MS Pride of Kent
 Pride of Kent approaching Calais | |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
1992-2003: European Highway' 2003-present: Pride of Kent |
| 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: | 1073 |
| Launched: | 14 December 1991 |
| Completed: | 12 June 1992 |
| Maiden voyage: | 16 June 1992 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9015266 |
| Status: | in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: |
1992-2002: 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: |
1992-2002: 200 passengers 124 15m freight vehicles 2003 onwards: 2,000 passengers 650 passenger vehicles or 120 15m freight vehicles |
The ship Pride of Kent is a cross-channel ferry operated by P&O Ferries, generally on the Dover to Calais service. It is the current 'flagship' of the P&O Dover-based fleet. She is the second ship to bear the name—the Spirit of Free Enterprise was renamed Pride of Kent in 1987 (later P&OSL Kent in 1998 and PO Kent in 2002) and continued to sail the Dover-Calais route until 2003[1].
Contents
History
Colloquially known as the Kent, she was built as the European Highway in 1991, a sister ship to the Pride of Canterbury, Pride of Burgundy and European Seaway. Originally servicing Zeebrugge, like the Pride of Canterbury, she was converted in 2003 before re-entering service on the Dover–Calais route as the Pride of Kent.
On board
The Pride of Kent has six 'active' decks - cardeck 3 freight and cars, cardeck 5 freight and cars, cardeck 6 cars only, deck 7 & 8 passenger facilities and deck 9 outside deck area. The ship is both divided vertically (as decks) and horizontally, into 3 ventilation zones, with stairs assigned the colours red, yellow, orange, green and blue. There are three passenger lifts from the main and car decks to the passenger facilities. Her onboard facilities include (amongst others) several lounges, a self-service cafeteria "The Food Court" (the former company branding for this facility was 'International Food Court'), 2 'Costa Coffee' cafés (one previously operated as Cafe Olliveto's until 2004), a Langan's Brasserie restaurant, a French duty-paid shop ("Offshore Shopping") and a bar previously branded as "Silverstones Sports Bar". There are also open decks on levels 8 and 9. Since June 2006, the interior passenger accommodation has become non-smoking throughout, with smoking permitted in designated parts of the outside deck 9 only.
Sister ships
As built the ship was identical to European Seaway and European Pathway. 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 Kent is nearly identical to the Pride of Canterbury[2].
- European Seaway
- Pride of Burgundy
- Pride of Canterbury (formerly European Pathway)
Pride of Kent and Pride of Canterbury are commonly known as the 'Darwin Twins' or 'Darwins' after the project name given by P&O to the conversion of the ships[3].
References
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