Built as the Dawn Merchant for Cenargo International Ltd in 1998 and was launched in February 1998, that same year she was chartered to Und RORO for service in Turkey.

In 2005 she transferred back to Norse Merchant Ferries and was sold to Daybreak Shipping Ltd, where she was renamed the Europax Appia.

[citation needed] On 28 October, Stena Alegra was driven ashore at Karlskrona during the St Jude storm.

[4] During the charter, she suffered several mechanical problems, including an engine failure in Wellington Harbour, a six-metre gash in the hull during berthing difficulties, and the loss of part of a propeller blade, though she was repaired and put back into service shortly after these incidents.

[8] On 23 December 2024, the Kaiarahi experienced a temperature fault related to its lubrication pump while sailing from Wellington to Picton.