds restaurant, having been installed during a refit at Bremerhaven that year . In July 1995 SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
announced their intention to withdraw from the pooling agreement which had been set up in 1989 to operate a new service under the name of SeaFrance
SeaFrance
SeaFrance is a ferry company based in France that operates ferry services between Calais, France, and Dover, England.SeaFrance is 100% owned by the French railways, SNCF....
from 1996. As a result of this, Stena Sealink Line
Sealink
Sealink was a ferry company based in the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1984, operating services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Channel Islands, Isle of Wight and Ireland....
dropped the 'Sealink' to become Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
as of 31 December 1995. The Stena Fantasia continued service with Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
and transferred on 10 March 1998 to the newly formed joint venture of P&O Stena Line
P&O Stena Line
P&O Stena Line was formed in 1998 after the merger of P&O European Ferries Ltd and the Dover and Newhaven operations of Stena Line.-History:...
with the merger of P&O European Ferries
P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries is the current name for the amalgamation of a range of ferry services that operated from the United Kingdom to Ireland and Continental Europe...
and Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
s eastern channel routes . As a result of this change, and the new companies attempt to merge the two fleets, the P&O Stena 'Brand World' was rolled out across the fleet, this included the renaming of all vessels in the new fleet, Stena Fantasia consequently became P&OSL Canterbury during her December 1998 refit .
Under P&O Stena Line
P&O Stena Line
P&O Stena Line was formed in 1998 after the merger of P&O European Ferries Ltd and the Dover and Newhaven operations of Stena Line.-History:...
P&OSL Canterbury continued the Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
-Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
route, on 11 August 1999 she was hired out on charter to the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
to enable passengers to view the European Solar Eclipse . This era was not without fault, with further bow door problems in April 2000 and flooding of a machine room in May 2001 causing her to be taken out of service for repairs both times . In October 2002, P&O
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
bought Stena Lines' 40% share in P&O Stena Line
P&O Stena Line
P&O Stena Line was formed in 1998 after the merger of P&O European Ferries Ltd and the Dover and Newhaven operations of Stena Line.-History:...
and the vessel was speedily renamed PO Canterbury, then returning after her winter refit as the Pride of Canterbury for a short service in Spring 2003 . In Mid-May 2003, Pride of Canterbury was laid up in Dunkirk awaiting disposal, thus ending her 13 year career on the Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
-Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
route . She was sold to GA Ferries of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in October 2003 but did not depart until March 2004 .
Post P&O
In March 2004, the new owners GA Ferries renamed the vessel to Alkmini A, operating a service between IgoumenitsaIgoumenitsa
Igoumenitsa , is a coastal city in northwestern Greece. It is the capital of the regional unit Thesprotia. Its original ancient name used to be Titani....
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
from June 2004 , this however was not to last and in September 2004 the Alkmini A was sold to Polferries
Polferries
Polferries is the largest Polish ferry operator.The Polish Baltic Shipping Company was established on 31 January 1976 as a state-owned shipping company. Under the operating name Polferries, the company runs ferry routes across the Baltic Sea between Poland and Scandinavia.In 1996 Polferries...
and transferred to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
as the Wawel operating a route from 15 February 2005 between Swinoujscie
Swinoujscie
Świnoujście is a city and seaport on the Baltic Sea and Szczecin Lagoon, located in the extreme north-west of Poland. It is situated mainly on the islands of Uznam and Wolin, but also occupies smaller islands, of which the largest is Karsibór island, once part of Usedom, now separated by a Piast...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Ystad
Ystad
Ystad is a "locality", or town, and the seat of Ystad Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden, with 17,286 inhabitants .Settlement dates back to the 11th century and the town has become a busy ferryport, local administrative centre and tourist attraction...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. In October 2008 she was chartered to DFDS
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
to continue this route, both DFDS
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
and Polferries
Polferries
Polferries is the largest Polish ferry operator.The Polish Baltic Shipping Company was established on 31 January 1976 as a state-owned shipping company. Under the operating name Polferries, the company runs ferry routes across the Baltic Sea between Poland and Scandinavia.In 1996 Polferries...
now operate this route in collaboration .
Sister Ships
The Stena Fantasia has two sister ships; - Currently laid up - Capsized outside LarnacaLarnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
on 7 June 1980.