Roy Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw motor vessel, built by Cockerill Yards, Hoboken,(Yard No. 887) in 1978 for the Belgian Maritime Transport Authority’s Ostend service as a passenger and roll-on roll-off car and commercial vehicle ferry. Engined by S.A. Cockerill-Ougree-Providence, Seraing. Launched September 14^th1977.

Technical Data

MMSI Number -212610000

IMO Number - 7613882

Length on deck - 118.42m (388.5 ft) (overall)(1978), 118.42m (1986)

363.4 ft (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 19.9m(67.8 ft) (moulded)(1978), 23,32m (1986)

Depth - 21ft (moulded)

Draught - 4.52m(14.8 ft) (maximum)(1978), 5.05m (1986)

Tonnage - 6,019 gross (1978), 6,707 (1986)

3,683 net (1978), 4,340(1986)

1,325 deadweight (1978), 1,922 (1986)

Engines - Two 18-cylinder Pielstick-Cockerill four-stroke single acting diesels

Power - 17,460 kW

Speed - 22 knots

Capacity - 1,120 passengers (1978) 1,475 (1986)

300 cars (1978),or 37 lorries and 46 cars

420 cars (1986), or 55 lorries and 46 cars

Call Sign - P3ZK7

History

September 14^th 1977: Launched.

March 1978: Delivered to Belgian Maritime Transport Authority.

March 13^th 1978: Made her “Maiden” voyage to Dover from Ostend, though she was actually brought into service a week earlier on March 7th in order to replace the PRINCE LAURENT, damaged at Dover the month before and still out of action.

July 1980: Suffered engine failure.

Roy Thornton Collection (left) and © Brian Fisher (middle) © Fotoflite, Stéphane Collection (right)

September 1st 1981: Again suffered engine failure requiring repairs.

October 2^nd 1981: Repairs completed and resumed commercial services.

July 1984: Sealink UK Ltd had been de-nationalised and purchased by the Bermuda-based Sea Containers the new owners immediately began a general reappraisal of all their services. (including its intention of taking on 50% of all the traffic on the Dover-Ostend route.

October 25^th 1985: Belgians entered into negotiations with Townsend Thoresen and an agreement was concluded.

1985: The news of a stretching programme, or “jumboization” as it is often known, was announced, but it only originally planned to deal with the PRINSES MARIA-ESMERALDA and the PRINCESSE MARIE-CHRISTINE, leaving the PRINS ALBERT untouched. By cutting the ships horizontally and inserting an extra lorry deck, their capacity was raised from 46 to 55 pieces of freight. The “PME” had her work completed at the end of May 1985 while the “PMC” re-entered service in January 1986. All work was carried out at J, Boel (Shipyards) in Temse, Belgium. After the failure of a deal to purchase the STENA NAUTICA, involving part exchanging PRINS PHILLIPPE and the REINE ASTRID, RMT decided to stretch the PRINS ALBERT and in January 1986 she entered the yard .

May 17^th 1986: Completed and left the yard^.

May 18^th 1986: Took up service between Ostend - Dover.

© Brian Fisher

October 1987; The agreement with Townsend Thoresen (The European Ferries Group) was duly passed on to P & O European Ferries and was due to end in December 1990: The Ostend ships all received the Townsend Thoresen orange colours and carried their trading name.

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

1987/88 (refit): A completely new livery, reflecting that carried by the P & O European Ferries fleet, was adopted. For the first time in the history of the Dover-Ostend service, the buff (later changed to a lighter shade of yellow) funnels were painted- out in favour of a shade of blue.

© Fotoflite, Stéphane Collection

1991:The creation of a totally new marketing profile and the adoption of the name with which the line has officially been known since the early days, sees the fleet in its fourth livery in seven years. The first to receive it was the PRINS ALBERT during her overhaul at Ostend in November and December 1990.

© Fotoflite, Stéphane Collection

1991: Commenced service for Dover -Oostende Lines.

© Andreas Wörteler

1993 (end): Announced that the Belgian company did not intend to renew its marketing agreement with P & O , but instead concluded a deal with Sally Line. With effect from the following January RMT became known simply as Oostende Lines , transferring all its Ostend services, including Jetfoil operations from Dover to Sally’s base at Ramsgate.

© Brian Fisher

May 1998: Sold to Hawthorn Shipping Co. Lt., Limassol, Cyprus (Denval Marine Consultants), renamed EUROVOYAGER and chartered to Sally Line.

© Andreas Wörteler (left), Ton Grootenboer (middle) and © Fotoflite, Stéphane Collection (right)

November 21^st 1998: The Sally Freight service ended and she immediately began operating for TransEuropa Shipping Lines on the same route.

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

October 15^th 2003: Continues in service Ramsgate - Ostend.

September 19^th 2004: Following the commencement of passenger services from Ramsgate, re-certified for passenger operation although it is understood she will normally be used as a stand-by vessel in that role.

© Manuel Dhondt

2007: Continues in service Ostend - Ramsgate

© Cedric Hacke

2008: Continues in service Ostend - Ramsgate.

June 23^rd 2010: Departed Dunkerque destination showing Al Hoceima: 2010-06-27 10:00

June 30^th 2010: Inaugural sailing from Al Hoceima.

We would like to thank: Micke Asklander (Faktaomfartyg), Brian Fisher, Ton Grootenboer, John Hendy (Ferry Publications), Manuel Dhondt, Andreas Wörteler, Robert Fournier and Cedric Hacke for there assistance in compiling this feature. All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions. All items included in this article are subject to ©.