FerriesP&O European FerriesP&O FerriesPast and PresentTownsend Thoresen

MV Viking Voyager – Past and Present

IMO Number: 7358303

MV Samothraki

ex Barlovento, Banaderos, Pride of Cherbourg II, Pride of Cherbourg, Viking Voyager

Nigel Thornton Collection

Nigel Thornton Collection

Steel triple screw motor vessel built in 1975 by Aalborg Værft A/S, Aalborg, Denmark (Yard no 205) for Townsend Thoresen European Ferries as a passenger and vehicle ferry

Technical Data

  • Length: 128.71m (overall), 119.87m (between perpendiculars)
  • Breadth: 20.22 m (extreme), 19.81m (moulded)
  • Depth: 11.61m
  • Draught: 4.53m (maximum)
  • Tonnage: 6,386 – 6,079 gross/2,918 net/1,616 deadweight
  • Engines: Two 8-cylinder Werkspoor 8TM410 “Wing” diesels, one 9-cylinder TM410 “centre” diesel
  • Power: 10,655 kW
  • Speed: 19.0 knots (service)
  • Capacity: 1,200 passengers, 275 cars
  • Call Sign: GUYP, EAEL, SYTU
  • IMO Number: 7358303
  • Official Number: 362870
  • Port of Registry: Dover/UK 🇬🇧, Le Havre/France 🇫🇷, Dover/UK 🇬🇧, Canary Islands/Spain 🇪🇸, Piraeus/Greece 🇬🇷
  • Sister ships: Viking Valiant (204), Viking Venturer (203), Viking Viscount (208)

History

           “The third in a quartet of Townsend Thoresen’s Aalborg-built ‘Super Viking’ class”

June 13th 1975: Launched by Mrs Josephine Briggs, wife of the commercial director of European Ferries.

January 15th 1976: Delivered to Townsend Thoresen European Ferries, Dover, England.

Nigel Thornton Collection Nigel Thornton Collection

🆕 Nigel Thornton Collection

© Peter Longhurst  © Bob Scott 

© Peter Longhurst (Left) and © Bob Scott (Right)

January 20th 1976: Maiden voyage between Felixstowe – Zeebrugge.

© Peter Wearing

© Peter Wearing 

© Brian Fisher

© Brian Fisher 

© Robert Bertel

© Robert Bertel

1984: A new TT logo, in white, was introduced on the funnels.

May 22nd 1986: Commenced service between Southampton – Le Havre/Cherbourg.

© Brian Fisher  © Brian Fisher  

© Brian Fisher (both)

May 27th 1986: Re-registered under the French flag.

October 1st 1986: Transferred back to the British flag.

December 31st 1987: Registered to P&O European Ferries, Ltd, Portsmouth, England.

1987: Following the “HERALD” disaster, from spring onwards, pale blue funnels with P&O flag logo became the norm.

© Brian Fisher  © Fotoflite  

© Brian Fisher (Left) and © Fotoflite (Right)

October 1987: There was a change to P&O European Ferries navy blue hull and funnel.

© Tony Garner  © Brian Fisher  

© Tony Garner (Left) and © Brian Fisher (Right)

© Robert J Smith

© Robert J Smith

1989: Modernised passenger accommodation.

May 1989: Renamed PRIDE OF CHERBOURG.

© Simonwp

© Simonwp (06/05/1989)

1990: Portsmouth – Cherbourg route.

© Ken Larwood  © Andreas Wörteler  

© Ken Larwood (Left) and © Andreas Wörteler (Right)

March 18th 1994: Sold to Howill Shipping, England. Bareboat-chartered to P&O.

May 1994: Renamed PRIDE OF CHERBOURG II.

© Andreas Wörteler  © Andreas Wörteler  

© Andreas Wörteler

© Andreas Wörteler (all)

July 9th 1994: Final day operating between Portsmouth – Cherbourg.

July 10th 1994 – September 16th 1994: Introduced, freight only, between Portsmouth – Le Havre.

October 15th 1994: Sold to Fred. Olsen S.A., Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Renamed BANADEROS.

1994: Introduced by Lineas Fred Olsen between Santa Cruz – Agaete.

Nigel Thornton Collection  © Ton Grootenboer  

Nigel Thornton Collection (Left) and © Ton Grootenboer (Right)

© Tony Garner  © Ulrich Streich  

© Tony Garner (Left) and © Ulrich Streich (Right)

2000: Renamed BARLOVENTO. Commenced service between Los Cristianos – Santa Cruz – San Sebastian – Valverde

2001: Recorded owner/recorded manager; Olsen Lineas, Canary Island

© Andreas Wörteler  © Andreas Wörteler  

© Andreas Wörteler

August 1st 2004: Reported sold to Saos Ferries with handover scheduled for October 2004. Her new owners are planning to run her either between Piraeus, Chios and Lesvos or between Laurio, Chios and Samos.

April 2005: Taken over by her new owners. Renamed SAMOTHRAKI.

April 11th 2005: Arrived in Piraeus for refurbishment.

Bernt Anderson Collection

Bernt Anderson Collection

July 13th 2005: Refit/dry-docking completed and introduced between Piraeus – Chios/ Piraeus – Chios – Mytilene – Limnos – Kavala.

© Andreas Wörteler  © Andreas Wörteler  

© Andreas Wörteler

© Carsten Dettmer  © Carsten Dettmer  

© Carsten Dettmer

2006: Change of livery.

August 17th 2006: Collided with the quayside in Mytilene and suffered minor damage.

© Aleksi Lindström  © Aleksi Lindström  

© Aleksi Lindström

September 10th 2006: Suffered engine problems.

September 11th 2006: Arrived under tow in Piraeus.

November 4th 2006: Towed to Kynosoura.

January 17th 2007: Towed to Eleusis Bay for further lay-up.

2007: Towed to Piraeus.

© Frank Lose

© Frank Lose

2007: Returned to service.

October 13th 2007: Collided with a fishing boat.

December 3rd 2008: Off service and laying at Kavala.

June 29th 2009: Towed to Alexandroupolis for further lay-up.

July 2011: Sold to Turkish breakers.

July 23rd 2011: Arrived at Aliaga.

© Selim San

© Selim San

 


All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Robert Bertel, Carsten Dettmer, Brian Fisher, Fotoflite, Tony Garner, Ton Grootenboer, Ken Larwood, Aleksi Lindström, Peter Longhurst, Frank Lose, Bob Scott, Robert J Smith, Ulrich Streich, Peter Wearing, Selim San, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

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