MS Free Enterprise II

For other ships with the same name, see Free enterprise (disambiguation).

History
United Kingdom
Name
  • Free Enterprise II
  • 1982: Moby Blu
Owner
OperatorTownsend Thoresen, Dover, England.
Route
  • Dover-Calais (1966-1969)
  • Dover-Zeebrugge (1968-1970)
  • Southampton-Cherbourg (1970-1974)
Builder
  • N.V. Werf "Gusto", Schiedam, Rotterdam
  • Engines: J. & K. Smit, Kinderdijk
Yard number502
Laid downAugust 1964
Launched29 January 1965
IdentificationIMO number: 6506317
Fate2003: sold to Indian breakers
General characteristics
TypeFerry
Displacement4,011 gross
LengthLength on deck - 108.11m (354.7 ft) (overall) 98.50m (323.2 ft) (between perpendiculars)
Height9.66m (31.7 ft) (moulded)
Draught4.00m (13.2 ft) (maximum)
Installed power2x 12-cylinder Smit-M.A.N. RBL6612 four-stroke single acting diesels. Power 5664 kW
Speed19.0 knots
Capacity1,200 passengers, 230 cars

MS Free Enterprise II was a cross-Channel ferry operated by Townsend Thoresen between 1965 and 1982. The ship features prominently in the comedy film San Ferry Ann.[1] In later life as Moby Blu she served Corsica and Elba.

History

Free Enterprise II was built by I.C.H. Holland, Werf Gusto Yard, Schiedam, Netherlands in 1965 for Townsend Brothers Ferries (later Townsend Thoresen). In November 2003, she was sold to Indian breakers St Vincent/ Grenadines, renamed Moby and sent to Alang, India for breaking.[2]

Service

Free Enterprise II operated on the Dover–Calais, Dover–Zeebrugge and Southampton–Cherbourg routes throughout the mid to late 1960s and the 1970s. In 1980 she was chartered by Sealink and used on the Portsmouth–Cherbourg route.

In 1982, she was acquired by the NAVARMA/Moby fleet and renamed Moby Blu. They used her on routes to Corsica and then on the Piombino–Elba service.[2][3]

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Merchant Ships: Movies". Irish Sea Shipping. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b "Dover Ferry Photos". Dover Ferry Photos. Archived from the original on 15 August 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Free Enterprise II - Moby Blu". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 11 February 2012.

Bibliography

  • Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John (2001). The Townsend eight. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 978-1871947601.