MS Viking Voyager
Encyclopedia
The Viking Voyager was built by Aalborg Værft AS, Denmark in 1975 for European Ferries Group Plc
who traded as Townsend Thoresen. European Ferries Group was purchased by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
and became P&O European Ferries
and the ship was renamed Pride of Cherbourg in 1989.
in January 1976 and began a service to Zeebrugge
. She continued on this route until being transferred to the Southampton
-Le Havre
and Southampton
-Cherbourg routes in 1986.. In 1987 European Ferries
was acquired by P&O
, following which, under P&O's new branding scheme she was renamed Pride Of Cherbourg. In 1994 she was again renamed Pride of Cherbourg II to release the name for the Pride of Le Havre
1 which was being transferred to the Portsmouth
-Cherbourg route following P&O
's chartering of the Pride of Le Havre
2 and Pride of Portsmouth
. Later in 1994 the vessel was sold by P&O to Fred Olsen Lines
, she continued in this role, being renamed to Barlovento in 2000. In 2005 the Barlovento was replaced by the Benchijigua Express 3, she was consequently sold to SAOS Ferries where she now runs a ferry service supporting the Greek Islands. She was laid up at Alexandroupoli port, after the closure of Saos Ferries, and she was auctioned to be removed from the port in the summer of 2011. She left the Alexandroupoli bound for Aliaga, to be broken up on 23/7/2011.
.
The other three were:
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...
who traded as Townsend Thoresen. European Ferries Group was purchased by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
and became 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...
and the ship was renamed Pride of Cherbourg in 1989.
Early years
The vessel was launched on 14 June 1975, having been christened by the wife of European Ferries's Commercial Freight Director. She arrived in FelixstowePort of Felixstowe
The Port of Felixstowe, in Felixstowe, Suffolk is the UK's busiest container port, dealing with 35% of the country's container cargo. It was developed following the abandonment of a project for a deep-water harbour at Maplin Sands. In 2005, it was ranked as the 28th busiest container port in the...
in January 1976 and began a service to 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:...
. She continued on this route until being transferred to the Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
-Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
-Cherbourg routes in 1986.. 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 acquired by P&O
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
, following which, under P&O's new branding scheme she was renamed Pride Of Cherbourg. In 1994 she was again renamed Pride of Cherbourg II to release the name for the Pride of Le Havre
MS Viking Valiant
Pride of Le Havre was the name of ferry for P&O Ferries that sailed between Portsmouth and Le Havre from 1989 to 1994. From launch until 1994, she was known as the Viking Valiant for Townsend Thoresen and P&O. In 1994 she was renamed Pride of Cherbourg2 for P&O and continued under this name until...
1 which was being transferred to the Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
-Cherbourg route following P&O
P&O
P&O may refer to:* Pickling and oiling raw steel.* Phosphate conversion coating and oiling aluminium, zinc, cadmium, silver, or tin.-Shipping:* Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, a former British shipping and logistics company....
's chartering of the Pride of Le Havre
MS SNAV Sardegna
MS SNAV Sardegna is a cruiseferry owned by the Italy-based SNAV and operated on their Olbia—Civitavecchia and Palermo—Civitavecchia services. She was built in 1989 by Schichau Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, West Germany as MS Olau Hollandia for Olau Line...
2 and Pride of Portsmouth
MS Pride of Portsmouth
The SNAV Lazio is a Peter Pan-class cruiseferry currently owned and operated by the Italian shipping company SNAV. She was launched on 28 October 1989 by Schichau Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, West Germany as the Olau Britannia for Olau Line....
. Later in 1994 the vessel was sold by P&O to Fred Olsen Lines
Post P&O
In 1994 P&O sold the Pride of Cherbourg II to Fred Olsen Lines, the vessel was brought into service as the Bañaderos in the Canary IslandsCanary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, she continued in this role, being renamed to Barlovento in 2000. In 2005 the Barlovento was replaced by the Benchijigua Express 3, she was consequently sold to SAOS Ferries where she now runs a ferry service supporting the Greek Islands. She was laid up at Alexandroupoli port, after the closure of Saos Ferries, and she was auctioned to be removed from the port in the summer of 2011. She left the Alexandroupoli bound for Aliaga, to be broken up on 23/7/2011.
Sister Ships
Viking Voyager was one of four sister ships ordered by Townsend ThoresenEuropean 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...
.
The other three were:
- Viking Venturer
- Viking ViscountPride of WinchesterThe MS Pride of Winchester was built in 1975 for Townsend Thoresen. Her original name was Viking Viscount. European Ferries Group was purchased by P&O and became P&O European Ferries and the ship was renamed Pride of Winchester in 1989 and remained on the Portsmouth to Cherbourg route until 1994...