© Brian Fisher

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1968 at Cons. Nav. & Ind. De la Mediterranean (CNIM), La Seyne , France (Yard No. 1381)as a passenger and train ferry for Societe Nationale de Chemins der Fer Francais (SNCF). Launched November 30^th, 1968.

D i m e n s i o n s / T e c h n i c a l  D a t a

IMO Number - 6904478

Registry - Dunkirk, France/Panama

Length - 104.20m (overall)

Breadth - 18.70m (moulded)

Draught - 5.20m (maximum)

Tonnage - 2760 gross (1968), 2289 (1991)

759 net (1968)(1991)

1829 deadweight (1968)(1991)

Engines - Two 8-cylinder MWM diesels

Power - 4400bhp/ 3326kW

Speed - 16 knots

Capacity - 36 passengers (1968) 1,000 (1991), and 36 railway wagons

Call sign - FNZN (1969 - 1986), 3ETZ8 (1991 - 1995)

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

November 30^th 1968: Launched. Part container ship.

February 1969: Delivered to Societe Nationale de Chemins der Fer Francais (SNCF) and introduced into service between Dunkerque - Harwich.

March 11^th 1969: Maiden sailing halted by strike.

March 13^th 1969: First sailing to Harwich.

1972/1973: All vessels were painted in the new house colours “Sealink” being added.

© Fotoflite, Nigel Thornton Collection

October 24^th 1974: Re-entered service (on Dunkirk - Dover or Dunkirk - Harwich) having been altered to a train ferry.

Roy Thornton Collection

November 10^th 1974 - January 8^th 1975: Operated between Calais and Dover switching back to Dunkerque - Harwich immediately afterwards.

January 8^th 1975: Inaugurated the new West Dunkirk (Gravelines) - Felixstowe 3 x weekly service.

January 9^th 1978: Collided with STENA NORDICA, outside Felixstowe and was subsequently repaired in Dunkerque.

April 1984: Her loss making route was terminated.

© Derek Sands

March 9^th 1985: Covered the Dieppe - Portsmouth route until her last run in October of the same year, returning to Dover - Dunkerque between February and July of 1986.

1986: Sold to Pireo Cia. Nav. S.A., Piraeus.

1987: Operated between Piraeus - Ravenna .

1991: Sold to Corporation Trans. S.A., Panama, and renamed NOUR I when she was rebuilt as a passenger ferry in Jordan.

1991: Introduced into service between Acaba and Nuwaiba.

1995: Sold again to Kassimeris Arab Bridge, Panama (registered to Seatower Shipping Co. Ltd., Panama) and renamed NIOBE I.

© Andreas Wörteler

December 1995: Sold to Rainbow Lines and rebuilt before serving between Otrantoi - Durres in 1996 then Brindisi - Durres and Igouenitsa in 1997.

1997: Laid up in Igoumenitsa before being introduced for Ikaria Lines between Brindsis - Otranto and Valona.

1998: Registered to Cascade Navigation Corp., Panama.

December 27^th2000: Reportedly arrived in Alang, India for scrapping.

All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions.

We would like to thank: Brian Fisher, Derek Sands and Andreas Wörteler for there assistance in producing this feature.

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