M v Maersk Dunkerque

© Ray Goodfellow 

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 2005 by Samsung Heavy Industries, Geoje Korea (Yard No #1523) for Norfolk Line . Launched December 29^th 2004.

D i m e n s i o n s / T e c h n i c a l  D a t a

Registry - Dover, United Kingdom

IMO Number - 9293076

Length - 186m

Breadth of hull - 28.4m

Draught - 6.75m (design)

Tonnage - 34,500 gross

10,300 net

6,160 deadweight

Engines - 4 x MAN B & W 8L48/60B diesels

Power/Propellers - 9600 kW each/2

Bow Thrusters - 3 x 1800 kW

Stern Thruster - 1 x 1800 kW

Speed - 25 knots

Capacity - 780 passengers, 200 cars and up to 120 freight vehicles

Lane Metres - 2,000 (design)

Lane Width - 3.3m

Crew - 70

Number of Decks - 2 trailer decks total 200m

1 car deck of 990m

Call Sign - MJTL2

Sister Ships: Maersk Delft, Maersk Dover

H i s t o r y / R e m a r k s 

May 12^th 2003: SAMSUNG 1523

December 29^th 2004: Launched.

January 11^th 2005: MAERSK DUNKERQUE.

September 27^th 2005: Delivered from the Samsung Shipyard to Norfolkline Shipping B.V.

October 15^th 2005: Passed through the Suez Canal.

October 22^nd 2005: Inaugural arrival in Dover.

Maiden arrival at Dover 22/10/05. © Ray Goodfellow

October 24^th 2005: Left Dover for Dunkerque.

October 24^th 2005: First arrival at Dunkerque (trials?).

        October 28^th 2005: Officially named in Dunkerque. Mrs. Anja Visbeen, accompanied by her husband, Adrie Visbeen, Director and owner of Visbeen Transport Group, honoured Norfolkline by naming the new building MAERSK DUNKERQUE.

November 2005: Deployed on Dover-Dunkerque service. The second and third vessels, MAERSK DELFT and MAERSK DOVER are due to commence service in January and July 2006 respectively.

January 12^th 2006: “My informant at Dover tells me that the Maersk Dunkerque is broken
down and is lying on the Eastern Arm this morning. Her 1000 sailing was cancelled. An oil leak is given as the cause.” (DoverFerries message #4272)

February 18^th 2006: “…had engine problems at 2200 last night four miles off Dover. The Emergency Coastguard Tug ANGLIAN MONARCH stood by until the ship had sorted its problems out.” (DoverFerries message #4350)

February 20^th 2006: Again suffered engine problems consequently a proposed “sail by” (rumour) of the newly arrived MAERSK DELFT at Dover, was cancelled. Spent the day in berth 2 at Dover.

ARNO Dunkerque 1/3/06. © Robert Fournier

February 27^th 2006: To ARNO's Dunkerque for her first routine annual hull inspection and repairs to the oil leak. The local (Dover) engineering firm Burgess undertook the work for Norfolk Line to repair the vessel.

March 4^th 2006: Left Dunkerque East, seen heading north.

March 4^th 2006: (1130) Arrived in Zeebrugge (berth 110 for berthing trials)

March 4^th 2006: (1630) Departed for Dunkerque West

March 5^th 2006: Resumed commercial sailings.

March 8^th 2006: Sailed to Botlek, Rotterdam (reason unknown). It is said she has a cracked “sea chest.”

March 11^th 2006: “She was supposed to leave Friday but there are still some problems. Due to leave tonight around 02.30.The Pilot is already ordered.”

© Nigel Thornton

March 12^th 2006: Resumed commercial service.

July 25^th 2006: Berthed at Cruise terminal 2 for maintenance.

© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

July 28th 2006: All 3 sisters running from 1200 today.

4th September 2006: Maersk Dunkerque suffering from engine problems required the assistance of DHB Doughty.

© Ray Goodfellow

24th December 2006: Proceeded to the Scheldeport Dockyard, Vlissingen (Flushing), Netherlands for a scheduled dry docking.

 8th January: Departed the Scheldeport Dockyard at 16:00 local time bound for Dunkerque.

Maersk Dunkerque pictured in and departing the Scheldeport Dockyard, Vlissingen, Holland. © Co de Vos

11th January 2007: Resumed service from Dover to Dunkerque.

2008: Returned from annual overhaul at ARNO, Dunkerque sporting the new Norfolk Line . com livery.

© Nigel Thornton

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