WESTERN LIGHT (ex SEAFRANCE CÉZANNE / FIESTA/ CHANNEL SEAWAY / FANTASIA / TRAPEZITA / SOCA / ARIADNE) 7806099 - niferry.co.uk

Introduction to European Seaway EUROPEAN SEAWAY is a 1991-built Ro-Ro freight ferry owned and operated by P&O Ferries, normally on the Dover Strait between Dover and Calais but also as a relief vessel between Larne and Cairnryan. She was built in Germany as the first of what would ultimately be four vessels, three "Seaway-class" freighters and a single Ro-Pax, PRIDE OF BURGUNDY. While the three freighters were built for the now closed Dover to Zeebrugge service, PRIDE OF BURGUNDY was built specifically for the Dover to Calais route. The arrival of EUROPEAN SEAWAY and her sisters on the Zeebrugge route allowed PRIDE OF WALMER and PRIDE OF SANDWICH to be released for the Larne to Cairnryan route, for which they were renamed PRIDE OF RATHLIN and PRIDE OF AILSA respectively after refurbishment. EUROPEAN SEAWAY is the only one of the trio of freighters left in her original configuration, with sisters EUROPEAN PATHWAY and EUROPEAN HIGHWAY later converted to the Dover to Calais Ro-Pax ferries PRIDE OF CANTERBURY and PRIDE OF KENT. EUROPEAN SEAWAY leaves Larne for another crossing to Cairnryan on 6th May 2017. Copyright © Gary Hall. The first time EUROPEAN SEAWAY visited Northern Ireland was in 2017 as refit relief vessel for EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER and EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY. As she was built as a freight ferry, EUROPEAN SEAWAY does not normally carry passengers other than freight drivers on her regular route, however in her spell operating from Larne in 2017 she carried passengers and cars as well as a limited number of foot passengers. EUROPEAN SEAWAY returned as refit relief vessel at Larne during 2019 when she also carried ‘tourist’ passengers and cars. She left for layup at Dunkirk during mid-July until required again either on her usual Dover to Calais route or at Larne. EUROPEAN SEAWAY was expected to return to the Larne to Cairnryan route in September 2019 in order to cover for a second dry docking of the year for EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY. This visit was cancelled, however, following a reported small fire while moored at Dunkerque on the night of 25/26 August. Stena Line's STENA SUPERFAST VIII and P&O Ferries' EUROPEAN SEAWAY pass off Corsewall, 21.05.19. Copyright © Gordon Hislip. A look Inside Below is a small selection of the photos available in our dedicated "look inside" interior gallery here. Technical Data Name EUROPEAN SEAWAY IMO Number 9007283 MMSI number 232001040 Design Schichau Seebeckwerft AG (SSW), Germany Knud E Hansen AS, Denmark Three Quays Marine Services Building Yard Schichau Seebeckwerft AG (SSW), Bremerhaven, Germany Hull Number 1075 Keel Laid 15/10/1990 Launced 20.04.1991 Year Completed 1991 Delivery date 2.10.991 In service 7.10.1991 (Dover – Zeebrugge) Interior design Call sign MPDG3 Classification Lloyds Register of Shipping Length overall (between perpendiculars) 179.7m (170.0m) Beam 28.3 m Depth 14.85m (moulded) Draft 6.27 m Gross Tonnage 22,986 Machinery 4 x Sulzer 8ZA 40 S 8-Cyl diesel engines producing 5280 kW each @ 510 rpm (Built by Jurgoturbina, Karlovac, Croatia), driven through single reduction gearing to twin screw shafts. 3 x Sulzer 6ATL 25 H 1150 kW diesel auxiliary generator engines. 2 x Lips 4 bladed Controllable pitch propellers. 2 x Lips 1200 kW transverse bow thrusters. Power(Max/Pme @ 75%) 21,120 kw Operational speed 21 kts Capacity (as built) 1925 lm (124 x 15m freight units) 200 passengers 81 cabins with a total of 200 berths Crew (as built) 50 On-board Facilities in use Routemasters Restaurant Passenger Lounge/Bar Channel Shopping Free WiFi Toilets and baby changing facilities Passenger lift NB: As this is normally a freight only vessel, facilities are shared by all passengers. There are no children play facilities onboard. There is limited outside deck space behind the passenger accommodation. Flag Limassol (Cyprus) - since 05.19 Previously Dover (United Kingdom) from construction The History of European Seaway Construction and sister-ships EUROPEAN SEAWAY was ordered by P&O European Ferries from Bremerhaven's Schichau Seebeckwerft as one of what was at first to be 2 (later increased to 4) identical