MS Wisteria
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
1978-1986: Prinses Beatrix 1986-2005: Duc de Normandie 2005-present: Wisteria |
| Operator: |
1978-1986: SMZ 1986-2005: Brittany Ferries 2005-2006: TransEuropa Ferries 2006-present: Ferrimaroc |
| Port of registry: |
1978-1986: Hoek of Holland,  1986-2005: Caen 22x20px 2005-present: Limasol  |
| Builder: | Verolme Scheepswerf Heusden BV, Netherlands |
| Launched: | 14 January 1978 |
| In service: | 29 June 1978 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 7637149 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 9,367 gross register tons (GRT) |
| Length: | 131 m (429.8 ft) |
| Beam: | 22 m (72.2 ft) |
| Speed: | 21 kn (38.9 km/h) |
| Capacity: |
1500 passengers 350 cars |
The Wisteria is a passenger car ferry operated by Acciona Trasmediterránea between Almeria and the Moroccan port of Nador.
History
The Wisteria was built in 1978 as the Prinses Beatrix by Verolme Shipyard, in Holland and worked for Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland on their joint Sealink route between Hoek van Holland and Harwich, Parkeston Quay. She was named and launched by H.R.H. Princess Beatrix on 14 January 1978.[1] Brittany Ferries bought the ferry on 1 October 1985, and after chartering it for a year back to SMZ, renamed it Duc de Normandie, operating between Portsmouth and Ouistreham from 5 June 1986.[2] The ferry sailed alongside MV Reine Mathilde on its favoured route to Ouistreham. On 10 July 2002, she was transferred to the Plymouth - Roscoff route, replacing the MV Quiberon.[3] She ended her Brittany Ferries career on this route, her final sailing being on 30 September 2004.
Particular features of the Duc were a calvados still in the Alambic bar and a cider press at the wine bar.
Brittany Ferries sold the Duc in 2005 to TransEuropa Ferries, operating between Port Ramsgate and Ostend under the name MV Wisteria. In 2006 she was chartered to Ferrimaroc and Acciona Trasmeditarranea for use on their Almeria (Spain) to Nador (Morocco).[4][5]
References
- ↑ "M/S PRINSES BEATRIX (1978) (in Swedish)". http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/prinses_beatrix_1978.htm. Retrieved 04 May 2009.
- ↑ "Brittany Ferries Enthusiasts feature - Goodbye to the Duc". http://www.bfenthusiasts.com/feature-ddn.htm. Retrieved 04 May 2009.
- ↑ "Prinses Beatrix - Duc de Normandie - Wisteria". http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/SMZ_PBeatrix1974.html. Retrieved 01 May 2009.
- ↑ "St. Malo ships - Duc de Normandie : car-ferry". http://www.bateaux-de-saint-malo.com/en/fiche%20Duc%20de%20Normandie.htm. Retrieved 01 May 2009.
- ↑ "MOROCCO, SEPTEMBER 2006, Part Two: Wisteria, Nador - Almeria". http://www.hhvferry.com/wisteria_06_1.html. Retrieved 01 May 2009.
External links
| Brittany Ferries
]]- Photos from shipphoto-keil-canal.de
 |
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