MS Pride of Free Enterprise
Encyclopedia
Oleander is one of a class of three roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferries built for Townsend Thoresen
at the end of the 1970s. Her two sister ships were the and the infamous . She currently operates as the MV Oleander for Transeuropa Ferries
services between Dover and Calais. Initially entering service with them in 1980. In 1987 European Ferries
was purchased by P&O European Ferries
, in the same year the Oleanders sister ship, Herald of Free Enterprise capsized just outside Zeebrugge
. As a result of these two events, the Pride of Free Enterprise was renamed the Pride of Bruges under a rebranding exercise undertaken by P&O following the bad publicity of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster.
In 1998 P&O European Ferries merged its Short sea routes with Stena Line
to form P&O Stena Line
. As a result of this merger the vessels were again rebranded, this time the vessel was renamed to P&OSL Picardy. In 2000 the P&OSL Picardy was laid up pending sale, eventually being sold to Transeuropa Ferries
.
Transeuropa Ferries renamed the vessel Oleander and introduced a freight only service between Ramsgate
and Oostende which began on 4 July 2002. Two years later, on 20 July 2004 the Oleander was joined by the Larkspur to provide a joint passenger/freight service also operating between the two ports.
On 3 March, 2010 "Oleander" was in service between Algeciras and Tanger Med for Comarit.
European Ferries
European Ferries Group Plc was a company that operated in passenger and freight ferries, harbour operation and property management in the United Kingdom and the United States...
at the end of the 1970s. Her two sister ships were the and the infamous . She currently operates as the MV Oleander for Transeuropa Ferries
Transeuropa Ferries
TransEuropa Ferries operates a ferry service between Ramsgate, Kent, UK and Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium. TransEuropa Ferries n.v. is the cross channel satellite arm of TransEuropa Shipping Lines d.o.o. of Slovenia....
History
The Oleander was built by Schichau Unterweser AG for European FerriesEuropean Ferries
European Ferries Group Plc was a company that operated in passenger and freight ferries, harbour operation and property management in the United Kingdom and the United States...
services between Dover and Calais. Initially entering service with them in 1980. In 1987 European Ferries
European Ferries
European Ferries Group Plc was a company that operated in passenger and freight ferries, harbour operation and property management in the United Kingdom and the United States...
was purchased by P&O European Ferries
P&O Ferries
P&O Ferries is the current name for the amalgamation of a range of ferry services that operated from the United Kingdom to Ireland and Continental Europe...
, in the same year the Oleanders sister ship, Herald of Free Enterprise capsized just outside Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
. As a result of these two events, the Pride of Free Enterprise was renamed the Pride of Bruges under a rebranding exercise undertaken by P&O following the bad publicity of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster.
In 1998 P&O European Ferries merged its Short sea routes with Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
to form P&O Stena Line
P&O Stena Line
P&O Stena Line was formed in 1998 after the merger of P&O European Ferries Ltd and the Dover and Newhaven operations of Stena Line.-History:...
. As a result of this merger the vessels were again rebranded, this time the vessel was renamed to P&OSL Picardy. In 2000 the P&OSL Picardy was laid up pending sale, eventually being sold to Transeuropa Ferries
Transeuropa Ferries
TransEuropa Ferries operates a ferry service between Ramsgate, Kent, UK and Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium. TransEuropa Ferries n.v. is the cross channel satellite arm of TransEuropa Shipping Lines d.o.o. of Slovenia....
.
Transeuropa Ferries renamed the vessel Oleander and introduced a freight only service between Ramsgate
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
and Oostende which began on 4 July 2002. Two years later, on 20 July 2004 the Oleander was joined by the Larkspur to provide a joint passenger/freight service also operating between the two ports.
On 3 March, 2010 "Oleander" was in service between Algeciras and Tanger Med for Comarit.
Sister ships
- Spirit of Free EnterpriseMS Spirit of Free EnterpriseMS Anthi Marina was the first of a class of three roll-on/roll-off ferries built for Townsend Thoresen at the end of the 1970s. Her two sister ships were the and the infamous .-As Spirit of Free Enterprise:...
(1979) - Pride of Kent (1987) - Anthi Marina (2006). - Herald of Free Enterprise (1979) - capsized 6 March 1987 in Zeebrugge harbour - re-floated, then scrapped.