MS Oscar Wilde

MV Oscar Wilde docked in Rosslare harbour
History
Name:	1987 - 2007: Kronprins Harald 2007 - present: Oscar Wilde
Owner:	1987 - 1990: Jahre Line 1990 - 2003: Color Line 2003 - 2007: M/V Color Harald AS 2007 - present: Irish Ferries
Operator:	1987 - 1990: Jahre Line 1990 - 2007: Color Line 2007 - present: Irish Ferries
Builder:	Wärtsilä Marine Perno Shipyard, Turku, Finland
Yard number:	1292
Launched:	31 August 1986
Christened:	23 March 1987
Acquired:	23 March 1987
In service:	26 March 1987
Homeport:	1987 - 1990: Sandefjord,  Norway 1990 - 2007: Oslo,  Norway 2007 - present: Rosslare, Ireland,  Ireland
Identification:	IMO number: 8506311
Notes:	In service
General characteristics (as built)
Tonnage:	31,122 GT 5,250 DWT
Length:	166.30 m (545.60 ft)
Beam:	28.41 m (93.21 ft)
Draught:	6.50 m (21.33 ft)
Installed power:	2 × Sulzer-Wärtsilä 12ZAV40 2 × Sulzer-Wärtsilä 6ZAL40 19,800 kW (combined)
Speed:	22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity:	1,440 passengers 1,440 passenger beds 700 cars 1,220 lanemeters
General characteristics (currently)
Tonnage:	31,914 GT
Speed:	21.5 knots (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph) (service) 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) (maximum)
Capacity:	1,458 passengers 580 cars 1,220 lanemeters
Notes:	Otherwise same as built

MV Oscar Wilde is a cruiseferry owned by Irish Ferries. She is currently in service on Irish Ferries' Rosslare - Cherbourg and Rosslare - Roscoff routes. The ship was built at Wärtsilä Marine Perno Shipyard in Turku, Finland for Jahre Line as MS Kronprins Harald. In 1991 she passed under ownership of Color Line, for whom she sailed until sold to Irish Ferries in 2007.

On delivery Kronprins Harald was placed on Jahre Line's Oslo – Kiel service. In 1990 Jahre Line merged with Norway Line and Fred. Olsen Lines to form Color Line. After the change Kronprins Harald was kept on the same route, only her livery changed from the grey hull of Jahre Line to blue hull of Color Line.

In January 2007 the ship was sold to Irish Ferries in preparation for the delivery of Color Line's new mega-cruiseferry MS Color Magic. Irish Ferries chartered the Kronprins Harald back to Color Line until September 2007. The vessel's final sailing for Color Line took place on 31 August 2007 with the northbound Kiel – Oslo crossing. With her Color Line career over, Irish Ferries took control over her on 2 September 2007. Arriving for rebuilding at Fredericia Skibsværft A/S on 4 September, she was renamed MV Oscar Wilde. She entered service with Irish Ferries in December 2007, replacing MS Normandy.