MV Mogado

Ex Mogador, Nador, Pride of Al Salam I, Pride of Cherbourg, Pride of Le Havre, Viking Valiant

Nigel Thornton Collection

Steel triple screw motor vessel built in 1974 by Aalborg Værft A/S, Aalborg, Denmark (Yard no 204) for Townsend-Thoresen European Ferries as a passenger and vehicle ferry.

Technical Data

Length: 128.71m (overall), 119.87m (between perpendiculars)/ 143.67 m (overall) 137.67 (between perpendiculars) (1986)
Breadth: 20.22 m (extreme), 19.81m (moulded)/ 23.47m (extreme) 23.00m (moulded) (1986)
Depth: 11.61m
Draught: 4.53m (maximum)
Tonnage: 6,387 – 14,760 gross/2,918 – 7,014 net/1,616 – 1,544 deadweight
Engines: Two 8-cylinder Werkspoor 8TM410 “Wing” diesels, one 9-cylinder TM410 “centre” diesel
Power: 10,665 kW
Speed: 19.0 knots (service)/ 18 knots (service)
Capacity: 1,200 passengers, 275 cars/713 – 1,316 passengers 380 cars (after Jumboisation)
Call Sign: GURE, 9LY2226
IMO Number: 7358298
Official Number: 365160
Port of Registry: Southampton, Portsmouth, Panama
Sister ships: Viking Venturer, Viking Viscount, Viking Voyager

History

October 4th 1974: Launched.

May 21st 1975: Delivered to Thoresen Car Ferries Ltd., Southampton, England.

May 25th 1975: Commenced service between Felixstowe – Zeebrügge.

Nigel Thornton Collection

January 1976: Commenced service between Southampton – Le Havre/Cherbourg.

May 28th 1977: Took part in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee review.

Nigel Thornton Collection (28/05/1977)

September 1977: Took part in the Nato manoeuvre Northern Wedding . Acted as a troop transport, which included a mock invasion of the Shetland Islands by hostile forces.

September 18th 1978 – September 26th 1978: Made three round trips between Leith – Kristiansand.

September 1978: Returned to commercial services between Southampton – Le Havre/Cherbourg.

December 7th 1984: Commenced service between Portsmouth – Le Havre.

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

Nigel Thornton Collection

February 4th 1986: Arrived at Schichau Unterweser AG, Bremerhaven, Germany for “Jumboization”. Fitted with larger forward sections as well as being horizontally cut in two with an additional full-length vehicle deck inserted enabling VENTURER and VALIANT to carry 60 lorries.

Dover Ferry Photos Library

John Hendy Collection (all)

June 26th 1986: Re-delivered after conversion.

July 3rd 1986: Commenced service between Portsmouth – Le Havre.

Photoship (left) © Brian Fisher (Portsmouth, 01/03/1987)(right)

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

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

December 31st 1987: Registered under P&O European Ferries, London, England.

May 1989: Renamed PRIDE OF LE HAVRE.

March 18th 1991: Sold to Howill Shipping (registered for BMBF No. 15). Bareboat chartered P&O European Ferries.

May 1994: Renamed PRIDE OF CHERBOURG.

June 22nd 1994: Final day operating between Portsmouth – Le Havre.

July 10th 1994: Introduced between Portsmouth – Cherbourg.

1999: Commenced service for P&O Portsmouth between Portsmouth – Cherbourg.

August 2002: Renamed PRIDE OF CHERBOURG A.

September 2002: Sold to El Salam Maritime, Panama.

September 17th 2002: Final day under P&O banner.

September 2002: Renamed PRIDE OF AL SALAM I.

June 2003 – August 2003: Chartered to Comanav, Morocco for services between Almeria – Nador.

June 2004: Chartered to Comanav, Morocco. Renamed NADOR. Introduced between Nador – Almeria.

May 2005: Renamed MOGADOR.

June 22nd 2005-September 30th 2005: Chartered to Comanav for their Port Vendres – Tanger services.

February 2010: Sold to Indian breakers and renamed MOGADO.

March 13th 2010: Arrived at Alang, India.

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: Mike Barker, Rob De Visser, Frank Heine, Patrick Hill, Ken Larwood, Robert J Smith, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

Special thanks go to John F Hendy.