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PRIDE OF FREE ENTERPRISE (1980)
Service dates: 1987-2001
Official number: 379269
Shipping lines: TOWNSEND CAR FERRIES; P&O FERRIES; P&O EUROPEAN FERRIES (DOVER); P&O STENA LINE
Ship type:
Roll on/Roll off Passenger Ferry.
Career
- 29.09.1978
- Ordered.
- 06.1979
- Keel laid.
- 31.05.1980
- Launched.
- 31.10.1980
- Delivered as Pride of Free Enterprise for Townsend Car Ferries Ltd, Dover. She was the last of three ships designed as the (then) largest on the Dover/Calais route. Made a record crossing in 52 minutes 53 seconds.
- 19.01.1987
- The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company acquired European Ferries Group Plc including Townsend Car Ferries Ltd.
- 11.12.1987
- Renamed Pride of Bruges.
- 31.12.1987
- Townsend Car Ferries Ltd restyled P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd.
- 02.11.1991
- Helped co-ordinate unsuccessful rescue operation after a Belgian yacht capsized in the Channel.
- 01.1992
- Returned to Dover/Calais service.
- 18.03.1992
- Sold by P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd to Howill Shipping Ltd and then hire-purchased back.
- 18.06.1994
- New certificate following re-measurement. Now 13,601 gt, 4,621 nt, deadweight 2,352 tonnes.
- 18.12.1995
- Reacquired from Howill Shipping Ltd by P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd.
- 13.02.1995
- Attended the Panamanian cargo liner Shofu on fire 25km (16 miles) east of Dover. The chief officer and crew members went aboard using the ferry’s hoses because Shofu’s fire fighting equipment had failed.
- 21.02.1995
- Rescued four crew from the French training yacht Phoenix after their instructor was lost overboard in heavy seas 8km (5 miles) east of Dover.
- 01.1998
- Deadweight amended to 2,047 tonnes.
- 09.03.1998
- Owners P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd renamed P&O Stena Line (P&O interest 60%); managers now P&O Stena Line Ship Management Ltd (P&O interest also 60%).
- 03.03.1999
- Renamed P&OSL Picardy.
- 03.02.2000
- Ended last commercial voyage (Zeebrugge/Dover with freight) before being laid up in Dunkirk
- 03.04.2001
- Sold to Seabourne Navigation Company for further trading and renamed Oleander.
- Still reported in service