Roy Thornton Collection Steel twin screw motor vessel built by Cantieri Navali di Pietra Ligure, Genoa. Italy (Yard No. 12) for the Societe Anonyme de Navigation Angleterre-Lorraine-Alsace (or A.L.A. for short) in 1972 as a multi-purpose passenger and roll-on roll-off ferry for cars, lorries and railway vehicles. Launched February 26th 1972.
 Technical Data
Registry - Dunkerque (1972 - 1990), Nassau (1990 - 1998), Napoli (1998 - current) IMO Number - 7207451. Length on deck - 114.59m(375.9 ft) (overall) (354 ft) (between perpendiculars) Breadth of hull - 18.62m(61 ft) (extreme) Depth - 37.8 ft (moulded) Draught - 4.11m(13.5 ft) (maximum) Tonnage - 4,649 gross 1,849 net 1,118 deadweight Engines - Two 16-cylinder Atantique/Pielstick four-stroke single-acting diesels Power - 12,652kW Speed - 21.8 knots Capacity - 1,000 passengers and 160 cars; or 35 freight rail wagons; or 10 sleeping coaches and 11 freight rail wagons. Call Sign - FNKC (1990 - 1998), IBDB (current 2007)
History November 24th 1969: Ordered January 24th 1969: Keel struck February 26th 1972: Launched 1972: Expected delivery date of October, but owing to liquidation of her builders she was seized by creditors and delivery was severely delayed. Laid up in Genoa. July 1st 1972: Work recommenced at builders after the Italian Government gave financial support. Delivery set for early 1975. February 1975: Delivered to Angelterre Loraine Alasce S.A. de Navigation (ALA), Dunkerque, France. She had only one lifeboat on her bridge deck: The second pair was added later. March 1st 1975: Arrived in Dunkerque. March 12th 1975: Commenced service between Dunkerque-Dover.
  
Stéphane Poulain collection (left) and Roy Thornton Collection (middle and right)
March 23rd 1977: Angelterre Loraine Alasce S.A. de Navigation (ALA) became a French operated wholly owned subsidiary of British Rail
 
© Brian Fisher
April 12th 1982: Holed while berthing at Dover. Went straight to dry-dock and was back within 72 hours. May - September 1983: The Eloi makes additional crossings between Boulogne and Dover western Docks from May to September with a departure from Boulogne at 20.30. September 28th 1985: Commenced service as a freight ferry. May 27th 1986 - September 27th 1986: Chartered to SNCF. Operated between Calais - Dover western docks. September 27th 1986: Operated as a freight ferry between Dover - Dunkerque.
  
© Fotoflite, Stéphane Poulain Collection (left and middle) and © Fotoflite, Ray Goodfellow Collection (right)
May 1st 1987: Involved in a collision with the CAMBRIDGE FERRY 700 yards off Dover Breakwater as a result of which both vessels were badly damaged. Sent to Dunkerque for repairs.
   
© M Fournet
May 16th 1987: Back in service. March 27th 1988: Introduced as a night freight service Folkestone - Boulogne. April 24th 1988: Final day in service between Dover - Dunkerque.
Roy Thornton Collection
May 27th 1988 - September 1988: Operated between Calais - Dover western docks. July 23rd 1988: Whilst departing berth 3 on the admiralty pier she collided with the jetty at the Western side of the old train ferry dock in Dover, suffered a badly dented stem. The damaged area was removed and made watertight.
 
Roy Thornton Collection
January 8th 1989 - April 2nd 1989: Operated between Stranraer - Larne freight sailings.
© Aubrey Dale
April 3rd 1989 - April 28th 1989: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire on passenger sailings, as relief for ST COLUMBA which went to Bremerhaven for overhaul. May 20th 1989: Renamed CHANNEL ENTENTE.
 
© Fotoflite, Ray Goodfellow collection (left) and © Brian Fisher (right)
May 25th 1989: Commenced summer service between Calais - Dover western docks.
 
© Brian Pawley
January 9th 1990: Left Dunkerque with Steam Packet crew January 11th 1990: As CHANNEL ENTENTE made her first trip for berthing trials to Douglas, Isle Of Man.
© Ferry Publications postcard from the Roy Thornton Collection
February 5th 1990: Dry-docked and then moved into Bidston Dock, Birkenhead. Port of registry changed from Dunkerque to Nassau. February 9th 1990: Sold to Vessel Holdings, Nassau, Bahamas. February 14th 1990: Sold to Isle Of Man Steam Packet, Nassau, Bahamas. February 17th 1990: Public display of vessel in Douglas. February 19th 1990: Commenced service between Douglas - Heysham.
© Ken Larwood
September 27th 1990: Arrived at Wright & Beyer´s yard, Birkenhead major refit. Given vehicle side loading doors and extra capacity; for up to 180 cars total. A second bow thrusters was added. The passenger accommodation was extended at the after end of the boat deck.
© Aubrey Dale
December 8th 1990: Renamed KING ORRY. December 9th 1990: Commenced service between Douglas - Heysham/ Liverpool. 1992: New stern doors to use the new links-pans at Heysham and Belfast November 14th 1992: Suffered at steering failure and grounded on the Taylors Bank. Re-floated and towed to Liverpool for survey/repairs. February 1995: Registered in the Isle of Man, home port Douglas.
© Ian Boyle, Simplon postcard from the Roy Thornton Collection
September 28th 1998: Final day in service between Douglas - Heysham/ Liverpool. October 1998: Sold to Moby Lines S.r.l., Naples, Italy. October 21st 1998: Renamed MOBY LOVE. October 23rd 1998: Left Birkenhead for Livorno. October 29th 1998: Arrived at Livorno. 1998: Renamed MOBY LOVE 2.
 
© Andreas Wörteler
April 1999: Commenced service between Piombino - Portoferraio. 2002: Renamed MOBY LOVE
© Bennoit Donne
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