MV Norcape

ex Tipperary, Puma

Norcape – © Trevor Kidd (Larne, 16/07/2011)

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1979 by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Tamano, Japan. (Yard No 1164) as a RoRo cargo ship.

Technical Data

• Length: 150.22 m (overall) 141.0 m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth: 20.73 m
• Depth: 13.01m
• Draught: 5.112 m
• Tonnage: 6310 – 14080 gross/2091 – 4226 net/5024t deadweight
• Engines: 2 Vee Oil 4SA 12 cylinder Mitsui diesels
• Power: 13240 kW/18000 bHP
• Speed: 18.75 knots
• Capacity: 12 passengers/125 x 12m freight units
• Call Sign: EIMZ, PGJL, C6YN8
• IMO Number: 7716086
• Official Number: 401950 (Tipperary), 17850 (Norcape)
• Port of Registry:Dublin/Irish Republic, Rotterdam/Netherlands, Nassau/Bahamas
• Sister Ships: Ibex

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History

April 20^th 1979: Launched with the name PUMA for Ensign Tankers (Leasing) Ltd. Leased to P&O Ferries Ltd.

August 1979: Delivered to P&O Ferries Ltd., London, England.

August 24^th 1979: Chartered to B&I Line, Dublin, Ireland.

August 30^th 1979: Left Yokohama for Europe.

 

© Paul T (Liverpool, 1980’s)(Right)

1979: Commenced service Dublin – Liverpool.

November 13^th 1981: For approximately a week she ran between Dublin – Pembroke because of a strike in her home port of Fleetwood.

February 18^th 1988: Collided with Bulker SUMBURGH HEAD in Dublin Bay

© Robbie Cox (Dublin, 22/02/1988)

December 29^th 1988: Sold to Norcape Shipping B.V., Rotterdam, Holland. Renamed NORCAPE. Commenced service for North Sea Ferries between Europort – Ipswich.

© Ken Larwood (Harwich, August 1989)

© Ken Larwood (Harwich, April 1990)

 

© Capt Jan Melchers (Left) and © Simonwp (Rotterdam, 01/09/1990)

© Derek Sands (Ipswich, 01/07/1993)

April 22nd 1995: Commenced service between Zeebrugge – Hull.

1996: P&O took over the Nedlloyd share North Sea Ferries, company became P&O North Sea Ferries. Still registered in the Dutch ships register.

October 15th 2002: Commenced service for P&O Ferries between Zeebrugge – Hull.

 

© Cees De Bijl (Zeebrugge, 02/02/2008)

 

© Robert J Smith (Tilbury, 13/03/2009)

May 13th 2010: Services between Liverpool – Dublin.

February 2011: Laid up in Liverpool.

July 2011: Brought out of lay up to replace EUROPEAN MARINER (taken out of service and sent for scrap). Services Larne – Troon.

© Steven Brown (Larne, 01/11/2011)

November 26th/27th 2011: “Suffered a number of accidents, including windlass damage, grounding and an accident to person while operating in and around Troon harbour, Scotland.”.

(MAIB report)

December 2011: Sold to Turkish breakers.

December 12^th 2011: Left Larne for Aliaga, Turkey.

 

© Selim San

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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: Cees De Bijl, Steven Brown, Robbie Cox, Trevor Kidd, Ken Larwood, Capt Jan Melchers, Selim San, Derek Sands, Simonwp, Robert J Smith, Paul T and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

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