MS Phocine

History

Phocine was launched in 1985 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 and used on the Ramsgate - Ostend route. In 1996 she was sold to Jacobs Holdings (Dart Line) who used her on the Dartford - Vlissingen and Dartford - Zeebrugge routes, 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, 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. In 2006 she was sold to Dart 3 Ltd., and renamed Phocine on charter to Cobelfret Ferries, being used on the North Killingholme Haven - Zeebrugge route. In 2007 she was on charter to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, returning to Cobelfret later in the year being used on the Ostend - Purfleet and Killingholme - Ostend routes. In 2008 she was chartered by Seatruck Ferries to replace Riverdance, Phocine was herself due to be replaced by Clipper Point when that vessel entered service with Seatruck.