new Seaway (or "Super European") class "super-freighters" for P&O's Dover-Zeebrugge operation. The term "super-freighter" was used in the early 1990's to describe vessels built to carry larger amounts of freight traffic than the previous generation of freight ferry. Significantly, for freight ships, the Seaway class could carry up to 200 passengers. This passenger accommodation was needed to accommodate drivers who accompanied their trailers on the crossing, rather than just leaving it at the port to be picked up by another driver at the destination port. North Sea Ferries (later P&O Ferries') sister ships NORBAY and NORBANK were also described as super-frieghters when conceived. EUROPEAN SEAWAY seen at sea in her P&O original livery. Photograph dated 5.5.94 but photographer unknown (Fotoflite?). NIFS archive However, changing traffic patterns meant that P&O changed the Seaway Class order when construction of the ships was already underway. Subsequently, the fourth vessel was completed with more passenger accommodation, entering service as the multi-purpose passenger and vehicle Ro-Pax ferry PRIDE OF BURGUNDY. Under the original plan she would have been identical to the other ships and named European Causeway. From the 10th of March 1998 the vessels operated under the 'P&O Stena Line' banner, following the establishment of a joint-venture between P&O and Stena Line for their English Channel routes. P&O European Ferries PRIDE OF BURGUNDY. Chantry Classics Postcard. Photo: Mike Louagie. Life after the Zeebrugge service As a result of reduced traffic levels after the opening of the Channel Tunnel and improvements to road connections from Calais, the Zeebrugge route closed at the end of 2002 to release the vessels for Calais. The announcement of this coincided with the announcement that the joint-venture between P&O and Stena Line on the Calais route would end after just 4 years. By now the other route in the joint-venture, the former Stena Line Newhaven-Dieppe route, had been closed with new operator Transmanche Ferries operating the route instead. Official photograph of EUROPEAN SEAWAY in P&O Stena Line livery. P&OSL/Fotoflite. Although three of the vessels were delivered to the original specification as freighters, EUROPEAN SEAWAY is the only vessel now remaining as originally built. EUROPEAN HIGHWAY and EUROPEAN PATHWAY became the passenger RoPax ferries PRIDE OF KENT (II) and PRIDE OF CANTERBURY (II) in 2003 after conversion at Lloyd Werft (this was known within P&O as The Darwin Project - the ships evolved). It had been intended that these vessels would be rebuilt at their original builders yard, but following Schichau Seebeckwerft going out of business the contract went to nearby Lloyd Werft. This was a yard which was no stranger to converting freight ships to cross-channel ferries having successfully converted Sealink's FANTASIA (later STENA FANTASIA) and FIESTA (later SEAFRANCE CEZZANE). Lloyd-Werft would however sub-contract some work to SSW (such as steel work design) which was by now under new management. Coincidentally, PRIDE OF CANTERBURY (I) (ex FANTASIA, STENA FANTASIA) was one of the ships the newly converted vessels would replace following their rebuilds. EUROPEAN HIGHWAY and EUROPEAN PATHWAY were fitted with modernised 'digital' systems during their rebuilds (as was PRIDE OF BURGUNDY), meaning EUROPEAN SEAWAY remains as the only vessel in the quartet with her original 'analogue' systems still in place. EUROPEAN HIGHWAY and EUROPEAN PATHWAY became PRIDE OF KENT(II) and PRIDE OF CANTERBURY (II) and continue to serve the Dover to Calais route. With the closure of the Zeebrugge route, EUROPEAN SEAWAY dedicated to Dover - Calais freight duties. Her large open upper vehicle deck meant she was suitable to carry large amounts of the hazardous cargo which was not allowed to pass through the competing Channel Tunnel. She would only stay in service until November 2003, however, due to over capacity after the introduction of the 'new' PRIDE OF KENT (II) and PRIDE OF CANTERBURY (II) which replaced smaller ships. Following a refit at A&P Falmouth during December 2003, EUROPEAN SEAWAY was used as an accommodation vessel for fleet overhauls at Falmouth and listed for sale. In June 2004 she was moved to Birkenhead for further lay up, though she was removed from the sale