MV Norbank

Norbank – © Robert J Smith

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1993 by Van der Giessen-De Noord, Holland (Yard No 961) for North Sea Ferries, Hull, England

Technical Data

• Length: 166.7m (overall) m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth: 23.89 m
• Depth: m
• Draught: 6.01 m
• Tonnage: 17464 gross/5239 net/6791t deadweight
• Engines: Two 9-cylinder and Two 8-cylinder Sulzer – Zgoda diesels
• Power: 24500 kW/HP
• Speed: 23 knots (max)
• Capacity: 114 passengers/ 156 x 12m freight units/2040 lane metres
• Call Sign: PGIS
• IMO Number: 9056583
• Official Number: 18395ZR
• MMSI Number: 246213000
• Port of Registry: Hamilton/Bermuda, Rotterdam/Netherlands
• Sister-Ship: Norbay

Location Data

History

NORBANK and NORBAY (962) are the first of a new generation of ‘super freighters’ built in the 1990’s and are an evolution of the design used for 5 freight ferries built by Finacantieri (in Italy) and Van der Giessen (the Netherlands) for Italy’s Viamare sea motorway project. 

June 5th 1993: Launched.

Norbank – © Simonwp (Rotterdam 01/08/1993)

Norbank – © Fotoflite, Ray Goodfellow Collection, Sea trials in the North Sea 

October 29th 1993: Delivered to Noordzee Verdiensten B.V., Rotterdam, Holland.

Norbank –

October 31st 1993: Commenced service between Rotterdam – Hull.

Norbank – © Bernd Crause (Europoort, 1994)

Norbank – © Pieter Inpyn (Europoort 01/07/1995)

January 1st 1997: Registered to Norships CV, Rotterdam, Holland. Bareboat chartered to P&O Group, London, England, under the company name of P&O North Sea Ferries.

Norbank – © Simonwp (Europoort 01/09/1998)

May 2001: Introduced into service between Rotterdam – Felixstowe.

December 2001: Last month on the Rotterdam – Felixstowe route.

July 7th 2002: Commenced service for P&O Irish Ferries between Liverpool – Dublin.

August 7th 2006: Called at Larne, Co Antrim for an underwater survey.

Norbank – © Aubrey Dale (Larne 07/08/2006)

November 2009: Registered to P&O European Ferries Irish Sea, Dover, U.K.

Norbank – © Leo Johannes (Dublin 07/07/2009)

Norbank – © Robbie Cox ( Dublin 07/12/2011)

Norbank – © Robbie Cox (Dublin 26/05/2014)

Norbank – © Robbie Cox (Dublin 03/04/2015) Seen wearing the revised P&O Ferries livery

May 2018: Remains in service on the Irish Sea operating between Liverpool and Dublin.

March 24th 2019: Left Liverpool for refit in Gdansk.

April 22nd 2019: Resumed service Dublin – Liverpool.

April 19th 2020: Trial service between Dublin – Mostyn.

April 1^st 2021: Left Dublin for Larne.

April 1st 2021: Relief at Larne – Cairnryan, covering for EUOPEAN HIGHLANDER at refit.

Norbank – © Gary Andrews?

Norbank – © Trevor Kidd (Larne, 06/04/2021)

April 23rd 2021: Completed service and sailed to Tyne for refit.

April 24th 2021: Arrived A & P, Tyne for refit.

May 10th 2021: Left Tyne for Larne.

May 11th 2021: Relief at Larne – Cairnryan, covering for EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY at refit.

Norbank – © Stephen Brown

Norbank – © Trevor Kidd (Larne, 23/05/2021)

May 31st 2021: Resumed service Dublin – Liverpool.

Norbank – © Eddie Walker (Liverpool, 10/08/2021)

December 31^st 2021: Left Dublin for Rotterdam.

January 4th 2022: Relief cover for PRIDE OF ROTTERDAM and PRIDE OF HULL (refits) between Hull – Europoort.

January 22nd 2022: Came off service at Rotterdam and sailed to Dublin.

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: Stephen Brown, Robbie Cox, Bernd Crause, Aubrey Dale, Pieter Inpyn, Leo Johannes, Simonwp, Robert J Smith, Eddie Walker and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

Special thanks to Trevor Kidd

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