July 21st 1979: Launched sideways at Bremerhaven. After all three identical sisters went into service each had their own distinguishing paintwork: Initially the “Spirit” had green bridge roof with white vents together with a green top to the lift housing on the starboard side, to the rear of the funnel. The “Pride” had a green bridge roof with “Townsend” orange vents and orange lift housing, the “Herald” white bridge roof, vents, lift housing together with black surrounds to the bridge windows.
© Christian Eckardt
December 31st 1979: Officially delivered to her new owners, thus just becoming a 1979 ship. It was originally hoped to have completed the transfer before Christmas but the late delivery of a Swedish propeller prevented this. January 5th 1980: Commissioned at 18.00 and left her German birthplace by 09.30 six days later….. January 11th 1980: Delivered to Townsend Thoresen U.K. Dover, England. January 12th 1980: Trials at Zeebrugge ………..then it was on to Calais for trials. January 12th 1980: Arrived at Dover. During the delivery voyage the 24,000 h.p. ferry running at 23 knots pulled up within 400 metres in an emergency stop exercise.
© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)
January 14th 1980: Maiden voyage and introduced between Dover - Calais and Dover - Zeebrugge. March 22nd - March 23rd 1980: Off service and retired to Vosper Thornycroft’s at Southampton. She had previously holed herself on the small dolphin between berths 3 and 4 at Dover and had also been experiencing trouble with her starboard stabiliser fin, which was stuck in the fully extended position. While at Southampton other work involving: the installation of the prototype R.F.D. escape and life-raft system on the port side, blocked sewage pipes, removal and changing of main bearings, replacement of three cylinder covers in the main engines and some sound insulation was also carried out. 1984: A new TT logo, in white, was introduced on the funnels. January 19th 1987: Registered to P&O Ferries, Dover. 1987: Following the “HERALD” disaster, from spring onwards, pale blue funnels with P & O flag logo became the norm.
© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)
May 4th 1987: Owing to high winds in Calais, “made contact” with ST CHRISTOPHER. Minimal damage caused and able to continue. October 1987: Change to P & O European Ferries navy blue hull and funnel and renamed PRIDE OF KENT.
© Brian Fisher
October 26th 1987: First commercial sailing under her new name. December 31st 1987: Registered to P&O European Ferries Ltd., Dover.
© Brian Fisher
February 1988: Laid up at Wilton Feijenoord, Scheidam Harbour near Rotterdam, owing to seaman’s strike May 1st 1988: Resumed service Dover - Zeebrugge.
© Nigel Thornton
March 18th 1991: Sold to Howill Shipping, England. Bareboat chartered to P&O. November 29th 1991: Final day in service before rebuild.. November 30th 1991: Left Dover for Sicily via Gibraltar. December 7th 1991: Arrived at Fincantieri yard in Palermo, Italy for lengthening at a cost of £20million. She had a 30m section inserted between the funnels and bridge.
Justin Philpott Collection
June 6th 1992: Re-delivered from builders yard. June 12th 1992: Arrived at Dover. June 17th 1992: Commenced service between Dover - Calais.
© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)
March 3rd 1998: P&O European Ferries and Stena Line merge there operations on the short sea. The new company was called P&O Stena Line. Registered as a British private sector company, 60% owned by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) and 40% owned by Stena Line AB of Sweden. The new company took over the Dover and Newhaven services of P&O European Ferries and Stena Line. March 10th 1998: All vessels operated under the P&OSL banner. Pride of Kent continuing on the Dover - Calais route from March 10th, 1998.
© Ray Goodfellow
November 12th 1998: Whilst en route between Calais - Dover fatal injury to a “Donkey man”. An enquiry found that he had been crushed by an internal watertight door.
© Andreas Wörteler
December 1998: Renamed P&OSL KENT.
© Andreas Wörteler
December 23rd 2001 - January 2002: Repairs at A & P Falmouth to both port and starboard stabilisers. Also underwater preparation and painting, renewing of propeller blades and steel renewal work on the stern spade and areas of belting. A survey of the port engine was also completed, shell water tight openings, surveys of pumps, windlasses and sea valves and internal steel work in the sponson tanks. April 2002: P&O announced its intention to buy out the 40% stake in P&O Stena Line owned by Stena. August 2002: P&O Stena alliance ended with P&O purchasing Stena's 40% share in the business. The Dover-Calais fleet adopted the appropriate P&O “Pride of ….” names, losing there P&OSL prefixes. All vessels had their Stena house flag removed from their funnels, along with the deletion of the name Stena from their hulls. In future the company would trade as P&O Ferries. October 15th 2002: Transferred to P&O Ferries, still running between Dover - Calais, but her name was changed to PO Kent. June 7th 2003: Final day in service between Dover - Calais.
© Justin Philpott
June 2003: Laid up in Dunkerque.
 
© Craig Nelson
July 2003: Sold to GA Ferries, Piraeus, Greece. Renamed ANTHI MARINA. August 9th 2003: Left Dunkerque for Greece. August 11th 2003: Bunkered in Gibraltar. August 2003: Arrived in Greece. August 2003: Converted in Greece for new role. December 20th 2003: Maiden voyage and commenced service between Piraeus - Kos - Rodos.
 
© Benoit Donne
2006: Still in service with GA Ferries
 
© Lucas Latreche (http://raflucgr.ra.funpic.de)
2007: GA Ferries introduced a new livery consisting of three different shades of blue on the hull. 2010: GA Ferries run into financial difficulties and the whole fleet are placed under arrest in the Greek port of Piraeus. October 2010: It was reported that the Anthi Marina will be sold by auction at by the Piraeus port authority to recover some of there costs.
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Technical Data
History
