Roy Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw motor vessel, built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast (Yard No. 1715), for Sealink U.K. in 1980 as a passenger and roll-on roll-off car and commercial vehicle ferry. Engined by Crossley-Pielstick. Launched 5th, December 1979.

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

Registry - London (1979 - 1999), S.C. De Tenerife (1999 - )

IMO Number - 7813937

Registry - Santa Cruz De Tenerife (current 2005)

Length on deck - 129.40 m (overall)

120.70 m (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 21.00 m (moulded)

Depth to ‘B’ deck - 13.20 m

Draught - 4.72 m (scanting)

4.65 m (service)

Tonnage - 7,399 gross (1979), 12,705 (estimated 2005)

3,811 net (2005)

1,755 deadweight (1979), 1,829 (2005)

Engines - Two Crossley-Pielstick medium speed 16PC2-5V diesels, 10400 bhp at 520 revs/min

Power - 15310 kW

Speed - 19.5 knots (service)

Capacity - 1,400 passengers, 309 cars, 62 x 12 m freight vehicles.

Call Sign - GBRK (1980), EHYB (current 2005)

Sister-ships : GALLOWAY PRINCESS, ST CHRISTOPHER, ST DAVID

H i s t o r y / R e m a r k s

December 4^th 1979:Christened by Lady Parker, but launch was delayed owing to storm force winds.

December 5^th 1979: Launched .

October 22^nd 1980: Delivered to Sealink British Rail, London, England.

Roy Thornton Collection

October 24^th 1980: Arrived at Dover from her builders.

October 27^th 1980: Maiden voyage between Dover - Calais.

© Fotoflite, Roy Thornton Collection

November 1982: Off service with engine problems.

1982 (late): During refit had her bridge deck, aft of her funnels converted for passenger use.

1983: Stern superstructure rebuilt at Harland & Wolff, Belfast.

Roy Thornton Collection

February 28^th 1983 - March 3^rd 1983: Operated for a short while between Fishguard - Dun Laoghaire.

March 31^st 1983: Resumed service between Dover - Calais.

July 18^th 1984: Sale of Sealink U.K. to Sea Containers Ltd, Bermuda. Company changed name to Sealink British Ferries U.K.

Ray Goodfellow Collection

January 1986 (early): Operated the new Dover - Dunkerque West freight service.

January 1986: Sent to Papenberg, West Germany for extensive improvement refit.

March 14^th 1986: Returned to service at Dover.

1988: To Bremerhaven for complete change of passenger accommodation.

March 7^th 1988: Resumed service after refit.

© Brian Fisher

January 1990: Sold to Stena Line, Ab, Göteborg. (Registered to Stena Equipment Ltd. London) Commenced service for Sealink Stena Line.

January 1990: Registered to Sealink Stena Line Ltd, Ashford, England.

February 11^th 1990: Commenced service between Folkestone - Boulogne.

June 6^th 1990 - June 12^th 1990: Operated between Dover - Calais.

September 19^th 1990: Suffered engine room fire. Repaired at A&P Appledore, Wallsend.

October 1990: Renamed STENA CAMBRIA.

© Fotoflite, Ray Goodfellow Collection

December 2^nd 1990: Commenced service between Dover - Calais.

Roy Thornton Collection

1991:Stena full takeover of Sealink U.K. Ltd for a sum believed to be in the region of £259 million. The fleets livery was changed to reflect the fact.

© Aubrey Dale

January 1991 - March 14^th 1991: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

March 1991: Commenced service between Folkestone - Boulogne.

July 11^th 1991: Commenced service between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

July 28^th 1992: Suffered major engine problems and had to be withdrawn.

August 1992: After minor repairs introduced between Stranraer - Larne.

August 1992: Major repairs at Birkenhead for repeated engine troubles.

September 1991: Commenced service between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

 © Brian Pawley

February 11^th 1993: Ran aground in the inner harbour at Holyhead and was holed. Repaired at Birkenhead.

February 19^th 1993: Returned to operational service.

October 5^th 1995: Back operating between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

December 31^st, 1995 (midnight): Stena Sealink Line ceased as a company name and all ships in the fleet adopted the trading name of Stena Line. The fleet was painted in the Scandinavian livery.

© Brian Fisher

January 16^th 1996: Commenced service between Dover - Calais.

June 16^th 1996: Collided with breakwater at Dover. Repaired in Dunkerque.

Joe @ Ferry Fantastic

June 28^th 1996: Commenced service between Dover - Calais.

© Andreas Wörteler

February 11^th 1997 - March 24^th 1997: Operated between Newhaven - Dieppe.

March 26^th 1997 - April 25^th 1997: Operated between Stranraer - Belfast.

April 26^th 1997 - May 3^rd 1997: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

May 13^th 1997: Commenced service between Dover - Calais.

April 22^nd 1998: Introduced by P&O Stena Line, Dover between Newhaven - Dieppe.

© Andreas Wörteler

February 1^st 1999: De-stored at Dover before proceeding to Zeebrügge for lay up and disposal.

 © Ferry Boy' @ The Dover Ferry Photo Forum

February 1999: Sold to Union Maritimia Formentera Ibiza S.A. (Umafisa), Ibiza, Spain. Renamed ISLA DE BOTAFOC.

February 19^th 1999: Left Zeebrugge for Gijon to be rebuilt.

November 1999: Rebuilt.

© Benoit Donne

November 18^th 1999: Commenced service between Ibiza - Barcelona.

2004: Introduced by Balearia Eurolines between Ibiza - Barcelona.

© Benoit Donne

April - June 2005: After serious mechanical problems which required her to operate on one engine she was laid up in Gandia for engine rebuild?. She should have departed by 31^st May.

© Carlos Moreno

2006: Still in service.

All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions.

We would like to thank: Micke Asklander (Faktaomfartyg), Joe (Ferry Fantastic), Andreas Wörteler, Brian Fisher, Aubrey Dale, Carlos Moreno (merchant ships), Brian Pawley and Benoit Donne for there assistance in producing this feature.

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