Roy Thornton Collection Steel twin screw motor vessel, built in 1984 by Chantiers Dubigeon S.A., Prairie-au-Duc, Nantes, France (Yard No. 167) for Societe des Nationale des Chemins de Fer Frances as a roll-on roll-off car and commercial vehicle ferry. Engined by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, St. Nazaire. and launched December 21st, 1983.
 Technical Data
Registry - Nantes (1984), Calais (1987), Dieppe (1990), Calais (1995 - ) MMSI Number - 227000100 IMO Number - 8208763 Length - 130.00m (overall), 122.3m (between perpendiculars) Breadth of hull - 23.02m (extreme), 22.50m (moulded) Depth - 7.11m Draught - 5.00m (maximum) Tonnage - 9,069 gross (1983), 15,093 (1992) 8,965 net 2,192 deadweight (1983), 2,430 (1992) Engines - Two 4T - 16-cylinder SEMT-Pielstick diesels Power - 15840 kW Speed - 18.5 knots (20.9 max) Capacity - 1,800 passengers, 330 cars or 43 freight vehicles Call Sign - FNMS
History December 21st 1983: Launched September 30th 1984: Arrived at Calais. Berthing trials including Boulogne and Dover October 2nd 1984: Delivered to Societé National de Chemins de Fer Français, Dunkerque, France. October 4th 1984: Maiden voyage from Calais - Dover.
 
Roy Thornton Collection (left) and Manuel Dhondt Collection (right)
January 19th 1985 - September 28th 1985: Operated between Boulogne - Dover. Then reverted to Calais - Dover. 1987: Home port became Calais. 1986 (late Spring): SNCF formed a subsidiary company Dieppe Ferries to manage the future of their Newhaven service.
Roy Thornton Collection
December 3rd 1987: While berthing damaged her bow visor when she hit SEAFREIGHT SEAWAY January 22nd 1990: Registered to Societé Propietaire des Navaires (SPN), Paris, France.
© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic)
July 2nd 1990: Rebuilt and commenced service between Dieppe - Newhaven, (Home port Dieppe). March 26th 1992: Following months of industrial unrest Sealink SNAT announced that the Newhaven to Dieppe was to be closed or sold off. Following this announcement the crews of the routes 2 vessels immediately went on strike. April 1992: Its announced that the Newhaven to Dieppe route had been purchased by Sealink Stena Line. May 1st 1992: Chartered to Sealink Stena Line Ltd, Ashford, England. May 26th 1992: Arrived at A.&P. Appledore, Southampton, England for rebuilding.
© Andreas Wörteler
June 3rd 1992: Re-entered service from Newhaven to Dieppe under the French flag renamed Stena Parisien.
 
© Craig Nelson (left) and Andreas Wörteler (right)
November 16th 1992: Sealink Stena Line officially changed its name to Stena Sealink Line. July 12th 1995: Agreement between Stena Sealink Line and French partners S.N.A.T. would terminate
 
© Brian Pawley
from December 31st 1995. From that time onwards S.N.A.T. would trade as SeaFrance. December 31st 1995: Stena Sealink adopted the trading name on Stena Line.
 
© Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic left) and Andy Gilbert (right)
September 2nd 1996: Suffered an engine-room fire which was kept under control with minimal damage. January 10th 1997: Final day in operation between Newhaven - Dieppe and charter came to an end.
 
© Andreas Wörteler (left) and Joe @ Ferry Fantastic (right)
January 8th 1997 - January 10th 1997: Rebuilt, including stern `duck tail' sponsons, in Dunkerque, renamed SEAFRANCE MANET. Registered to Seafrance S.A, Calais, France.
 
© Andreas Wörteler
January 20th 1997: Introduced by Seafrance between Calais - Dover.
 
© Andreas Wörteler (left) and Nigel Thornton (right)
April 29th 2005: “A fire broke out while the vessel was undergoing repairs at a lay-by berth in the port of Calais.…” 11 seafarers were slightly injured. Beginning in a mattress it destroyed two crew cabins. It was extinguished by crew, though fire-fighters from all the Calais area were called. The ship was back in service May 1st. September 2005: Lay up in Dunkerque October 11th 2005: Returned to service.
 
© Ray Goodfellow
2006: Currently in service Calais - Dover as a freight vessel.
 
© Stéphane Poulain
February 2007: Refit at the ARNO dry dock facility in Dunkerque.
 
© Robert Fournier (left) and © Joe@ Ferry Fantastic (right)
December 27th 2007: Seafrance announce that they have purchased a new vessel to replace both the Seafrance Manet and Seafrance Renoir. It is believed that the Manet will be retained as fleet spare until 2009.
Seafrance Manet arriving at Dover on her penultimate sailing 29/04/08 © John Hendy
April 29th 2008: Final sailing between Dover - Calais. After a lay-up in Calais she is then due to proceed to Dunkerque to await her disposal. April 30th 2008: Laid up in Calais.
Seafrance Manet laid up in Calais on the 03/07/08 © John Hendy
December 19th 2008: (13.00 hrs) left Calais bound for Dunkerque and laid-up
 
© Robert Fournier  
Dunkerque, February 2009 © Jean-Guy Hagelstein
July 8th 2009: Stena Line officially announced they were purchasing the SEAFRANCE MANET to operate Belfast - Stranraer. After a comprehensive refit she will join the STENA CALEDONIA and STENA VOYAGER in the autumn. August 27th 2009: Entered dry-dock at ARNO. Anticipated stay 3 weeks. September 9th 2009: Information received that she will be renamed STENA NAVIGATOR.
 
Dunkerque © Robert Fournier
September 23rd 2009: Left Dunkerque. September 25th 2009: Arrived in Belfast.
© Alan Geddes 
© Trevor Kidd
October 8th 2008: Renamed STENA NAVIGATOR, Registry, London. 
© Alan Geddes
October 29th 2009: Conducted sea-going trials.
 
© Trevor Kidd
12th November 2009: Duly enters service between Belfast and Stranraer.
© Gordon Hislip
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