MS Sherbatskiy

For other ships of the same name, see Pride of Bruges.
MV Oleander approaching Oostende
Career
Name: Sherbatskiy (2013 onwards)
Oleander (2001-2013)
P&OSL Picardy (1999-2001)
Pride of Bruges (1987-1999)
Pride of Free Enterprise (1980-1987)
Owner: Novgorod Shipping Ltd (2013 onwards)
Seabourne Navigational Company Limited (2001-2013)
P&O European Ferries (1987-2001)
Townsend Thoresen (1980-1987)
Operator: Acciona Trasmediterranea (2013 onwards)
Ferrimaroc (2012)
Comarit (2010-2011)
TransEuropa Ferries (2001-2010)
P&O Stena Line (1998-2001)
P&O European Ferries (1987-1998)
Townsend Thoresen (1980-1987)
Port of registry: Limassol,  Cyprus (2001 onwards)
Dover,  United Kingdom (1980-2001)
Builder: Schichau Unterweser AG, Germany
Yard number: 2281
Launched: 1979
Maiden voyage: 1980
Identification: Call sign: P3ZJ8
IMO number: 7820497
MMSI number: 210422000
Status: in active service, as of 2015
General characteristics
Tonnage:13,728 tons[1]
Length:132.5 m (434 ft 9 in)[1]
Beam:23.15 m (75 ft 11 in)[1]
Draught:5.72 m (18 ft 9 in)[1]
Installed power:24000 bhp[1]
Propulsion:3 × Sulzer 12ZV40/48 engines
Speed:22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)[1]
Capacity:1,326 passengers[1]

MS Sherbatskiy is a RORO Passenger and Freight ferry operating services between Almeria and Nador on a time-charter basis to the Spanish ferry operator Acciona Trasmediterranea. The ship was formerly called the MS Oleander (2001-2013), P&OSL Picardy (1999-2001), Pride of Bruges (1987-1999) and Pride of Free Enterprise (1980-1987). She was operated by FerriMaroc and Comarit between 2010 and 2011 and previously owned and operated by TransEuropa Ferries between Ramsgate and Ostend. FerriMaroc owned the ferry between 2001 and 2013 and operated her between 2001 and 2010 before placing her on charter.

History

Pride of Free Enterprise was built by Schichau Unterweser AG for European Ferries services between Dover and Calais, initially entering service with them in 1980.[2] In 1987 European Ferries was purchased by P&O European Ferries; in the same year her sister ship, Herald of Free Enterprise capsized just outside Zeebrugge. As a result of these two events, Pride of Free Enterprise was renamed the Pride of Bruges under a rebranding exercise undertaken by P&O following the bad publicity of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster.[3]

In 1998 P&O European Ferries merged its Short sea routes with Stena Line to form P&O Stena Line. As a result of this merger the vessels were again rebranded, this time the vessel was renamed to P&OSL Picardy.[2] In 2000 P&OSL Picardy was laid up pending sale, eventually being sold to Transeuropa Ferries.[2]

Transeuropa Ferries renamed the vessel Oleander and introduced a freight only service between Ramsgate and Oostende which began on 4 July 2002.[4] Two years later, on 20 July 2004 the Oleander was joined by the Larkspur to provide a joint passenger/freight service also operating between the two ports.[5] From 2010 onwards the Oleander was often sailing on the Spain - Morocco lines on short term leases from TEF to Comarit or FerriMaroc.[2] When TEF went into bankruptcy in April 2013 the Oleander moved on more permanent basis to Acciona Trasmediterránea and sails on the Almeria to Nador route as M/F Sherbatskiy.[2]

Sister ships

References

External links