Steel twin screw motor vessel , built by Boelwerf of Temse, Belgium (Yard No. 1534), for Belgian Marine Authorities (R.M.T.) in 1991 as a passenger and roll-on roll-off car and commercial vehicle ferry. Engined by Sulzer Bros and launched in 1992.
Dover (1999), Italy (2005), United Kingdom (current 2006)
MMSI Number - 232003865
IMO Number - 8908466
Length - 163.4m overall
Breadth - 27.7m overall
Draught - 6.20m Maximum
Tonnage - 28,883 gross
11,299 net
4,050 deadweight
Engines - Four Sulzer 8ZAL40S diesels
Power - 21120 kW
Speed - 21,0 knots
Capacity - 1400 passengers 710 cars or approximately 120 freight units
Cabins - 121
Crew - 61
Call Sign - MYBY8, MMUC3 (2005 - )
History
May 2nd 1990; Keel laid
Early Artist's impression of the Prins Filip. Ray Goodfellow Collection
May 24th 1991: On the same day as RMT crew decided to protest and picket the builders yard she was officially named by the Belgian successor to the throne, Prins Filip
September 2nd 1991: Left for sea-trials.
September 6th 1991: Went to Dover for berthing trials.
September 8th 1991: Returned to her builders after her owners claimed that there were vibration problems with the vessel.
September 21st 1991: Sailed for further sea-trials before returning to Ostend on the 22nd.
October 10th 1991: Docked in Antwerp and it wasn’t until February 10th, 1992 that she left for Cockerill’s yard carrying 40 tons of steel (in an attempt to alleviate the problem) , for the necessary repairs and alterations.
April 26th 1992: Left Hoboken for Ostend.
May 4th 1992: Delivered to Regie Voor Maritime Transport, Ostend, Belgium. (Ship Finance N.V Ostende, Belgium).
May 12th 1992: Made her maiden voyage between Ostend and Dover.
May 15th 1992: She was introduced between Ostend and Dover.
1993 (end): Announced that the Belgian company did not intend to renew its marketing agreement with P & O , but instead concluded a deal with Sally Line. With effect from the following January RMT became known simply as Oostende Lines , transferring all its Ostend services, including Jetfoil operations from Dover to Sally’s base at Ramsgate
January 27th 1994: She made her maiden voyage from Ostend to Ramsgate. The weather conditions were not favourable, with winds WSW blowing between 30 to 45 knots,. She duly arrived and while swing off the berth was caught by the wind on her port side, drifted sideways and ended up across the entrance to the old harbour with her stern on a mud bank and her bow resting on the west pier. Two tugs attempted to push her away. One tugs engines overheated and after 90 minutes the vessel berthed.
January 30th 1994: Commenced regular service Ostend - Ramsgate.
September 14th 1994: In berth at Ramsgate when the collapse of a pedestrian walkway leading to the death of six people and seven serious injuries was one of the most serious onshore accidents in the recent history of the ferry industry.
February 28th 1997: Completed her last crossing.
April 29th 1997: Laid-up at Dunkerque.
Nigel Thornton Collection
May 1998: Sold to Stena Ferries Ltd, Hamilton, Bermuda.
June 2nd 1998: Renamed STENA ROYAL she was laid-up at Dunkerque.
P & O Stena Line was a British private sector company, 60% owned by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company and 40% owned by Stena Line AB of Sweden. The new company took over the Dover and Newhaven services of P & O European Ferries and Stena Line in March 1998. March March 3rd 1998: All vessels operated under the P & OSL banner.
April 27th 2000: Following a technical failure approaching the port of Calais the POSL Aquitaine entered the harbour to quickly resulting in a collision with berth 7. As a result of the collision 38 people suffered minor injuries.
April 27th 2000: She was then sent to Dunkerque for temporary repairs.
May 5th 2000 - May 31st 2000: Underwent repairs at A&P Yards at Falmouth .
June 1st 2000: Resumed between Dover and Calais.
2002 (End of): The P & O Stena combine ended. The Dover-Calais fleet adopted the appropriate P & O “Pride of ….” names, the P & OSL labels being dropped….All vessels had their Stena house flag removed from their funnel, along with the deletion of the name Stena from their hulls. The POSL Aquitaine was renamed P O AQUITAINE.
During a dispute at Calais involving French seamen the words “Seafrance” were painted on her hull.
May 2005: As a part of P&O's fundamental business review it was announced that the Pride of Aquitaine would be withdrawn from service along with the Pride of Provence. The Aquitaine was to see out the remainder of her charter laid up in Dunkerque, France before a return to Stena Line.
May 5th 2005: “PRIDE OF KENT returns to service, after refit, ex Dover on 5/5/05. PRIDE OF AQUITAINE'S last journey is 1315 ex Dover. Return 1620 ex Calais is cancelled that day.”
“To be withdrawn on or as from 5th May 2005 once the PRIDE OF KENT returns from refit. She will proceed to A&P Falmouth for refit, then to Dunkerque (again!) to await her next call.”
