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.
Nord Pas-de-Calais was built in 1987 by Chantiers du Nord et de la Mediterranee, Dunkerque for SNCF as a train ferry. She operated on the Dover (Western Docks) to Dunkerque route; in addition, she also worked as a freight vehicle ferry between Dover and Calais. Nord Pas-de-Calais had limited accommodation for 80 passengers. She stopped running as a train ferry because of low traffic due to the opening of the Channel Tunnel which offered a much quicker option for trains to cross the border. The last sailing was from Dover on 22 December 1995.[3] The Nord Pas-de-Calais ran in a joint operation with SNAT and Stena Sealink.
In 1989, ownership was changed to Societe Nouvelle d'Armement Transmanche (SNAT). On 12 July 1995 it was announced that the agreement between Stena Sealink Line and French partners SNAT would terminate on 31 December 1995. From that time onwards SNAT would trade as SeaFrance.
SeaFranceedit
In 1996, Nord Pas-de-Calais was renamed SeaFrance Nord Pas-de-Calais, operating for SeaFrance as a vehicle ferry between Dover and Calais. On 3 July 1996, she was laid up at Dunkerque and remained there until 29 November when she was introduced as an ordinary freight vessel between Calais and Dover.
In November 2011, she was laid up in Dunkerque port, due to the commercial court ordering that SeaFrance be liquidated.
Eurotunnel/MyFerryLinkedit
On 20 August 2012 after Seafrance was liquidated MyFerryLink began commercial service. The SeaFance Nord Pas-de-Calais was renamed Nord Pas-de-Calais. She started service with MyFerryLink under the ownership of Eurotunnel in November 2012, after a full refit.
FRS Iberiaedit
Renamed Al Andalus Express and registered under the Cypriot flag, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais was chartered from Eurotunnel by FRS Iberia, and entered dry dock in Campamento, near Algeciras for refit. She currently operates between Spain and Morocco.[5]
Seaborne Freightedit
In October 2017 the ship was said by Ferry Shipping News to be lined up for use by Seaborne Freight for a freight service from Ramsgate to Ostend from "March"[6] but it was not specified in which year and was not confirmed by Seaborne. Seaborne had been contracted by the British government to provide additional ferry capacity in the event of disruption caused by a no-deal Brexit and the ship is one of the few small enough to fit Ramsgate's restricted docks.[7] However, at the beginning of February the British government announced that it was cancelling the contract as Seaborne's backers, the Irish company Arklow Shipping, had withdrawn from the agreement.[8]
Referencesedit
^ abcdef"M/F SeaFrance Nord-Pas-de-Calais". Ferry-site.dk. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
^"NV Nord Pas de Calais past and present". doverferryphotosforums.co.uk. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
^Scotchman, Iain C; Morrison, Brian (17 January 1996). "End of an era for the train ferry". Rail (270): 13.
^Harris, Roger (2006). The Allocation History of BR Diesels & Electrics (Part Six (Section B)). Roger Harris, Bromsgrove, UK.
^"L'ex-Nord-Pas-de-Calais a rejoint l'Espagne". Mer et Marine. 18 May 2016.
^Bailes, Kathy (29 December 2018). "Firm proposing Ramsgate/Ostend ferry service receives 'no-deal Brexit' contract from Government". The Isle of Thanet News. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
^"Brexit: Seaborne Freight no-deal ferry contract scrapped". BBC News. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 8512152.
