MS Normandy

MS "Normandy" is a cruiseferry owned by the Singapore-based oil service company Equinox Offshore Accommodation, under charter the Morocco-based ferry operator Ferrimaroc. She was built in 1981 by Götaverken, Gothenburg, Sweden, and first entered service in 1982 as MS "Prinsessan Birgitta" for Stena Sessan Line. She has also served under the names MS "St Nicholas" and MS "Stena Normandy".

Concept and construction

The ship known today as MS "Normandy" was originally ordered from Götaverken in the late 1970s by Sessan Linjen, Sweden, with a planned delivery date in late 1981. Before the ship was completed, Sessan Linjen's main rival Stena Line purchased the majority of shares is Sessan, leading to the formation of Stena Sessan Line. After Stena acquired Sessan they cancelled the order for the new ship, and the shipyard were forced to complete her on their own account. Temporarily named MS "GV 909" and registered in Gotheburg, the ship was completed in December 1981 and subsequently laid up in Gothenburg.

ervice history

1982-1983: Stena Line

In May 1982, Stena Sessan changed their mind and decided to purchase the "GV 909" after all. The company wanted to name the ship "Drottning Silvia" in honour of Queen Silvia of Sweden, but the Royal Household of Sweden declined. Eventually the ship was named M/S "Prinsessan Birgitta" in honour Princess Birgitta, sister of King Carl XVI Gustav. Princess Brigitta herself christened the ship on 7 June 1982 (the ship had already entered traffic on 3 June). "Prinsessan Birgitta"'s service with Stena Sessan proved to be short, as she was chartered to Sealink already in February 1983.

1983-1996: Sealink

Prior to entering service with Sealink, "Prinsessan Birgitta" was rebuilt at Götaverken with additional cabin facilities, renamed MS "St Nicholas" and moved under United Kingdom flag with London as her homeport. In June 1983, she was set on Sealink's Hoek van Holland—Harwich route. [http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/StNicholas.html Simplon Postcards: Prinsessan Birgitta] , retrieved 12. 11. 2007] During the same month she was sold by Stena to Hill Samuel Trading Ltd, United Kingdom, who continued chartering her to Sealink. In 1986 the ship was sold again, this time to Ibos Finance Ltd, Squarhorn Ltd, Ellstre Platforms Ltd and A. Moir & Co Ltd, a group of Stena subsidiaries. During the following two years she was sold three more times from one Stena subsidiary to another, first to McAlpine Aviation, Ellstre Platforms Ltd and others in 1987, then to M.C.C. Leasing (no 6) Ltd and N.W.S.6. Ltd again in 1987 and finally to Paxro Ltd in 1988. None of these sales had any effect in her traffic, but 1988 her homeport was changed to Nassau, The Bahamas.

In 1989, "St Nicholas" was sold again, this time to the Sweden-based Rederi AB Gotland, who continued to charter the ship to Sealink. In 1990 Stena Line took over the Sealink services and their former ship. In January 1991 "St Nicholas" was rebuilt at Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany and renamed MS "Stena Normandy". After briefly returning to the Hoek van Holland—Harwich route, she was transferred to the Southampton—Cherbourg service in June 1991. She stayed on the service until November 1996, when her charter agreement to Stena expired and she was laid up in Dunkerque.

1997: Tallink

After being laid up for two months, "Stena Normandy" was chartered to Tallink, Estonia in January 1997 and renamed MS "Normandy". She began service with Tallink on 23 April 1997, after being re-registered in Tallinn, Estonia. Her charter to Tallink ended on 30 December 1997, after which she reverted to Bahamian flag.

1998-2007: Irish Ferries

In January 1998 the "Normandy" was chartered to Irish Ferries and re-registered to Ireland. On 29 February 1998 she began service on their Rosslare—Pembroke Dock route, in April moving to Cork—Roscoff and Rosslare—Cherbourg services.Fact|date=July 2008 In 1999 Rederi AB Gotland sold her to Irish Ferries and during the same year she was re-registered to Hamilton, Bermuda. Between January and March 2000 "Normandy" interiors were rebuilt at a Polish shipyard. During the same docking side sponsons were added on her hull for improved stability. Following the refit she was placed on Irish Ferries services from Ireland to France. In February 2004 the ship was out-of-traffic for four days due to a conflict between Irish Ferries and their employees onboard. The same was repeated between 27 November and 14 December 2005. Following the relivery of the new MS "Oscar Wilde", [sv icon [http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/kronprins_harald_1987.htm Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Kronprins Harald (1987)] , retrieved 12. 11. 2007] "Normandy" was taken out-of-service on 2007-11-04.

2008 onwards: Ferrimaroc

On November 5, 2007, the "Normandy" sailed from Rosslare to Fredericia, Denmark, where she was laid up until sold to the Singapore-based oil service company Equinox Offshore Accommodation on 28 January 2008. The new owners planned to rebuild her into an accommodation and repair vessel at SembCorp Marine shipyards, Singapore. [ [http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/846644/ Trading Markets.com: Singapore's SembCorp Marine unit wins 300 mln sgd ship conversion deal] , retrieved 7. 12. 2007] However, instead of being rebuilt she was chartered to the Morocco-based Ferrimaroc in March 2008, entering service on the Almeira—Nador route in April 2008.

References