Caballo Azteca
IMO : 8624395
Build : 1987 by Khersonsky Sudostroitelnyy Zavod – Kherson in Ukraine, nr 5002 as Aleksey Chirikov
Another tip from Alex S. lead me to this vessel, a former Russian general cargo vessel with severe icebreaking capabilities. To start of at the beginning: see below pictures of her sistership Vasiliy Golovnin (IMO: 8723426) to give you an impression how she looked originally.
And I think we can safely assume that these sisters are not the most elegant, or even beautiful ships in the world..very rugged, I give them that but far from pleasing to the eye.
And somewhere in the past the ex-Aleksey Chirikov has fallen victim to a modification frenzy by a ruthless shipowner which resulted in the present appearance of said vessel. Which, frankly: looks a mess and quite ugly.
She is now flying the Mexican flag and serving the offshore oil industry, not really doing them a favor with her looks though!
Thanks again Alex!!
