Delft Seaways is a ro-pax ferry owned an operated by DFDS Seaways. She is the one of three sister vessels designed for the cross-Channel Dover - Dunkerque route, capable of making the crossing in 1 hour and 45 minutes. The Maersk Delft is a Scandinavian designed vessel built at the Samsung shipyards in South Korea in 2005.[1] She sails under the flag of the United Kingdom and her port of registry is Dover.
.JPG) Delft Seaways in previous livery
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | list error: <br /> list (help) 2006-2010: Maersk Delft 2010 onwards: Delft Seaways |
| Operator | list error: <br /> list (help) 2006-2010: Norfolkline 2010 onwards: DFDS Seaways |
| Port of registry | Dover,  United Kingdom |
| Builder | Samsung Heavy Industries, South Korea |
| Yard number | 1524 |
| Laid down | 12 March 2003 |
| Completed | 2005 |
| Maiden voyage | 27 February 2006 |
| Identification | Callsign MJYC9 IMO number: 9293088 |
| Status | in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | LR - Roll on Roll off Cargo Passenger Ship |
| Tonnage | 35,293 GT |
| Length | 186.65 m (612.4 ft)* |
| Beam | 28.40 m (93.2 ft)* |
| Draught | 6.75 m (22.1 ft)* |
| Decks | 9 |
| Propulsion | 4 x MAN B&W 8L48/60B Diesel |
| Speed | 25 kn (46.3 km/h) |
History
The ship was delivered in 2006 and made her maiden voyage on 27 February 2006, replacing Northern Merchant which previously operated the route. She had an encounter with armed speedboats in the Gulf of Aden during the delivery voyage from Korea.[2]
The Maersk Delft suffered a loss of power whilst returning to Dover following a refit at Scheldeport Dockyard, Vlissingen on 29 January 2007. The fault was blamed on a computer error, but the vessel had to be towed into Dover harbour from outside the eastern entrance where she had anchored.[3]
In July 2010 Norfolkline was acquired by DFDS. The Norfolkline vessels and routes are to be re-branded as DFDS Seaways.
Features
The Maersk Delft, like her sister ships,has been designed with separate roll-on roll-off decks for freight and cars, which greatly reduces the loading and unloading times.[citation needed] Passenger facilities are spread out over two decks and include three restaurants, a bar, shop, cinema, children's play area, games arcade and a Bureau de Change. There are seven lifts for carrying passengers, crew and stores from the lower car and freight decks up to the passenger and crew decks. The crew accommodation is located on a separate deck and includes cabins, a dayroom, offices, laundry, stores and crew mess.
An outstanding feature on board are the large panoramic windows at the front and the side with their uninterrupted sea views. The Delft has a top speed of 25 kts and has the capacity to carry 200 cars and 780 passengers.
The ship has 132 paintings and prints made by artist Anne Vilsbøll. The paintings show movements in water, on water and by water.[4]
Sister ships
The Delft Seaways has two sister ships operating on the same service: Dunkerque Seaways and Dover Seaways.
References
- ^ "Norfolkline freight ferry fleet - Maersk Delft". Retrieved 22 April 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "CROSS-CHANNEL FERRY IN CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH PIRATE BOATS" (PDF). NUMAST Telegraph. March 2006. Retrieved 22 April 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Mv Maersk Delft". Retrieved 22 April 2009.
- ^ "Maersk Delft Commission 2005 - 2006". Retrieved 22 April 2009. [dead link]
External links