list. P&O Ferries - Dover-Calais freight ferry EUROPEAN SEAWAY. Photo: ©2003 Ian Boyle (www.simplonpc.co.uk) At the beginning of 2005, EUROPEAN SEAWAY returned to Dover to resume sailings to Calais. Until August 2010 EUROPEAN SEAWAY didn't stray from the Calais route except for refit's apart from a short period during March 2006 when she operated 6 sailings to Zeebrugge after the collapse of a berth at Calais. Berthing trials were conducted at Boulogne's 'hub port' for a single day in October 2009, however, in order to assess the new port's suitability as a fallback option should Calais be closed. Years later this would prove important as PRIDE OF BURGUNDY, PRIDE OF KENT (II) and PRIDE OF CANTERBURY (II) (which still share the same hull-form as EUROPEAN SEAWAY) would all be required to operate to Boulogne when Calais was blockaded during industrial action related to the closure of MyFerryLink in 2015. Due to a seasonal downturn in traffic EUROPEAN SEAWAY was laid up for much of August 2010. On the 5th of September EUROPEAN SEAWAY filled in for PRIDE OF BURGUNDY and conducted berthing trials at Ramsgate in place of the latter, as PRIDE OF BURGUNDY was to be chartered for the opening of a wind farm and would use the Kent port. EUROPEAN SEAWAY arriving at Calais, May 7th, 2011. Copyright © Paul Smith, some rights reserved. EUROPEAN SEAWAY continued in Dover-Calais service (excluding refit and occasional lay-up's due to lower traffic demand) as required until the end of April 2012. She was then chartered out for wind farm work after modifications at ARNO Dunkerque (including fitting a GIS GCH1600/1SF Electric Chain Hoist, and the upgrading of some of the onboard cabins) to make her more suitable. She returned to Dover-Calais service on 22nd October, where she remained until April 2013 (except for her annual refit, this time on Tyneside). Windfarm Work From early April 2013 until mid-August 2014 she was laid up at Tilbury, before returning to the ARNO Dunkerque for further modifications to make her suitable for use as a wind farm accommodation vessel. With the conclusion of this latest charter in early April 2015, the vessel was again laid-up at Tilbury. However, as already mentioned, industrial action related to legal rulings against P&O's competitor MyFerryLink resulted in a blockade at Calais. This saw EUROPEAN SEAWAY reactivated at short notice to help in moving the huge backlogs of freight which had built up on both sides of the channel. Due to the nature of the changes made for her most recent charter EUROPEAN SEAWAY operated as a stern-only loading vessel as her upper bow doors had been welded shut following damage sustained during her charter. Apart from refit's at Damen (formerly ARNO) Dunkerque, EUROPEAN SEAWAY has continued to operate freight sailings between Dover and Calais as required ever since. The first of the refits in December 2015 restored her ability to load through both bow and stern on both levels, therefore making loading and discharging her much more efficient. First Northern Ireland visit During March 2017 NIFS reported that EUROPEAN SEAWAY was due to cover the refit and dry-docking's of EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY and EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER . This spell was planned to last from the end of April to the beginning of June 2016. However, due to a delay with the dry docking of NORBAY, EUROPEAN SEAWAY did not arrive in Northern Ireland for the first time until the morning of May the 3rd. At just shy of 180m long, 'Seaway' is longer than the maximum length advised by the Port of Larne website for any of the ferry berths at the port. A rare view to be taken from an inbound ferry, P&O Ferries EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER (L) and EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY (R) together in Larne. In this case the ship the photo is taken from is EUROPEAN SEAWAY. EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY had been stuck in Larne with 'technical difficulties' meaning the inbound 'Seaway" had nowhere to berth. 