MS Pride of Kent

Pride of Kent approaching Calais
History
Name	1992-2004: European Highway 2003-present: Pride of Kent
Owner	1992-2002: P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd 2002-present: P & O Ferries Ltd
Operator	P&O Ferries
Port of registry	1992-2019: Dover,  United Kingdom 2019 onwards: Limassol,  Cyprus
Route	1992-2002: Dover-Zeebrugge 2003-present: Dover-Calais
Builder	Schichau Unterweser AG, Germany
Yard number	1073
Launched	14 December 1991
Completed	12 June 1992
Maiden voyage	16 June 1992
Identification	IMO number: 9015266
Status	In Service
General characteristics
Tonnage	1992-2002: 22,986 gt 2003 onwards: 30,365 gt
Length	179.7 m (589.6 ft)
Beam	28.3 m (92.8 ft)
Draft	6.27 m (20.6 ft)
Installed power	4 x Sulzer 8ZA40S Diesels
Propulsion	Two controllable pitch propellers
Speed	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity	1992-2002: 200 passengers 124 15m freight vehicles 2003 onwards: 2,000 passengers 650 passenger vehicles or 120 15m freight vehicles

MS Pride of Kent is a cross-channel ferry operated by P&O Ferries, which since 2003 has operated on the Dover to Calais route. Before that, between 1992 and 2002, it had operated on the Dover to Zeebrugge route.

History[]

Colloquially known as Kent, she was built as European Highway in 1991, a sister ship to Pride of Canterbury, and European Seaway. Originally servicing Zeebrugge, like Pride of Canterbury, she was converted in 2003 before re-entering service on the Dover–Calais route as Pride of Kent.

On 10 December 2017, the vessel ran aground in the Port of Calais during routine departure manoeuvres in high winds. The vessel was refloated at high tide with assistance from harbour tugs commandeered from the Port of Dunkirk. On 12 December 2017, the vessel made her way to Dunkirk for an emergency dry docking. She had damaged a shaft seal and gearbox.

In early 2019, the Pride of Kent, like all P&O vessels on the Dover-to-Calais route, has been flagged out to Cyprus, a measure explained by the company as motivated by tax advantages in view of Brexit. She is now registered in Limassol.

Project Darwin[]

With the ending of the P&O Stena Line agreement, newly formed P&O Ferries announced that the ex Zeebrügge freight vessels European Highway and European Pathway would be rebuilt at the German Shipyard of Lloyd Werft. On completion of their rebuilds, they would be placed on the premier Dover-Calais service, replacing PO Kent (ex-Spirit of Free Enterprise, Pride of Kent, then POSL Kent) and PO Canterbury (ex-Stena Fantasia). This move became widely known by its P&O in-house code name, Project Darwin. Key features of the converted ships were:

• Passenger capacity up from 200 to 2,000
• More than 5,000 square metres of passenger accommodation
• Fifty extra crew cabins
• Better manoeuvrability

European Pathway was to leave for Bremerhaven on 1 December 2002, followed later in the month by European Highway. The rebuilt ferries were to enter service in April and May 2003 respectively.

Layout[]

Pride of Kent has six 'active' decks - cardeck 3 freight and cars, cardeck 5 freight and cars, cardeck 6 cars only, deck 7 & 8 passenger facilities and deck 9 outside deck area. The ship is both divided vertically (as decks) and horizontally, into 3 ventilation zones, with stairs assigned the colours red, yellow, orange, green and blue. There are three passenger lifts from the main and car decks to the passenger facilities. Her onboard facilities include (amongst others) several lounges, a self-service cafeteria, two cafés, a restaurant, and a bar. There are also open decks on levels 8 and 9.

Sister ships[]

Pride of Kent docked at Calais

As built, Pride of Kent was identical to European Seaway and European Pathway. The fourth 'European Class' freight ferry was converted to a multi-purpose vessel for the Dover-Calais route and named MS Pride of Burgundy, though she still retained a number of similarities. Following conversion to multi-purpose ship Pride of Kent is nearly identical to the MS Pride of Canterbury.^[1]

• MS European Seaway

Pride of Kent and Pride of Canterbury are commonly known as the 'Darwin Twins' or 'Darwins' after the project name given by P&O to the conversion of the ships.^[2]

References[]