April 11, 2024
andalus, express, formerly, nord, calais, freight, ferry, owned, eurotunnel, operated, naviera, armas, built, 1987, chantiers, nord, mediterranee, dunkirk, yard, societe, nationale, chemin, francais, sncf, multi, purpose, passenger, roll, roll, ferry, 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 The Seafrance Nord Pas de Calais at seaHistoryNameNord Pas de Calais 1987 1996 Seafrance Nord Pas de Calais 1996 2012 Nord Pas de Calais 2012 2016 Al Andalus Express 2016 present OwnerSNCF 1987 1989 SNAT 1989 1996 Seafrance 1996 2012 Eurotunnel Getlink 2012 present OperatorSNCF 1987 1989 SNAT 1989 1996 Seafrance 1996 2012 MyFerryLink 2012 2015 Eurotunnel 2015 2016 FRS Iberia Maroc 2016 2018 2020 Naviera Armas 2018 present Port of registryLimassol Cyprus 2 RouteDover DunkirkDover CalaisMotril TangierLas Palmas Gran CanariaOrdered17 July 1985BuilderNormed Dunkerque FranceYard number325Laid down1987Launched15 April 1987In service12 December 1987IdentificationIMO number 8512152 1 StatusActiveGeneral characteristicsTonnage13 727 GTLength158 09 m 518 7 ft 1 Beam22 4 m 73 5 ft 1 Draught5 92 m 19 4 ft 1 Propulsion2 x Sulzer 16ZAV40 1 Speed21 5 knots 39 8 km h 24 7 mph 1 Capacity80 passengers 45 lorries and 600 metres of rail freight or 90 lorries Contents 1 Service history 1 1 SNAT 1 2 SeaFrance 1 3 Eurotunnel MyFerryLink 1 4 FRS Iberia 1 5 Seaborne Freight 2 ReferencesService history editNord Pas de Calais was built in 1987 by Chantiers du Nord et de la Mediterranee Dunkerque for SNCF as a train ferry She operated on the Dover Western Docks to Dunkerque route in addition she also worked as a freight vehicle ferry between Dover and Calais Nord Pas de Calais had limited accommodation for 80 passengers She stopped running as a train ferry because of low traffic due to the opening of the Channel Tunnel which offered a much quicker option for trains to cross the border The last sailing was from Dover on 22 December 1995 3 The Nord Pas de Calais ran in a joint operation with SNAT and Stena Sealink She was given TOPS number 99001 previously used by MV Suffolk Ferry 4 SNAT edit In 1989 ownership was changed to Societe Nouvelle d Armement Transmanche SNAT On 12 July 1995 it was announced that the agreement between Stena Sealink Line and French partners SNAT would terminate on 31 December 1995 From that time onwards SNAT would trade as SeaFrance SeaFrance edit In 1996 Nord Pas de Calais was renamed SeaFrance Nord Pas de Calais operating for SeaFrance as a vehicle ferry between Dover and Calais On 3 July 1996 she was laid up at Dunkerque and remained there until 29 November when she was introduced as an ordinary freight vessel between Calais and Dover In November 2011 she was laid up in Dunkerque port due to the commercial court ordering that SeaFrance be liquidated Eurotunnel MyFerryLink edit On 20 August 2012 after Seafrance was liquidated MyFerryLink began commercial service The SeaFance Nord Pas de Calais was renamed Nord Pas de Calais She started service with MyFerryLink under the ownership of Eurotunnel in November 2012 after a full refit FRS Iberia edit Renamed Al Andalus Express and registered under the Cypriot flag the Nord Pas de Calais was chartered from Eurotunnel by FRS Iberia and entered dry dock in Campamento near Algeciras for refit She currently operates between Spain and Morocco 5 Seaborne Freight edit In October 2017 the ship was said by Ferry Shipping News to be lined up for use by Seaborne Freight for a freight service from Ramsgate to Ostend from March 6 but it was not specified in which year and was not confirmed by Seaborne Seaborne had been contracted by the British government to provide additional ferry capacity in the event of disruption caused by a no deal Brexit and the ship is one of the few small enough to fit Ramsgate s restricted docks 7 However at the beginning of February the British government announced that it was cancelling the contract as Seaborne s backers the Irish company Arklow Shipping had withdrawn from the agreement 8 References edit a b c d e f M F SeaFrance Nord Pas de Calais Ferry site dk Retrieved 16 September 2011 NV Nord Pas de Calais past and present doverferryphotosforums co uk 26 July 2012 Retrieved 26 June 2016 Scotchman Iain C Morrison Brian 17 January 1996 End of an era for the train ferry Rail 270 13 Harris Roger 2006 The Allocation History of BR Diesels amp Electrics Part Six Section B Roger Harris Bromsgrove UK L ex Nord Pas de Calais a rejoint l Espagne Mer et Marine 18 May 2016 Category 2017 Newsletter week 41 Ferry Shipping News Retrieved 5 January 2019 Bailes Kathy 29 December 2018 Firm proposing Ramsgate Ostend ferry service receives no deal Brexit contract from Government The Isle of Thanet News Retrieved 5 January 2019 Brexit Seaborne Freight no deal ferry contract scrapped BBC News 9 February 2019 Retrieved 10 February 2019 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 8512152 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title MS Al Andalus Express amp oldid 1183541973, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
