Roy Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw motor vessel, built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast (Yard No. 1716), for Sealink U.K. in 1980 as a passenger and roll-on roll-off car and commercial vehicle ferry. Engined by Crossley-Pielstick. Launched 20th, March 1980.

Technical Data

MMSI Number - 242026000(2004)

IMO Number - 7813949(2004)

Length on deck - 129.40 m (overall)

120.70 m (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 21.00 m (moulded), 21.60m (overall)

Depth to upper deck - 11.80m

Depth to ‘B’ deck - 13.20 m

Draught - 4.72 m (scanting)

4.65 m (service)

Tonnage - 7,399 gross

3,386 net

1,755 deadweight

Engines - Two Crossley-Pielstick medium speed 16PC2-5V diesels, 10400 bhp at 520 revs/min

Speed - 19.5 knots (service)

Capacity - 1,400 passengers, 309 cars, or 62 x 12m road haulage vehicles and 40 cars

or a mixture of the two. Loaded on two decks as follows: Main Deck

(height 4,42m) 12 cars or 28 x 12m road haulage vehicles. Upper deck :

(height 4.42m) 187 cars or 34 x 12m road haulage vehicles and 40 cars

Call Sign - GBRN (1980), CNA3723 (2004)

History

March 18^th 1980: Christened, but launch was delayed for two days owing to storms. Owned by Barclays Mercantile Industrial Finance Ltd and to be bare-boat chartered to Sealink UK. Cost £16 million.

March 20^th 1980: Launched.

Roy Thornton Collection

March 14^th 1981: Delivered to Sealink UK, London, England.

March 15^th 1981: Commenced service between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

Roy Thornton Collection

March 19^th 1981: Fishguard - Rosslare due to overhaul of STENA NORMANDICA

April 13^th 1981: Arrived at Dover.

April 15^th 1981: Maiden voyage between Dover - Calais.

© Fotoflite, Roy Thornton Collection

November 1981: Made a first Dover - Ostend sailing.

1982: During refit had her bridge deck, aft of her funnels converted for passenger use.

August 1982: Off service with engine problems.

April 2^nd 1983: Stern superstructure rebuilt at Harland & Wolff, Belfast.

June 9^th 1983: Arrived back in Dover.

July 18^th 1984: Sale of Sealink U.K. to Sea Containers Ltd, Bermuda. Company changed name to Sealink British Ferries U.K.

July 27^th 1984: Registered to Sea Containers Ltd.

October 1986: Off service with crankshaft problems.

May 4^th 1987: Owing to high winds in Calais, “made contact” with SPIRIT OF FREE ENTERPRISE. Minimal damage caused and able to continue.

October 16^th - 17^th 1987: During hurricane gusts off South East England hit by seas of such force that the steel door on her upper deck below the bridge was split open and some cargo overturned.

January 1990: Sold to Stena Line, Ab, Göteborg. (Registered to Stena Equipment Ltd. London) Commenced service for Sealink Stena Line.

October 1990: Renamed STENA ANTRIM then to Fishguard - Rosslare after refit.

February 8^th 1991: Arrived back in Dover.

1991:Stena full takeover of Sealink U.K. Ltd for a sum believed to be in the region of £259 million. The fleets livery was changed to reflect the fact.

April 4^th 1991: Final day operating between Dover - Calais.

April 7^th 1991: Commenced service between Stranraer - Larne.

November 12^th 1995: Commenced service between Stranraer - Belfast.

December 31^st, 1995 (midnight): Stena Sealink Line ceased as a company name and all ships in the fleet adopted the trading name of Stena Line. The fleet were painted in the new Stena Line livery.

July 21^st 1996: Final day operating between Stranraer - Larne. Laid up in Belfast.

October 28^th 1996: Commenced service between Newhaven - Dieppe.

March 10^th 1998: Commenced service with P&O Stena Line Ltd between Newhaven - Dieppe.

April 22^nd 1998: Final day operating between Newhaven - Dieppe.

April 24^th 1998: Laid up in Zeebrügge.

1998: Sold to Limadet and renamed the IBN BATOUTA.

June 13^th 1998: Left Zeebrugge for Malaga.

July 1998: Commenced service between Tangier - Algeciras

March/April 2006: Refit and trading brand scheme alteration in Genoa.

2007: Still in service.

We would like to thank: Manuel Dhondt, Enrico Righetti, Naomi Thornton, Benoit Donne, Andreas Wörteler, Aubrey Dale and Ed Connell (Ships in the Port of Dover) for there assistance in producing this feature. All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions.