MV Free Enterprise (1966)
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
Free Enterprise III (until 11 May 1982) |
| Owner: |
Stanhope SS Co Ltd. |
| Operator: |
Townsend Car Ferries Ltd. |
| Port of registry: |
1984: Douglas |
| Route: |
1966-84: Channel ferry |
| Builder: | NV Werf "Gusto", Schiedam, Netherlands[2] |
| Yard number: | 538 |
| Launched: | 14 May 1966[1] |
| Maiden voyage: | 22 July 1966[1] |
| Identification: | IMO number: 6611461 |
| Fate: | 2004: wrecked near Jeddah |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 4,657 GRT; 839 DWT |
| Length: | 117.51 m (385.5 ft)[3] |
| Beam: | 19.08 m (62.6 ft) |
| Draught: | 4.06 m (13.3 ft) |
| Installed power: | 2 x 12-cylinder, four-stroke J & K Smit-MAN RBL6612 and 2 x six-cylinder units of 11,540 bhp at 275 rpm |
| Propulsion: | twin-screw |
| Speed: | 20 kn (23 mph) |
| Capacity: | 1,200 passengers; 120 cars |
MV Free Enterprise III was a Ro-Pax vessel built in 1966 as a cross-channel ferry, operated by Townsend Thoresen mainly on the Calais and Zeebrugge routes from Dover. She was sold to Egyptian owners in 1986 and wrecked in the Red Sea in 2004.
History
Free Enterprise III was built in 1966 by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam, Netherlands, for Townsend Brothers Ferries.[4] In 1968, the company became European Ferries, continuing to operate services as Townsend Thoresen.[5]
In 1984, Free Enterprise III was sold to Maltese owners, Mira Shipping Line, Valletta, and renamed Tamira. She returned to UK waters later the same year when she was purchased by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. After rebuilding with additional accommodation, Mona's Isle (VI), entered service between Heysham and Douglas in April 1985.[4] She was not a success and was laid up in October 1985.
She was sold again in April 1986, to Egyptian owners, Sadaka Shipping, who renamed her Al Fahad. She served in Saudi Arabia for another twelve years. Suffering engine problems in June 2004,[6] she anchored in the Red Sea and was subsequently abandoned as a wreck 35km south of Jeddah.[7]
Service
Free Enterprise III operated on the Dover-Calais service, adding Dover-Zeebrugge from 1967. During the summer of 1974, she spent time on the Cairnryan-Larne route. In summer 1981, Free Enterprise III operated between Portsmouth and Cherbourg.[4]
See also
- List of shipwrecks
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "M/S Free Enterprise III" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ↑ "Free Enterprise III". Shipspotting. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ↑ "Al Fahad". The ferry site. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Free Enterprise III - Tamira - Mona's Isle - Al Fahad". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ↑ "Chapter 4 European Ferries Group PLC" (PDF). Competition Commission. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ↑ "Mystery Ship". Maritime Research of Uddevalla. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
- ↑ "Al Fahad". Shipspotting. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
External links
- Free Enterprise III shipwreck on Wikimapia
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