MS Norman Spirit
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
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| Owner: |
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| Operator: |
 DFDS
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| Port of registry: |
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| Route: | Dover - Calais |
| Builder: | Boelwerf shipyard, Temse, Belgium |
| Cost: | $100,000,000 |
| Completed: | 1991 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 8908466 |
| Status: | In Service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 28,838 GT |
| Displacement: | 11,853 Tonnes |
| Length: | 163.4 m (536.1 ft) |
| Beam: | 27.6 m (90.6 ft) |
| Draft: | 6.2 m (20.3 ft) |
| Installed power: | 4 Sulzer diesel engines |
| Propulsion: | 2 propellers |
| Speed: | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Capacity: |
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MS Calais Seaways is a passenger and vehicle ferry operated jointly by LD Lines and DFDS Seaways between Dover and Calais.
The Prins Filip was built for Belgian operator Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT) in 1991, entering service in 1992 on its route between Dover and Ostend. She remained in service with RMT when its UK port was switched to Ramsgate and until RMT's operations ceased in 1997.
On 14 September 1994, an accident resulted in 6 deaths when a linkspan collapsed. Foot passengers were boarding the Prins Filip at Ramsgate. All publicity at the time was focused on Sally Line and Thanet District Council, the port owners, and not RMT or the Prins Filip.
Following a lay-up in Dunkirk, she was acquired by Stena Line in 1998, renamed Stena Royal and initially used on freight services between Dover and Zeebrugge on charter to P&O Stena Line. In 1999, P&O Stena Line decided to extend the charter and transferred the ship to its Dover-Calais route. Stena Royal was extensively refurbished to include the P&O Stena 'Brand World' concept and entered service on the Calais route as the POSL Aquitaine, following the naming pattern for P&O Stena Line vessels.
In 2000, the POSL Aquitaine failed to stop whilst berthing at Calais due to a propeller fault. The crash caused many injuries and extensive damage to both the ship and berth.
P&O Stena Line was a short-lived venture, ending in 2002 when P&O acquired Stena Line's share in the operation. However, the POSL Aquitaine remained in service, initially under the name PO Aquitaine, then as the Pride of Aquitaine from early 2003 until May 2005 when she was withdrawn following the introduction of two new P&O ferries.
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