PRIDE OF RATHLIN (1973)

Service dates: 1987-2000

Official number: 367539

Shipping lines: EUROPEAN FERRIES GROUP; TOWNSEND CAR FERRIES; P&O EUROPEAN FERRIES (PORTSMOUTH); P&O EUROPEAN FERRIES (IRISH SEA); P&O EUROPEAN FERRIES (FELIXSTOWE)

Ship type:

• Ferry

Roll on/Roll off Passenger Ferry.

Career

02.1972

Keel laid.

21.10.1972

Launched by Mrs Ann M Siddle.

02.1973

Delivered as Free Enterprise VII for Townsend Car Ferries Ltd, Dover. Placed on Dover/Calais/Zeebrugge/Boulogne service.

02.1986

Extensively refitted by Schichau-Unterweser AG, Bremerhaven, West Germany. The passenger accommodation deck was 'sliced off' horizontally and a new vehicle deck was installed. The passenger accommodation deck was then refitted, one deck high than before. A new bow section was fitted, allowing through loading on both vehicle decks.

19.01.1987

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company acquired European Ferries Group Plc which included Townsend Car Ferries Ltd.

31.12.1987

Owners restyled P&O European Ferries (Portsmouth) Ltd.

22.02.1988

Renamed Pride of Walmer.

18.03.1991

Sold by P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd to Howill Shipping Ltd and then hire-purchased back.

01.10.1991

Net tonnage now 3,750 nt.

08.06.1992

Renamed Pride of Rathlin.

01.12.1992

Management transferred to P&O European Ferries (Felixstowe) Ltd.

01.06.1996

Lease transferred from P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd to P&O European Ferries (Felixstowe) Ltd.

End 1996

Deadweight 1,872 tonnes.

01.10.1997

Management transferred to P&O Ship Management (Irish Sea) Ltd.

01.11.1997

Owners P&O European Ferries (Felixstowe) Ltd renamed P&O European Ferries (Irish Sea) Ltd.

20.01.1998

Transferred from UK to Bermuda flag; registered at Hamilton; call sign now ZCBO8.

11.09.2000

Laid up at Belfast.

03.11.2000

Sold to Sungai Budi Group, Jakarta, Indonesia for further trading and renamed BSP III.

Ship technical details (PDF)