 The Seafrance Nord Pas-de-Calais at sea
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner | |
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry | Limassol;  Cyprus[1] |
| Route |
|
| Ordered | 17 July 1985 |
| Builder | Normed, Dunkerque, France |
| Yard number | 325 |
| Laid down | 1987 |
| Launched | 15 April 1987 |
| In service | 12 December 1987 |
| Identification | IMO number: 8512152[2] |
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 13,727 GT |
| Length | 158.09 m (518.7 ft)[2] |
| Beam | 22.4 m (73.5 ft)[2] |
| Draught | 5.92 m (19.4 ft)[2] |
| Propulsion | 2 x Sulzer 16ZAV40[2] |
| Speed | 21.5 knots (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph)[2] |
| Capacity | 80 passengers, 45 lorries and 600 metres of rail freight or 90 lorries |
MS Al Andalus Express (formerly Nord Pas-de-Calais) is a freight ferry owned by Eurotunnel and operated by Naviera Armas. She was built in 1987 by Chantiers du Nord et de la Mediterranee, Dunkirk (Yard No 325) for Societe Nationale des Chemin de Fer Francais (SNCF) as a multi-purpose passenger and roll-on roll-off ferry for lorries and railway vehicles. After the introduction of Eurotunnel there was no need for a train ferry, so SNCF was losing money running her. She was acquired by SNAT and Stena Sealink in 1989, which operated the Nord Pas-de-Calais until 31 December 1995. From 1 January 1996 SNAT operated as SeaFrance. The vessel was renamed SeaFrance Nord Pas-de-Calais. SeaFrance operated until November 2011, and was liquidated on 9 January 2012. Eurotunnel won the bid for the three of the former SeaFrance vessels the original name of the vessel was restored, dropping the SeaFrance prefix. MyFerryLink started running on 20 August 2012, although Nord Pas-de-Calais joined in November 2012 following a refit. Following MyFerryLink's cessation of operations, mostly cited due to financial issues, the ferry was used directly by Eurotunnel to carry hazmat cargoes that are not allowed on regular train services.
- ^ "NV Nord Pas de Calais past and present". doverferryphotosforums.co.uk. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "M/F SeaFrance Nord-Pas-de-Calais". Ferry-site.dk. Retrieved 16 September 2011.