Mv Pollux I

ex Valencay, Eptanisos, Pollux

 
  
 Roy Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1965 by Chantiers de Atlantique, Nantes, France (Yard No E23) as a passenger and vehicle roll-on roll-off vehicle ferry, for S.N.C.F. Launched February 6th, 1965.

 
 
 
 

Technical Data

 
    
 

Length

105.01m (344.6 ft) (overall)

 
 

Breadth of Hull

17.07m (56.0 ft) (extreme)

 
 

Draught

3.96m (maximum)

 
 

Tonnage

3,430 gross (1965), 2,963 (1985), 977 net (1965), 1,400 (1985), 657 deadweight (1965), 668 (1985)

 
 

Engines

Two 6-cylinder Pielstick diesels

 
 

Power

9,235 kW

 
 

Speed

21 knots (max on completion)

 
 

Capacity

1,200 passengers, 140 cars

 
 

Call Sign

N/A

 
 

MMSI Number

N/A

 
 

IMO Number

6508157

 
 

Registry

N/A

 
   
 
 
 

History

 
   

 

October 5th 1964: Keel struck.

February 6th 1965: Launched by Mrs. Roger Guibert, the wife of S.N.C.F. deputy chairman.

June 18th 1965: Sea trials.

June 21st 1965: Arrived in Dieppe and delivered to Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais, Dieppe, France. Originally appeared with black hull.

June 27th 1965: Arrived at Newhaven for ramp tests.

July 7th 1965: Commissioned under the command of Commandant Guyomard.

July 13th 1965: Introduced between Dieppe - Newhaven.

© Fotoflite, Andreas Wörteler Collection

December 1967: Returned from refit with joint service flag on her funnel.

© Ted Ingham

1974 (Autumn): Laid up/ reserve vessel for the Calais - Dover/Boulogne - Folkestone routes.

May 1973: Operated 3 Rouen cruises.

November 26th 1975 - January 19th 1976: Operated between Calais - Folkestone.

September 6th 1977: Off service at Dieppe with steering gear problems. After repair she was transferred to Le Havre for stretching.

September 1977: “Stretched” to cater for the increase of freight lorry traffic. Approximately three quarters of the after end of the ship’s accommodation was cut and raised by 56 cm. In order to give greater headroom for freight on the main vehicle deck below. Also at this time they were to be converted to bow loaders and have their funnel tops extended. Thus modified they would be able to carry 20 rather than 10 lorries. Other alterations included the removal of the vessel’s stern bridges and the extension of their after observation lounges.

February 1978: Returned to service after rebuild.

1983: Received red S.N.C.F. colours

  

© Fotoflite, Andreas Wörteler Collection (left) and the Roy Thornton Collection (right)

January 1984: Replaced by chartered COURNOUAILLES.

May 30th 1984: Owing to N.U.S. protests with the SENLAC blocking the link-span at Newhaven, operated a service from Dieppe to Dover Western Docks.

September 1984: Laid up in Calais.

December 1984: Sold to Strintzis Lines S.A. Piraeus, Greece. Renamed EPTANISOS.

© Jürgen Stein

1985: Operated between Rafina - Andros - Tinos - Mykonos.

© Bernd Crause

May 2000: Sold to Ventouris Ferries, Pireus, Greece (Registere to Northern Med. Shipping Corp). Renamed POLLUX.

May 2000: Operated between Bari - Durres.

  

© Andreas Wörteler (left) and © Aleksi Lindström (right)

2003: Transferred to Panamanian flag. Renamed POLLUX I.

November 2003: Sold for scrapping in India.

 

 

  
 
 
 

All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions found. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Bernd Crause, Ted Ingham, Aleksi Lindström, Jürgen Stein and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature. A special acknowledgement goes to Andy Gilbert.

 
 
 

  © Ray Goodfellow & Nigel Thornton 2003-2012