MS European Gateway

Penelope in 2009
History
Name	Penelope (2005-2013) Penelope A (1999-2005) Rostock-Link (1992-1999) Travemünde-Link (1988-1992) Travemünde-Link I (1988) Flavia (1982-1988) European Gateway (1975-1982) European Express (1975) [1]
Owner	(1999-Present) (1992-1999) (1988-1992) (1983-1988) Townsend Thoresen (1975-1982)[1]
Operator	(1999-Present) Mols-Linien (1999) (1998-1999) (1997-1998) (1996-1997) (1992-1996) (1988-1992) (1982-1988) Townsend Thoresen (1975-1982)[1]
Port of registry	Piraeus, Greece[1]
Builder	, Bremerhaven, Germany[1]
Yard number	2256[1]
Launched	1975[1]
In service	1975[1]
Identification	IMO number: 7400261[1]
General characteristics
Tonnage	3,335 GT (1975-1980) 4,236 GT (1980-1984) 11,335 GT (1984-Present)
Length	117.76 m (386 ft 4 in) (1975-1980) 133.46 m (437 ft 10 in) (1980-Present)
Beam	20.27 m (66 ft 6 in)
Draft	5.81 m (19 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 * Stork Werkspoor 9TM410RR
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity	Passengers 132 (1975-1980) 326 (1980-1984) 1,100 (1984-Present) Cars - 400

MS European Gateway was a roll-on roll-off (RORO) car and passenger ferry built in 1975, originally owned and operated by Townsend Thoresen. On 19 December 1982, she capsized following a collision with Speedlink Vanguard off Harwich, settling on a sandbank. The ship had 34 passengers and 36 crew at the time. Six people were killed in the capsizing.^[2] She was subsequently refloated and repaired and served the Greek Islands as Penelope, until 2013 when she was scrapped at the Port of Piraeus.^[3]

Sister Ships[]

The European Gateway has three sister ships:

• European Enterprise - Currently serving as Gardenia
• European Trader - Currently serving as Lina Trader
• European Clearway - Currently serving as Via Mare

See also[]

• MS Herald of Free Enterprise - Another ferry owned by Townsend Thoresen which sank.
• Harwich Lifeboat Station for description of The European Gateway Disaster.

References[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 7400261.