MS Pride of Canterbury
| |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
1992-2003: European Pathway 2003-present: Pride of Canterbury |
| Owner: |
1992-2002: P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd 2002-present: P & O Ferries Ltd |
| Operator: | P&O Ferries |
| Port of registry: |
Dover,  United Kingdom |
| Route: |
1992-2002: Dover-Zeebrugge 2003-present: Dover-Calais |
| Builder: | Schichau Unterweser AG, Germany |
| Yard number: | 1076 |
| Launched: | 8 October 1991 |
| Completed: | 29 December 1991 |
| Maiden voyage: | 4 January 1992 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9007295 |
| Status: | in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: |
1991-2002: 22,986 tonnes 2003 onwards: 30,365tonnes |
| 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 |
| Capacity: |
1991-2002: 200 passengers 124 15m freight vehicles 2003 onwards: 2,000 passengers 650 passenger vehicles or 120 15m freight vehicles |
Pride of Canterbury is a cross-channel ferry operated by P&O Ferries. She was the second of four 'European Class' freight ferries ordered for P&O European Ferries Dover-Zeebrugge route. Between 1992 and 2002 she sailed between Dover and Zeebrugge for P&O European Ferries and later P&O Stena Line. She was converted in the winter of 2002/spring 2003 and re-entered service as Pride of Canterbury (replacing the ageing P&OSL Canterbury).She currently sails from Dover to Calais[1].
In January 2008 she struck the wreck of SS Mahratta[2] while manoeuvering into The Downs off the Kent coast during heavy weather. The collision caused the loss of one of her propellers and damaged the prop shaft and gear box.[3] Although she was able to sail to Dover unaided, the ferry required assistance berthing.[2] Following emergency repairs in Falmouth she returned to service operating with only 1 propeller. As a result she was unable to operate in rough weather and was frequently laid up in Dover or sheltering off the Kent coast waiting for the wind to drop. The ferry was due to be drydocked at a European repair yard in November 2008 to be fitted with a new propeller with a view to being back in service for the Christmas 2008 period. The vessel is now back in service again on the Dover to Calais route.[citation needed]
Sister Ships
As built the ship was identical to European Seaway and European Highway. The fourth 'European Class' freight ferry was converted to a multi-purpose vessel for the Dover-Calais route and named Pride of Burgundy though she still retained a number of similarities. Following conversion to multi-purpose ship the Pride of Canterbury is nearly identical to the Pride of Kent.
- European Seaway
- Pride of Burgundy
- Pride of Kent (formerly European Highway)
Pride of Canterbury and Pride of Kent are commonly known as the 'Darwin Twins' or 'Darwins' after the project name given by P&O to the conversion of the ships[4].
References
- ↑ Dover Ferry Photos - European Pathway/Pride of Canterbury
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Report on the investigation into the grounding of Pride of Canterbury". Marine Accident Investigation Branch. http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources/POC.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-14. Although it is unclear whether the wreck referred to in the MAIB report is that of the SS Mahratta (1892) or a later vessel of the same name which also wrecked on the Goodwin Sands.
- ↑ MAIB - Current Investigations
- ↑ HHV Ferry - P&O's Darwins
