Roy Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw motor vessel, built in 1984 by Chantiers Dubigeon S.A., Prairie-au-Duc, Nantes, France (Yard No. 167) for Societe des Nationale des Chemins de Fer Frances as a roll-on roll-off car and commercial vehicle ferry. Engined by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, St. Nazaire. and launched December 21st, 1983.

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

Registry - Nantes (1984), Calais (1987), Dieppe (1990), Calais (1995 - )

MMSI Number - 227000100

IMO Number - 8208763

Length - 130.00m (overall), 122.3m (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 23.02m (extreme), 22.50m (moulded)

Depth - 7.11m

Draught - 5.00m (maximum)

Tonnage - 9,069 gross (1983), 15,093 (1992)

8,965 net

2,192 deadweight (1983), 2,430 (1992)

Engines - Two 4T - 16-cylinder SEMT-Pielstick diesels

Power - 15840 kW

Speed - 18.5 knots (20.9 max)

Capacity - 1,800 passengers, 330 cars or 43 freight vehicles

Call Sign - FNMS

H i s t o r y / R e m a r k s 

December 21^st 1983: Launched

September 30^th 1984: Arrived at Calais. Berthing trials including Boulogne and Dover

October 2^nd 1984: Delivered to Societé National de Chemins de Fer Français, Dunkerque, France.

October 4^th 1984: Maiden voyage from Calais - Dover.

Roy Thornton Collection (left) and Manuel Dhondt Collection (right)

January 19^th 1985 - September 28^th 1985: Operated between Boulogne - Dover. Then reverted to Calais - Dover.

1987: Home port became Calais.

1986 (late Spring): SNCF formed a subsidiary company Dieppe Ferries to manage the future of their Newhaven service.

Roy Thornton Collection

December 3^rd 1987: While berthing damaged her bow visor when she hit SEAFREIGHT SEAWAY

January 22^nd 1990: Registered to Societé Propietaire des Navaires (SPN), Paris, France.

 © Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)

July 2^nd 1990: Rebuilt and commenced service between Dieppe - Newhaven, (Home port Dieppe).

March 26th 1992: Following months of industrial unrest Sealink SNAT announced that the Newhaven to Dieppe was to be closed or sold off. Following this announcement the crews of the routes 2 vessels immediately went on strike.

April 1992: Its announced that the Newhaven to Dieppe route had been purchased by Sealink Stena Line.

May 1^st 1992: Chartered to Sealink Stena Line Ltd, Ashford, England.

May 26^th 1992: Arrived at A.&P. Appledore, Southampton, England for rebuilding.

June 3rd 1992: Re-entered service from Newhaven to Dieppe under the French flag renamed Stena Parisien.

© Craig Nelson (left) and Andreas Wörteler (right)

November 16^th 1992: Sealink Stena Line officially changed its name to Stena Sealink Line.

July 12^th 1995: Agreement between Stena Sealink Line and French partners S.N.A.T. would terminate

 © Brian Pawley

from December 31^st 1995. From that time onwards S.N.A.T. would trade as SeaFrance.

December 31^st 1995: Stena Sealink adopted the trading name on Stena Line.

 © Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic left) and Andy Gilbert (right)

September 2^nd 1996: Suffered an engine-room fire which was kept under control with minimal damage.

January 10^th 1997: Final day in operation between Newhaven - Dieppe and charter came to an end.

© Andreas Wörteler (left) and Joe @ Ferry Fantastic (right)

January 8^th 1997 - January 10^th 1997: Rebuilt, including stern `duck tail' sponsons, in Dunkerque, renamed SEAFRANCE MANET. Registered to Seafrance S.A, Calais, France.

© Andreas Wörteler

January 20^th 1997: Introduced by Seafrance between Calais - Dover.

© Andreas Wörteler (left) and Nigel Thornton (right)

April 29^th 2005: “A fire broke out while the vessel was undergoing repairs at a lay-by berth in the port of Calais.…” 11 seafarers were slightly injured. Beginning in a mattress it destroyed two crew cabins. It was extinguished by crew, though fire-fighters from all the Calais area were called. The ship was back in service May 1^st.

September 2005: Lay up in Dunkerque

October 11^th 2005: Returned to service.

© Ray Goodfellow

2006: Currently in service Calais - Dover as a freight vessel.

© Stéphane Poulain

February 2007: Refit at the ARNO dry dock facility in Dunkerque.

© Robert Fournier (left) and © Joe@ Ferry Fantastic (right)

December 27th 2007: Seafrance announce that they have purchased a new vessel to replace both the Seafrance Manet and Seafrance Renoir. It is believed that the Manet will be retained as fleet spare until 2009.

Seafrance Manet arriving at Dover on her penultimate sailing 29/04/08 © John Hendy

Seafrance Manet laid up in Calais on the 03/07/08 © John Hendy

29th April 2008: The `Manet' operates her last sailing between Dover and Calais. She's laid up in Calais, pending her disposal.

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

We would like to thank: Micke Asklander (Faktaomfartyg), Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic), Andy Gilbert “Meechingman”, Joe (Ferry Fantastic), Craig Nelson, Andreas Wörteler, Brian Pawley, Stéphane Poulain, Manuel Dhondt, Robert Fournier and John Hendy for there assistance in producing this feature.

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