27.06.19. Copyright © Steven Tarbox It was expected that EUROPEAN SEAWAY would be in service on the Larne - Cairnryan route from May the 6th 2017 until early June. EUROPEAN SEAWAY entered service with the 20:00 ex Larne on 5/5/17 in place of EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER. On 13th May 'Seaway' missed her 04:00 ex Larne round-trip in poor visibility, but resumed service as normal with her 10:30 departure from the Antrim port. EUROPEAN SEAWAY on her first day at Larne. Copyright © Trevor Kidd At 179.7m long, EUROPEAN SEAWAY is the longest ferry to ever operate scheduled services from the ports of both Larne and Cairnryan. At over 6m longer STENA LAGAN remains the longest ferry to have successfully docked at Larne having visited the port previously for an underwater survey. EUROPEAN SEAWAY on the berth at Cairnryan, May 2017. © Steven Tarbox. 2018 refit EUROPEAN SEAWAY visited Remontowa S.A. in Gdansk for her 2018 refit between 20th June and 11th July. While in one of Remontowa's floating dry-docks her hull was stripped back to bare metal. The current P&O Ferries livery was then applied, replacing what had been a hybrid of different P&O liveries. Some interior refurbishment also took place as well as mechanical overhaul work. Significantly a new female toilet block was added on Deck 7. This will make her more suitable as a relief vessel at Larne. One of the main complaints about the vessel on her maiden spell at Larne was the need for passengers to use toilets located in cabins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?vnQrYBXPHUq4 A video from Remontowa S.A. showing EUROPEAN SEAWAY's 2018 refit at the yard. On December 22nd 2018 EUROPEAN SEAWAY went for a second dry-docking of the year, this time at Damen Dunkerque. She returned to Calais on the afternoon of December 31st. Second Northern Ireland visit With her 2017 visit judged a success, it was no surprise when NIFS revealed in December 2018 that EUROPEAN SEAWAY would return to Larne as relief vessel in May 2019. She arrived at Larne on the evening of May 14th. Having crossed to Cairnryan and back the following day, she entered service on Thursday, May 16th in place of EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER. 'Seaway' had come to Larne directly from Falmouth where she had been undergoing work. Like on her last visit to Northern Ireland, EUROPEAN SEAWAY used only MacKean Quay at Larne as it is the only berth at the port which can accommodate her. EUROPEAN SEAWAY approaches Larne at the end of her afternoon sailing from Cairnryan. This was her first day of service covering the regular vessels 2019 dry dockings, 16.05.19. Copyright © Steven Tarbox As a result of problems with European Highlander discovered whilst she was in dry dock, EUROPEAN SEAWAY's North Channel spell was extended into July in order for EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY to be able to dry dock. 'Seaway' finally left Northern Ireland for Dunkirk just after midnight on the 15th July. Cancelled third Visit to NI EUROPEAN SEAWAY was timetabled to return to service on the Larne to Cairnryan route on September 1st so that 'Causeway' could return to dry dock. However, this visit was cancelled after a reported minor fire on the vessel while she was moored at Dunkerque on the night of 25/26 August. On September 17, she left Dunkerque for Gdansk under tow of the tug FAIRPLAY 33. Her AIS had been switched off the previous day and according to reports online she had to be assisted by 3 harbour tugs to leave Dunkerque. EUROPEAN SEAWAY left dry dock at Remotowa Gdansk on Saturday October 26 for further work to be undertaken alongside. A Look Inside European Seaway (May 2017) To take a look inside EUROPEAN SEAWAY as she was in service between Larne and Cairnryan in May 2017, see the dedicated page here. However, remains almost totally unchanged in 2019. The addition of a female toilet block on Deck 7 the only notable change since her 2017 visit. Gallery The above article is Copyright © Steven Tarbox, all rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction or distribution is strictly prohibited. With thanks to the crew of EUROPEAN SEAWAY for their hospitality. Thanks also to Scott Mackey, Gary Andrews, Trevor Kidd, Ian Boyle, Gary Hall, and Paul Smith for the use of their images. Original article published 05/03/2017updated: throughout 06/17 28.12.18 (Converted to Gutenberg blocks and rebuilt gallery)Last Update: 26.01.19 (info update and new gallery)

European Seaway | P&O Ferries

POETA LÓPEZ ANGLADA (ex Stena Navigator)