Stena Navigator in Belfast |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | 1984-1992: Champs Elysees 1992-1997: Stena Parisien 1997-2009: SeaFrance Manet 2009 onwards: Stena Navigator |
| Owner: | 1984-1990: SNCF 1990-1997: SPN 1997-2009: SeaFrance 2009-2011: Stena Line 2011 onwards: Balearia |
| Operator: | 1984-1986: SNCF 1986-1990: Dieppe Ferries 1990-1992: SPN 1992-1997: Sealink Stena Line Ltd 1997-2009: SeaFrance 2009-2011: Stena Line |
| Port of registry: | London |
| Route: |
1997-2009: Dover-Calais |
| Builder: | Chantiers Dubigeon S.A |
| Yard number: | 167 |
| Launched: | 21 December 1983 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 8208763 |
| Status: | Laid up |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 9,069 gross (1983), 15,093 (1992) GT (gross tonnage) |
| Length: | 130 m (427 ft) |
| Beam: | 22.50 m (74 ft) |
| Installed power: | 15840 kW |
| Propulsion: | Two 4T - 16-cylinder SEMT-Pielstick diesels |
| Speed: | 18.5 kn (34.26 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 1,800 passengers, 330 cars or 43 freight vehicles |
MS Stena Navigator was a ferry owned by Stena Line, operated on their Belfast - Stranraer route until 16 November 2011.[1] She was built in 1984 by Chantiers Dubigeon S.A. in Prairie-au-Duc, Nantes, France for SNCF as Champs Elysees. From 1997 to 2009, she was owned by SeaFrance under the name SeaFrance Manet,[2] until she was bought from SeaFrance in 2009. Stena Navigator was totally overhauled in October 2009 for the beginning of service with Stena Line.
Contents |
Champs Elysées was built in 1984 by Chantiers Dubigeon S.A., Prairie-au-Duc, Nantes, for SNCF's Calais-Dover services, which were shared with their Sealink partners. She also operated between Boulogne-Dover. In 1990, ownership of Champs Elysées was transferred to Societé Propietaire des Navaires (SPN), in which Stena Line took a 49% interest (Stena having acquired the UK-owned Sealink operation).[3]
In 1990, ownership of Champs Elysées was transferred to Societé Propietaire des Navaires (SPN), in which Stena Line took a 49% interest (Stena having acquired the UK-owned Sealink operation). Champs Elysées was transferred to the Newhaven-Dieppe service, which at that time was run by SPN.
In 1992 Champs Elysées was chartered to Sealink Stena Line when they took over the Newhaven-Dieppe service, for which she was renamed Stena Parisien. In 1997 the charter was ended, and Stena Parisien entered service between Dover-Calais for SeaFrance as SeaFrance Manet.
In 1997, the Stena Line charter was ended, and Stena Parisien entered service between Dover-Calais for SeaFrance as the SeaFrance Manet. In 1999, Stena Line sold their 49% back to SPN. On December 27, 2007, SeaFrance announced that they have purchased a new vessel to replace both the Seafrance Manet and Seafrance Renoir. The SeaFrance Manet was retained by SeaFrance as a spare vessel in the fleet, until 2009. April 29, 2008 saw the final sailing of SeaFrance Manet between Dover - Calais. Afterwards, she was laid up in Calais.
On July 8, 2009, Stena Line officially announced they were purchasing the SeaFrance Manet to operate on their Belfast - Stranraer route. After a comprehensive refit she joined the Stena Caledonia and Stena Voyager in the autumn of 2009.
On November 2011, the ship would form part of the fleet of "Baleària", a spanish-based shipping company. The contract was interrumped by Eurolineas Marítimas SAL (Balearia) in December 2011. The ferry is currently laid-up in Belfast.
In March 2011, Stena Line announced the Stena Navigator and her running partners on the Belfast - Stranraer route (Stena Caledonia and Stena Voyager) were to be replaced in autumn 2011 by the Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII chartered from Estonian ferry operator Tallink.[4] Stena Navigator was withdrawn from service with Stena Line on 16 November 2011 and is currently laid up in Belfast. She was due to leave for southern Spain at the end of November.[5]