Roy Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw motor vessel built by N.V. Boelwerf S. A., Tamise, (Yard No. 1477) in 1974 for the Belgian Maritime Transport Authority’s Ostend service as a passenger and roll-on roll-off car ferry. Engined by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, St. Nazaire. Launched February 6th, 1974.

Technical Data

IMO Number - 7346221

Registry - Oostende (1974 - 1992), Piraeus

Length on deck - 118.01m (387.2 ft)(overall)

111.61m (366.2 ft) (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 19.21m (65 ft)(extreme)

Depth - 11.56m (37.9 ft) (moulded)

Draught - 4.3m

Tonnage - 5,052 gross

2,407 net

1,029 deadweight

Engines - Two 18-cylinder Atlatique/Pielstick four-stroke 18PC2V-400 SA diesels

Power - 13,240kW

Speed - 22 knots

Capacity - 1,302 passengers, 189 cars (1974),

2,440 passengers, 271 cars (1992)

Call Sign - ORAH (1974 - 1992)

History

February 6th 1974: Launched.

July 1974: Delivered to, Belgian Maritime Transport Authority, Oostende, Belgium.

June 28th 1974: Entered service at the official opening of the new Admiralty Pier links-pan at the Western Docks, Dover. With the added headroom to her vehicle deck that the folding mezzanine deck afforded, she could carry as many as 24 ro-ro units as opposed to her earlier sister’s 13, but only 189 cars, 54 less than the PRINS PHILIPPE.

July 15th 1974: Commenced service between Ostend - Dover.

February 2nd 1978: Collided with the quayside in Dover and repaired in Ostend.

October 25th 1985: An agreement with Townsend Thoresen (The European Ferries Group) was successfully concluded and completely excluded Sealink UK Ltd.

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

1987/1988: A completely new livery, reflecting that carried by the P & O European Ferries fleet, was adopted during the 1987/88 refits. 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.

February 4th 1990 - May 1990: Chartered to Sealink Dieppe Ferries. Operated between Dieppe - Newhaven.

1991: Fourth new livery in seven years under the official trading name, The Dover - Ostend Line.

1991: In the autumn she was laid up.

July 6th 1992 -July 10th 1992: Dry-docked at Vlissingen.

July 29th 1992: Sold to Strintzis Line, Piraeus, Greece and renamed IONIAN EXPRESS leaving Ostend for Perama for rebuilding.

May 1993: Renamed SUPERFERRY II, and introduced between Rafina - Andros - Tinos - Myconos - Syros.

1999: During the rush of mergers a large shareholding was sold in Strintzis Ferries and the owners then traded under the name Blue Star Ferries. Although initially the older vessels were styled as Blue Ferries, they are now all marketed under the single strong brand of the main fleet

2007: Remains in service with Blue Star Ferries

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 ©. We would like to thank: Ton Grootenboer, Brian Fisher, Lucas Latreche and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.