The Phocine is a ferry owned by Dart 3 Ltd and currently in service with Seatruck Ferries.
History
Phocine was completed in 1984 as Balder Sten, owned by K/S A/S Balder RO/RO No 2. She was sold to Navrom and renamed Bazias 3 in 1985 and operated by them until 1991 when she was chartered to Sally Line, being renamed Sally Euroroute in 1993[1] and used on the Ramsgate–Ostend route.[2] In 1996 she was sold to Jacobs Holdings (Dart Line)[1] who used her on the Dartford–Vlissingen and Dartford–Zeebrugge routes,[2] renamed Merle and chartered to Belfast Freight Ferries until 2000, when she was renamed Dart 3 and operated by Dart Line. At some point she was sold to Bid Corp Shipping.
She was chartered to Norse Merchant Ferries in 2000[1] and used on the Belfast–Heysham route, returning to Dart Line in 2001. As well as her former routes with Dart Line, she was also used on the Dartford–Dunquerque route.[3] In 2006 she was sold to Dart 3 Ltd and renamed Phocine on charter to Cobelfret Ferries,[1] being used on the North Killingholme Haven–Zeebrugge route.[3] In 2007 she was on charter to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, returning to Cobelfret later in the year[1] being used on the Ostend–Purfleet and Killingholme–Ostend routes.[4] In 2008 she was chartered by Seatruck Ferries[1] to replace Riverdance, Phocine was herself due to be replaced by Clipper Point when that vessel entered service with Seatruck.[5]
