Steel twin screw motor vessel, built and engined by Cockerill’s of Hoboken (Yard no 777) in 1956 for the Belgian Marine Administration’s Ostend-Dover passenger service. Launched October 29^th, 1956 and delivered March 15^th, 1957.

Registry - Ostend

ID Number - 5192949

Length on deck - 114m (374 ft)(overall)

108.56m (356.2 ft) (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 15.9m (49.10 ft)(extreme)

14.2m (46.6 ft) (moulded)

Depth - 7.3m (24.11 ft) (moulded)

Draught - 4.45m (13 ft)(maximum)

Tonnage - 3,389 gross, 3,795

1,510 net, 1,706

476 deadweight

Engines - Two 12-cylinder Cockerill/Sulzer two-stroke single acting diesels.

Power - 11190kW

Speed - 22 knots

Capacity - 1700 passengers, 30 cars (in holds)

Call Sign - ORAM (@1974)

Sister ships: ROI LEOPOLD III. REINE ASTRID.

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

Roy Thornton Collection

November 1970: Belgian Marine joined the Sealink consortium. Trading as Sealink

November 1^st 1971: Belgian Marine became the Belgian Maritime Transport Authority - Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT).

1973: Belgian Sealink livery

1975: Summer weekends and “specials” only.

October 12^th 1977: Final day in service.

December 1^st 1977: Laid up in Oostende.

April 14^th 1978: Sold to Abha Marine Corp, Limassol, Cyprus. Renamed ABHA.

1978: Rebuilt in Perama, Greece.

1978: Commenced service between Jeddah - Aquaba - Port Suez.

1979: Registered to Najd Shipping Co., Saudi Arabia.

1980: Sold to Najd Trading & Constructions Est, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Renamed NAJD II.

1981: Laid up in Eleusis Bay, Greece.

1984: Broken up.