My first freighter travel on a coaster in 1968. The ship can be seen on the picture below the old high bridge Kiel-Levensau (1893-95) in the Kiel-Canal. My older brother, a seaman by profession, took me on 27.12.1968 for one week on his former ship, the MARIANNE, IMO 6730009.
My first adventure.
The ship was one of many (AREND, MATHILDE etc) of this type built by JJ Sietas in Neuenfelde. It was 61.2 m long and 10.5 m wide. On 28.12.1993 it is said to have sunk in the Bay of Biscay under the name Nadia.

History of the Vega Shipping Company (english)

Historical picture (english)

Continued as NADIA (english)

Ship pictures (also historical) (english)