MV Norland

Career
Name: Norland (1974-2002)
SNAV Sicilia (2002-2010)
Owner: North Sea Ferries (1974-1996)
P&O North Sea Ferries (1996-2002)
SNAV Aliscafo (2002-2010)
Operator: North Sea Ferries (1974-1996)
P&O North Sea Ferries (1996-2002)
SNAV (2002-2010)
Port of registry: Hull,  UK (1974-2006)
Madeira,  Portugal (2006-2007)
Naples,  Italy (2007-2010)
Yard number: 972
Launched: 1974
In service: 1974
Out of service: 2010
Identification: IMO number: 7333822
Fate: Scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type:RORO
Tonnage:12,988 GRT
Length:152.77 m (501.2 ft)
General characteristics after 1987 stretch
Tonnage:26,290 GRT
Length:173.29 m (568.5 ft)
Beam:25.2 m (83 ft)
Draft:6.02 m (19.8 ft)
Propulsion:Two SWD 16TM410
Speed:19 knots (35 km/h)

The Norland was a P&O roll-on/roll-off ferry operating between Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire, UK, and Rotterdam Europoort, Netherlands, and then Zeebrugge, Belgium. The 27,000 tonne ferry was built in 1974 by AG Weser, Bremerhaven, for Dutch North Sea Ferries partners Noordzee Veerdiensten N.V. Sistership MV Norstar sailed under Dutch flag and Norland under British flag and with (mainly) British crew. The ship transferred to P&O North Sea Ferries in 1996.

Falklands Service

During the Falklands War, the Ministry of Defence requisitioned the Norland to be used as a troopship in the Task Force sent to retake the Falkland Islands from Argentina. Norland was among the ships to enter San Carlos Water during the amphibious landings of Commandos and Paratroopers. The ship survived attack from the Argentine Air Force, and at the end of the war repatriated the defeated Argentine troops back home, alongside the Canberra.[1] For this service Norland received the battle honour "Falkland Islands 1982,"[2] which for many years was displayed in one of the passenger lounges, with a painting of the ship in San Carlos Water.

Post P&O

In 2002, the Norland was sold to SNAV as the SNAV Sicilia for service between Naples and Palermo.[3]

The ship was broken up in India in the summer of 2010.

References

  1. Falkland-war details from British Units in the Falklands War website, visited 22 November 2009
  2. http://yourdemocracy.newstatesman.com/parliament/defence/HAN11705812
  3. "The Ferry Site SNAV Sicilia". Retrieved 21 December 2009.