May 6th 2005: Delay in return from refit of PRIDE OF KENT, 7 day reprieve.
May 18th 2005: ‘Left Dover for A & P, Falmouth to be refitted and renamed STENA ROYAL(?)’
June 2005: Due to sail to Dunkerque via Portsmouth. There was much speculation about her future with rumours abounding (one that she would sail for TransEuropa from Ramsgate)
June 5th 2005: Arrived in Dover mysteriously flying two flags indicating “ I offered help, but was declined”! She had not been renamed.
June 7th 2005: Sailed to Dunkerque (“Port Autonome De Dunkerque” code 108035, name PRIDE OF AQUITAINE, agent AGENA TRAMP, berth F08/1 SUD, from PORTSMOUTH, arrival date and time 07/06/2005 11:00)
October 1st 2005: LD Lines (Louis Dreyfus Lines, headquartered in Paris) announced a new cross-channel "no-frills" service. The daily service would depart from Portsmouth, UK at 2300 arriving the following morning in Le Havre, France at 0730. It would then sail from Le Havre at 1700 arriving back in Portsmouth at 2130.
October 2nd 2005: Left Dunkerque bound for Portsmouth.
October 2nd 2005: (1600 hrs) Arrived in Portsmouth.
October 3rd 2005: Anticipated entry into service between Le Havre - Portsmouth.
October 2005: Purchased by LD Lines from Stena Ro Ro.
Nigel Thornton Collection
October 3rd 2005: Commenced service.
December 8th 2005: French seafarers blocked Le Havre ferry terminal yesterday, preventing her from berthing. The CFDT union members were angry that the ship had been flagged under the Italian second registration, which allows the company to use cheaper non-European staff. She had to stay off port all day and was only able to berth in the evening.
2006: Registered owner: Louis Dreyfus Ferry, France.
Registered manager: V Ships Leisure, Monaco
June 2006: Transferred to British flag, home port Southampton
November 13th 2006: Arrived at Dunkerque for overhaul.
July 8th 2008: Port of Boulogne Authority, the Boulogne Chamber of Commerce, has announced the introduction of a new freight and passenger ferry service between the ports of Dover (Eastern Docks) and Boulogne to be operated by LD Lines.
It is understood that the Norman Spirit will transfer to this service in the Summer of 2009.
Please click on the image below to see onboard images from the Norman Spirit
October 2nd 2009: It's announced that the Norman Spirit is due to leave the Portsmouth-Le Havre route and will take up service on the Dover-Boulogne route in place of the Norman Arrow as of the 8th of November 2009.
November 8th 2009 (10.30 hrs GMT): Arrived in Boulogne for berthing trials prior to taking up service.
8th February 2010: LD Lines and Transeuropa Ferries have announced a commercial agreement to commence a collaboration on the Ramsgate – Ostend freight and passenger ferry service, initially operating one vessel together.
Starting between 15th and 30th March 2010, the two companies will co-operate on commercial aspects of the route with LD Lines taking a lead in the development of the tourist passenger business, whilst Transeuropa Ferries will continue to build its focus on freight traffic and ship operations.
The agreement also includes fleet changes with LD Lines’ Norman Spirit transferring to the route, which Transeuropa Ferries will operate on a long term charter basis.
Norman Spirit will be re-named Ostend Spirit, operating two return sailings daily, with a crossing time of four hours. The ship is expected to replace one of the current Transeuropa Ferries’ fleet later in 2010.
21st March 2010: Renamed `Ostend Spirit' with a new port of registry, Ramsgate, United Kingdom. Whilst alongside in Ostend she is repainted in the joint livery of Trans Europa Ferries and LD Lines.
26th March 2010: Departed Ostend for Ramsgate and berthing trials.
27th March 2010: Enter commercial service between Ostend and Ramsgate.
1st April 2010: Owing to an incident involving the `Norman Arrow' at Portsmouth the `Norman Bridge' is transferred to operate the Portsmouth - Le Havre service. The `Ostend Spirit' is sent to Dover to cover the Boulogne route.
2nd April 2010: Arrives in Dover to take up the 0700 sailing to Boulogne.
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions.
We would like to thank: Micke Asklander (Faktaomfartyg), Gary Davies (Maritime Photographic), Robert Fournier, Robert “Bob” Smith, Andreas Wörteler, Joe (Ferry Fantastic), Ed Connell (Ships in the Port of Dover), Craig Nelson, Ted Ingham, Manuel Dhondt, Stéphane Poulain, Nicolas Levy, Jean-Guy Hagelstein, Michael Moons, Tobias Stuyts, Mark Leiper, Michel Elias and Ken Larwood for there help in producing this feature.
Mv Prins Filip, Stena Royal, POSL Aquitaine, PO Aquitaine, Pride of Aquitaine, Norman Spirit, Ostend Spirit
