MV Moby Prince
ex Koningin Juliana, Holland Trade Ship, Koningin Juliana
© Ken Larwood
Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1968 by Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead, England (Yard No 1331) for Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland, (SMZ), Hoek Van Holland as a passenger and vehicle ferry
Technical Data
- Length: 131.02 m (overall) 116.29 m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 20.48 m
- Depth: 12.27 m
- Draught: 4.998 m
- Tonnage: 6682 gross/3475 net/1290 deadweight
- Engines: Four SA 9-cylinder, M.A.N. Augsburg diesels
- Power: 14592 kW/19560 bhp
- Speed: 21 knots (max)
- Capacity: 1200 passengers (maximum), 750 (normal service), 220 cars
- Call Sign: PFKP
- IMO Number: 6808806
- Official Number:
- Port of Registry: Hoek van Holland/Netherlands 🇳🇱, Cagliari/Italy 🇮🇹
History
April 1967: Keel struck.
February 2nd 1968: Launched.
Koningin Juliana
June 13th 1968: Suffered a fire on board while fitting out.
September 7th 1968 – September 8th 1968: Berthing/Sea trials prior to delivery.
Courtesy of Terry Conybeare
October 11th 1968: Arrived at Hoek Van Holland for the first time, after which she sailed up the New Waterway to Rotterdam for an official inspection.
October 13th 1968: Cruised from the Parkkade into the North Sea with SMZ personnel aboard.
October 14th 1968: Delivered to Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland, (SMZ), Hoek Van Holland, Holland. HM Queen Juliana boarded the ship for another cruise into the North Sea.
© Steffen Weirauch (Roy Thornton Collection) (Left) and Roy Thornton Collection (Right)
October 17th 1968: Maiden voyage between Hoek Van Holland – Harwich.
© Frank Haalmeijer (Maiden arrival Harwich)(Left) © A G Jones (20/06/1970)(Right)
Roy Thornton Collection (Postcards)
© Wolfgang Fricke (Harwich, 01/06/1970)
November 1969: It was announced that British Rail’s Shipping and International Services Division (SISD) had adopted the new brand name Sealink and as a consequence all vessels would be painted in the new house colours.
© Malcolm Cranfield (Hoek van Holland, 22/05/1972)
© Brian Fisher (Left) and © Mick Warwick (Right)
© Joerg Seyler (Left) and © Derek Longly (Right)
© Tim Webb (Harwich 13/04/1982)(Left) © Simonwp (Harwich, August 1983)(Right)
© Frank Haalmeijer (Left) © Simonwp
April 8th 1984: Laid up in Waalhaven, Rotterdam, Holland.
© Frank Heine (Rotterdam 27/07/1984)
🆕 © Fotoflite
Into an exhibition ship to promote Dutch exports. Was to be renamed TROMP, but renamed HOLLAND TRADE SHIP.
February 6th 1985: Moved to Amsterdam. Owned by Administatie-en Bemiddelingskantoor, Tromp, Kampen, Holland, renamed KONINGIN JULIANA.
Andreas Wörteler Collection (Left) and © Pieter Inpyn (Right)
© Simonwp
September 1985: Sold to Navigazione Arcipelago Maddalenino SpA, Naples, Italy
October 1985: Renamed MOBY PRINCE.
October 10th 1985: Left Amsterdam for Italy.
December 1985: Introduced by Moby between Naples and Cagliari.
© Ken Larwood (Bastia, June 1987)
Andreas Wörteler Collection
© Carlo Martinelli
© Frank Heine
November 10th 1991: While on a voyage from Livorno to Olbia, she collided in Livorno roads with the 286-metre tanker AGIP ABRUZZO, which was carrying some 2,700 tons of Iranian light crude oil . The impact caused some oil to spill into the sea and a large amount to be sprayed over the ferry. A fire broke out, which set light to the oil both on the surface of the water and on the ferry itself. Within moments, the MOBY PRINCE was engulfed in flames. 140 people lost their lives, only one survived. The gutted wreck was laid up in Leghorn.
Internet Sources
© Frank Heine
May 16th 1998: The wreck was then towed to Livorno where it sank, but was soon raised by SMIT Tak BV.
July 22nd 1998: The wreck arrived in tow in Aliaga, Turkey for demolition by Sok Gemi Sokum Ltd.
© Selim San
The AGIP ABRUZZO was first towed to Las Palmas and renamed ZEUS and then towed to Karachi, Pakistan for demolition.
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: Malcolm Cranfield, Brian Fisher, Fotoflite, Wolfgang Fricke, Frank Haalmeijer, Frank Heine, Pieter Inpyn, A G Jones, Ken Larwood, Derek Longly, Carlo Martinelli, Selim San, Joerg Seyler, Simonwp, Mick Warwick, TimWebb, Steffen Weirauch and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
Special thanks go to Terry Conybeare.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
