Cost €180million Launched 18 February 2011 | Construction started 8 August 2010 Length 213 m Completed 24 January 2012 | |
Name 2011-presentSpirit of France Owner 2011-present P&O Ferries Operator 2011-present P&O Ferries | ||
MS Spirit of France is a cross-channel ferry operated by P&O Ferries on the Dover-Calais route. She is the second of two 'Spirit' class ships built for P&O Ferries, the other being Spirit of Britain. The vessels are the largest ferries constructed for the Dover/Calais route and the largest ferries to ever cross the English Channel.
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History
P&O Ferries signed a €360m contract with Aker Yards (STX Europe) on 8 August 2008 for the two largest ferries ever to be constructed for the Dover-Calais service, replacing Pride of Dover and Pride of Calais. The new vessels were specifically designed for the Dover-Calais route and were built to Lloyd’s Register ‘Green Passport’ which provides a cradle to grave strategy for all materials used. The ferries are environmentally friendly, offering significant advances in fuel efficiency through a hydro-dynamically efficient hull form that optimise vessel performance with minimum fuel consumption.
The vessels are the first passenger ferries in the world to comply with the new International Maritime Organization "Safe Return to Port" requirements ahead of the international compliance date. These rules require that, in the event of a ship becoming a casualty, basic services are provided to all persons on board and that certain systems remain operational for safe return to port. Performance standards are stipulated for a wide range of ship systems including fire-fighting, power supply, propulsion, steering and navigation. The requirements come into force for vessels built after 1 July 2010.
The ships have the Lloyd's Register class notation of PSMR (Propulsion and Steering Machinery Redundancy) which will be assigned where the main propulsion and steering systems are configured to ensure that, in the event of equipment failure, the ship retains availability of propulsion power and manoeuvring capability to provide a safe return to port.
Sea trials and delivery
P&O refused to accept delivery of the ship due to vibration problems during sea trials. Once all problems had been resolved, the ship arrived at Dover for the first time on Saturday 28 January 2012 at 11:08 (UTC), eight minutes after the scheduled arrival time. On 29 January 2012, Spirit of France started berthing trials in the Port of Dover and the following day arrived in Calais for berthing trials. It then departed for Dover and berthed at cruise terminal two for crew familiarisation. On Thursday 9 February 2012 Spirit of France departed Dover at 12:05 (UTC) carrying passengers for the first time, making its maiden voyage and beginning service for P&O Ferries.