February 1998: Launched. September 3rd 1998: Delivered to Cenargo International Ltd (Nassau, Bahamas). She was initially chartered to Und RoRo, Istanbul, Turkey and introduced into service between Istanbul - Trieste. 1999: Registered to V Ships (UK) Douglas, Isle of Man.
© Steven Brown
January 7th 1999: Inaugural arrival at Liverpool. February 15th 1999: Introduced between Liverpool - Dublin. with Merchant Ferries. March 1st 1999: Foot passengers now conveyed. April 2002: Operated under the banner of Norse Merchant Ferries from Liverpool - Dublin. September 2nd 2002: Was due to enter service at Dover, but there was a delay in replacing her on the Mersey-Dublin route. September 13th 2002: Left Liverpool. September 14th 2002: Arrived at Dover.
Dover © Nigel Thornton
September 15th 2002: Maiden voyage between Dover - Dunkerque (without modifications, paint or structural).
Dover © Mark Leiper
October 24th 2002: Lightly loaded and in apparently good weather, she collided with the breakwater at Dover and had to return, taking in water and in need of evacuation and repairs. Without the necessary stern modifications required to allow her to operate from anything other than Berth 1 at Dover, departures through the Eastern exit required a difficult manoeuvre. The ship’s starboard side struck the central breakwater causing a 15 metres gash above the water line. She went to Dunkirk for repairs, during which time she was repainted in Norfolkline livery, but no structural modifications were carried out. November 21st 2002: Returned to Dover.
Dover © Nigel Thornton
December 17th 2004: Damaged as she was leaving berth number 1 at Dover during bad weather. With 50 passengers, 9 cars and 19 freight vehicles on board, she hit the harbour wall resulting in a return to the berth where she discharged both passengers and cargo. December 18th 2004: Sailed to ARNO at Dunkerque for repairs. July 1st 2004: Announcement made that Norfolk line's three Channel Ferries would be run by a newly-formed shipping group in a multi-million pound deal. Indo-China Ship Management (UK) had won the contract to operate and crew the ships. August 18th 2005: Announcement that Norse Merchant Ferries was to sell BRAVE MERCHANT and DAWN MERCHANT. With two new ro-pax ferries entering service this year on its Irish Sea routes, Norse Merchant Ferries announced that it had sold two of its four Spanish-built ro-pax vessels, BRAVE MERCHANT (built 1999) and DAWN MERCHANT (built 1998), to a company nominated by New Paragon Investment Ltd, a Hong Kong based company advised by Epic Shipping Ltd. October 13th 2005: With the impending arrival of MAERSK DUNKERQUE, made her last sailing Dunkerque - Dover and sailed directly to Liverpool.
 
Dover © Nigel Thornton and Stéphane Poulain
October 15th 2005: Proceeded up river, before heading to Langton Lock and then into the former Norse Merchant Ferries Belfast berth at Brocklebank Dock. October 20th 2005: Departed from Brocklebank Dock. Her Norfolk Line fleet name had been painted out, and her funnels painted all back to obliterate the Maersk blue. On entering the Mersey she went to the Liverpool Bar. She then returned and sailed up river, going to Twelve Quays to take up DUBLIN VIKING's sailings.
 
Liverpool © Steven Brown
November 10th 2005: At this time showed as the EUROPAX APPIA in Brocklebank Dock November 12th 2005: Left Liverpool for the final. Destination Siros. December 12th 2005: The planned Italian charter for the BRAVE MERCHANT and DAWN MERCHANT fell through. The DAWN MERCHANT was in dry-dock in Siros whilst the BRAVE MERCHANT is due to depart the Mersey on December 28th. The vessels' owners are currently seeking a new charter for the pair. December 12th 2005: Registered to Daybreak Shipping, Ltd, England. Managed by Meridian Marine Management Ltd. UK January 2006: Announced that she would connect Barcelona with Palma. 2006: Chartered to Balearia and renamed PAU CASALS.
  
Pau Casals in the Port of Palma de Mallorca. © Carlos Moreno
July 2008: Chartered to Caronte & Tourist (C&T) for service between Salerno and Messina. October 2008: Returned to her owners Epic Shipping. January 2009: Renamed Ave Luebeck in anticipation of a charter to Ave Line for there service from Travemunde to Liepaja. February 2009: Ave Luebeck is still `awaiting orders' at Cuxhaven and appears not to have entered service with Ave Line. 12th February 2009: Returned to the Elbe Anchorage `awaiting orders'. 12th March 2009: Present in the Nore anchorage off Sheerness for bunkers and supplies. 18th March 2009: Returned to the Elbe Anchorage `awaiting orders'. 31st March 2009: Arrived in Dunkerque, France. 1st April 2009: Entered the ARNO dockyard.
  ARNO Dunkerque © Robert Fournier
6th April 2009: Renamed T-Rex and chartered to T-Link Navigation to start a new motorway of the seas service between Terminal Imerese (Palermo) and Genoa Voltri.
 
ARNO Dunkerque © Robert Fournier
13th April 2009: Departed Dunkerque, France for Genoa, Italy. December 2009: Chartered to Cotunav March 2010: Chartered to Norfolk Line for service between Birkenhead and Dublin.
Dublin 13/4/10 © Gordon Hislip
9th May 2010: To anchor `awaiting orders' off Anglesey, Wales following completion of her charter to Norfolk Line. 18th May 2010: Arrives at the Port of Boulogne from the Irish Sea and then proceeds to anchor. 24th May 2010: Chartered to LD Lines for service between Dover and Boulogne, to be renamed `Norman Trader'. 26th May 2010: Arrives in Dunkerque and enters the ARNO yard for maintenance work and renaming. Owing to adverse weather she does not receive the LD Lines branding on her hull.
 
ARNO Dunkerque © Ed Connell (Ships in the Port of Dover)
30th May 2010: Arrives in Dover for berthing trials.
Boulogne © Marconista
29th May 2010: Enters service for LD Lines between Dover and Boulogne.
 
Boulogne 11/7/10 © Andreas Wörteler  
Dover 12/7/10 © Ray Goodfellow
23rd August 2010: LD Lines announces the closure of the Dover-Boulogne passenger service. The last sailing will be on the 5th September 2010. The company are said to be considering running a freight only service to Boulogne but at this time no decision has been made. 2nd September 2010: It was announced that LD Lines are to withdraw all operations from Dover on the 5th September 2010. The suggested freight only service is deemed unfeasible. Following damage sustained to the Norman Bridge the Norman Trader will operate the last crossing to Boulogne. 5th September 2010: Closes the Dover to Boulogne service for LD Lines.
  
Arriving at Dover on her last day in service 5/9/10 © Ray Goodfellow
6th September 2010: De-stores in Dover before departing for refit in Antwerp, Belgium. | 
Technical Data
History
