March 12th 2003: SAMSUNG 1524. January 11th 2005: Originally to be named MAERSK DOVER. July 11th 2005: MAERSK DELFT. December 12th 2005: The MAERSK DELFT is expected to enter service on the Dover -Dunkerque route in mid-February. December 27th 2005: “Had her sea trials put back until early January and the crew are not due to fly out to Korea until the end of January. Don’t expect her to be appearing over the horizon until the end of February the earliest.” (Yahoo) February 20th 2006: Estimated arrival date at Dover. February 8th 2006: Had an incident when, off Oman, when approached by a number of small fast which were believed to be pirates. These vessel dispersed when the ferry proceeded to increase speed to 28 knots. February 13th 2006: According to Suez Canal daily traffic data, she transited the canal. She is likely to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday (17th) or Saturday (18th).
      Maiden arrival at Dover 20/02/06 © Ray Goodfellow
February 20th 2006: Maiden Arrival at Dover. The weather in the port was terrible with a NE Gale force 8. The rumoured sail by with the Maersk Dunkerque did not materialise due to the Dunkerque suffering technical problems.
 
© Fotoflite from the Stéphane Poulain Collection
“The reason that the sat equipment looks different is because the Delft's Sea Tel dome was blown off on the way from Korea.”
  
  
Dover © Nigel Thornton
February 22nd 2006: “Naming ceremony is in Dunkirk on Saturday 25th Feb and she is due in service on or before 5th March."
Dunkerque © Robert Fournier
February 27th 2006: Maiden commercial sailing Dunkerque - Dover, early owing to breakdown of MAERSK DUNKERQUE and withdrawal of NORTHERN MERCHANT.
 
Dover © Ray Goodfellow
March 11th 2006: Berthed at the cruise terminal, Dover. Believed mechanical problems (engine room computer control). March 12th 2006: Resumed service.
 
Dover © Ray Goodfellow
July 28th 2006: All 3 sisters running from 1200 today
 
Dover © Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)
October 2006: In service between Dover and Dunkerque. January 11th 2007: Departed for annual overhaul at the Scheldeport Dockyard, Vlissingen (Flushing), Netherlands.
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Vlissingen © Co de Vos
January 26th 2007: Departed the Scheldeport Dockyard, Vlissingen (Flushing), Netherlands for Dover. 29th January 2007: Technical problems with the Maersk Delft this evening.
The vessel inward bound for Dover had to drop anchor off the Eastern Entrance as a major power fault developed after a computer system crashed. The vessel was eventual towed to Number 1 berth by both the tugs
as a dead ship.
Dover © Ted Ingham
30th January 2007: Resumed service between Dover and Dunkerque.
 
Dover © Ray Goodfellow
20th February 2008: Returned from annual overhaul at ARNO, Dunkerque sporting the new Norfolk Line . com livery.
  Dunkerque © Andreas Wörteler
March 2008: Passenger certificate raised to 1000. January 12th 2009: To ARNO Dunkerque for refit.
 ARNO Dunkerque © Robert Fournier
January 21st 2009: Resumed service. 17th December 2009: Following months of speculation it was announced that DFDS A/S had acquired Norfolkline from A. P. Moller - Maersk for EUR 346 million subject to regulatory approval. January 11th - January 16th 2010: Refit at ARNO, Dunkerque January 17th 2010: Resumed service. 17th June 2010: DFDS' acquisition of Norfolk Line was approved by the European Commission.
  
Rebranding of the Maersk Delft underway 4/07/10 © Ed Connell (Ships in the Port of Dover)
July 3rd 2010: Re-branding commenced. The shipping side will be known as DFDS Seaways and the trailer business will become DFDS Logistics. The ships will have a dark blue hull with DFDS Seaways emblazoned on the side, white superstructure, and a dark blue funnel with the DFDS white Maltese Cross in a circle. The ships will be renamed DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS, DELFT SEAWAYS and DOVER SEAWAYS in due course.
 
Dunkerque © Andreas Wörteler
August 3rd 2010: Renamed `Delft Seaways' and DFDS funnel markings applied whilst alongside in the port of Dunkerque.
  
Dunkerque © Ed Connell (Ships in the Port of Dover)
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Dunkerque © Paul van Luik (www.shipsoffterneuzen.nl) | 
Technical Data
History
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