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Mv Ailsa Princess

ex Earl Harold, Dimitri, Naias Express, Express Adonis, New Caribbean

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Steel twin screw motor vessel, built by Ansaldo & Co, Genoa at Cantieri Navale, Breda, Venice in 1971 (Yard No. 272) for Sealink U.K. Ltd., as a passenger Roll-on roll-off car and commercial vehicle ferry. She was registered in London engined by Pielstick- Crossley and launched November 28^th, 1970.

Technical Data

Length

112.6 m (1970), 115.54m (1990)

Breadth of hull

17.45 m (57. ft )(extreme), 16.76m (55.0 ft) (moulded)

Draught

3.66 m (max)(1970), 4.0m (1990)

Tonnage

6,177 gross (1990), 2,047 (1990), 913 deadweight (1970), 894 (1990)

Engines

Two Pielstick/Crossley Premier SEMT 16PC2Vdiesels.

Power

10710 kW

Speed

19.5 knots (service), 20.7 knots (max)

Capacity

1,200 passengers and 190 cars (1970), 1,800 passengers, 190 cars (1990)

Call sign

GOVA (1971 - 2006), 3EEE (as at 2006)

IMO Number

7038379

Registry

N/A Scrapped

History

November 28th 1970: Launched.

June 22nd 1971: Delivered to British Transport Ship Management (Scotland) Ltd., London and registered to Carpass (Shipping) Ltd., London, England.

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June 27th 1971: Departed Venice.

July 7th 1971: Introduced for Sealink between Stranraer - Larne.

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July 9th 1971: Off service with engine problems and required minor bow-door modifications

1973: Sealink trading name painted on hulls

March 31st 1975 - April 26th 1975: Winter refit.

December 4th 1975: Operated , for a short time, between Adrossan - Larne.

March 20th 1979: Arrived at Holyhead for dry-docking.

April 10th 1979: Left dry-dock and resumed service.

February 11th 1980: Arrived Holyhead for refit.

May 31st and June 2nd 1980: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

February 11th and March 11th 1982: Heysham - Douglas.

March 1982: Alterations, including extra lounge accommodation on the promenade deck and a duty free shop, also engines were converted to burn heavy grade fuel. The work was carried out by Smith’s Dock & co at Middlesbrough an cost £280,000. One other small change was the painting out of the long extensions to the Rails emblem on her funnel.

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February 17th 1982: Taken over at Middlesbrough by a crew from Weymouth.

March 27th 1982: Arrived at Weymouth.

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March 31st 1982: Trial trip to Cherbourg.

April 2nd 1982 - October 1982: Following modifications operated Weymouth - Cherbourg.

1982 @ Boulogne, Roy Thornton Collection

October 2nd 1982 until October 19th 1982: Operated between Folkstone - Boulogne covering refits to HENGIST and HORSA. During this period she was unable to use her bow door.

October 21st - November 10th 1982: Moved to Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire, also as cover.

November 16th 1982 - November 26th 1982: Chartered to The Ministry of Defence, rebuilt at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, to test feasibility of using ferries as minelayers!

January 1983: Reverted to her ferry role and covered between Folkstone - Boulogne, then returning to Weymouth - Cherbourg.

January 2nd 1984 - February 23rd 1984: She was back at Folkestone, when she relieved HENGIST.

July 1984: Sealink U.K. was sold to Sea Containers Ltd, Bermuda for just £66 million. The company then operated under the company name of Sealink British Ferries U.K., and a subsidiary company British Ferries Ltd was set up

October 8th 1984: Berthing trials at St Helier. Then converted for her new “Sunliner” role.

April 23rd 1985: Weymouth -Jersey/Guernsey service.

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May 24th 1985: Renamed EARL HAROLD.

June 26th 1985: Bomb hoax disrupted sailings, covered for EARL GODWIN, the victim of the hoax.

1985: Back in the English Channel covering for HENGIST and HORSA whilst they were away for refits. She then returned to Weymouth.

September 28th 1985: Finished service at Weymouth and planned transfer to Stranraer to release ANTRIM PRINCESS to go on charter to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Not transferred and continued to maintain Weymouth - Channel Islands.

Belfast 08/03/1986 © Alan Geddes

1986: Painted in British Ferries livery

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October 1986: Strike-bound in Portsmouth over planned merger with Channel Island Ferries. Then moved to Weymouth where strike (lasting ten days) continued. Eventually resumed Weymouth - Cherbourg service.

March 16th 1987: Dry-docked and overhauled at Immingham by Humber Ship Repairers. Reverted to Sealink British Ferries livery.

April 2nd 1987: Departed Humber. Resumed Weymouth - Cherbourg.

October 1987: Sent to Fishguard - Rosslare service to cover for ST BRENDAN (engine failure)

1988: Continued to operate Weymouth - Cherbourg sailings

February 11th 1988: Covered Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire for three days , then relief duties Stranraer - Larne until end of March, whereupon returned Weymouth - Cherbourg.

October 1988: Speculation vessel to be used as a stop-gap to open a Southampton - Cherbourg freight service.

December 1988: Stranraer - Larne.

April 1989: Chartered to B&I Line, and introduced between Pembroke Dock - Rosslare. She was re-registered under the Bahamas flag, home port being Nassau.

October 28th 1989 (12.00 hrs): Re-delivered to Sealink at Falmouth and repainted in Sealink British Ferries livery.

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November 14th 1989: Sold to Aktoploiki Maritime, Piraeus, Greece.

December 2nd 1989: Left Falmouth for Greece, renamed DIMITRA.

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1990: Received various new additions to her super-structure and was used by GA Ferries for various routes including Piraeus - Syros - Tinos - Mykonos - Paros - Naxos - Amorgos - Astipalea - Ikaria - Samos.

November 1994: Sold to Agapitos Line, Piraeus, Greece and renamed NAIAS EXPRESS then operating between Piraeus - Syros - Tinos - Mykonos - Paros - Naxos - Heraklia - Schinousses - Koufonissia.

2000: Agapitos Line taken over by Minoan Flying Dolphins, Piraeus, Greece and this time she was renamed EXPRESS ADONIS.

November 16th 2003: Damaged as a result of a mooring line breaking under strain while engaged on the Alonnisos - Skopelos - Skiathos - Volos route in Greece. At 1740 on the 2nd of November while tied up at Alonnisos harbour the port aft mooring line broke due to strong winds causing the EXPRESS ADONIS to hit the port's breakwater. There was no ingress of water but there was damage to the starboard propeller. There were no injuries among the crew or the 22 passengers aboard. After inspection the ship was escorted to her next and final port of call at Volos by two Greek Coast Guard landing craft. After disembarking her cargo the EXPRESS ADONIS was detained in port to allow a full damage survey to be carried out and the appropriate repairs to be made. (Larne Ferry Web)

January 2005: Transferred to Hellenic Seaways, Piraeus

2005: Laid up in Piraeus, pending sale.

October 28th 2005: Being stripped, awaiting disposal.

December 2005: Sold to GUPTA G, 6090, Strathmore Drive, Rockford Il USA.

January 21st 2006: Renamed NEW CARIBBEAN PRINCESS (Panamanian flag).

February 2006: Towed to Drapetsona.

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All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions found. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Terry Conybeare, Aubrey Dale, Brian Fisher, Alan Geddes, Ton Grootenboer and Christophe Podlouky for their assistance in compiling this feature.