MV Duc de Normandie

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Duc de Normandie was a ferry operated by Brittany Ferries. MV Prinses Beatrix was built in 1978 by Verolme Shipyard, in Holland and worked for Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland on their joint Sealink route between Hoek van Holland and Harwich, Parkeston Quay. Brittany Ferries bought the ferry on 1 October 1985, and after chartering it for a year back to SMZ, renamed it Duc de Normandie, operating between Portsmouth and Ouistreham from 5 June 1986. The ferry sailed alongside MV Reine Mathilde on its favoured route to Ouistreham. In 2002, she was transferred to the Plymouth - Roscoff route, replacing the MV Quiberon. She ended her Brittany Ferries career on this route, her final sailing being on 30th September 2004.

Particular features of the Duc were a calvados still in the Alambic bar and a cider press at the wine bar.

Brittany Ferries sold the Duc in 2005 to TransEuropa Ferries, operating between Ramsgate and Ostend under the name MV Wisteria .

[edit] Naming history

• Prinses Beatrix - SMZ: 1978-1985
• Duc de Normandie - Brittany Ferries: 1985-2005
• Wisteria - TransEuropa Ferries: 2005-to the present

[edit] Statistics

• Gross Tonnage: 9,367
• Length: 131m
• Beam: 22m
• Speed: 21knots
• Crew: -
• Cars: 350
• Passengers: 1500
• Renovated: 1986 & 1992

[edit] External links

• Brittany Ferries Enthusiasts feature -Goodbye to the Duc