MS European Seaway
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | European Seaway |
| Owner: |
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| Operator: |
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| Port of registry: |
Dover,  United Kingdom |
| Builder: | Schichau Unterweser AG, Germany |
| Yard number: | 1075 |
| Laid down: | 15 October 1990 |
| Launched: | 20 April 1991 |
| Completed: | 2 October 1991 |
| Maiden voyage: | 7 October 1991 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9007283 |
| Status: | In operation |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 22,986 tonnes |
| Length: | 179.7 m (589.6 ft) |
| Beam: | 28.3 m (92.8 ft) |
| Draft: | 6.27 m (20.6 ft) |
| Installed power: | 4 x Sulzer 8ZA40S Diesels |
| Propulsion: | Two controllable pitch propellers |
| Speed: | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Capacity: |
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MS European Seaway is a cross-channel freight ferry operated by P&O Ferries from Dover.
History
MS European Seaway was the first of four freight ferries ordered by P&O European Ferries in the early 90's for the Dover - Zeebrugge route. She remained on the Dover – Zeebrugge route until 2000 when she alternated between the Calais and Zeebrugge routes. In 2003 she was moved to Dover – Calais full-time after the Zeebrugge route closed but was laid up in 2004 returning to the route in 2005. In September 2011 she was laid up again, but brought back into service in November 2011 following the SeaFrance suspension. From late April until October 2012, she was chartered to Centrica Renewable Energy Limited as an accommodation vessel for technicians working on the Lynn and Inner Dowsing Wind Farm.[1] This charter required the addition of lifting equipment, boarding ladders and hull access doors to the exterior of the vessel. She then returned to Dover - Calais service until April 2013, when she was again laid up in Tilbury. European Seaway is currently conducting its duties as a hotel vessel for a European utility company: RWE is building its windfarm NSO (Nordsee Ost), therefore European Seaway has been chartered after successful audit.
The European Seaway will return to the Dover-Calais route for the peak season from the beginning of August 2015. It is expected to make eight sailings a day. The European Seaway will supplement P&O Ferries' existing five ship fleet on Dover-Calais which makes up to 50 sailings a day.[2]
Sister ships
- MS Pride of Burgundy
- MS Pride of Canterbury (formerly European Pathway)
- MS Pride of Kent (formerly European Highway)
As built the ship was identical to European Highway and European Pathway. The fourth 'European Class' freight ferry was converted to a multi-purpose vessel for the Dover-Calais route and named MS Pride of Burgundy though she still retained a number of similarities. European Seaway is now the only member of the class in 'as built' condition following the conversion of the European Pathway and European Highway, now MS Pride of Kent and MS Pride of Canterbury respectively, to multi-purpose ships for the Dover-Calais route.[3]
