MS Pride of Hull
{{short description|Bahamas registered passenger and cargo roll-on/roll-off ship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:Pride of Hull at Kingston upon Hull 5.jpg | Ship caption = The Pride of Hull }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = | Ship flag = | Ship name = Pride of Hull | Ship namesake = | Ship owner = P&O North Sea Ferries{{cite web|url=http://www.ferry-site.dk/ferry.php?id=9208629&lang=en |title=M/F Pride of Hull |access-date=10 October 2011 |last=Koefoed-Hansen |first=Michael |work=The Ferry Site }} | Ship operator = P&O Ferries | Ship registry = Nassau, {{flag|Bahamas|civil}}{{cite web |title=Prise of Hull |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/details/ships/imo:9208629 |website=Marinetraffic.com |access-date=19 March 2019}} | Ship ordered = 24 January 1999 | Ship awarded = | Ship builder = Fincantieri, Italy | Ship original cost = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship sponsor = | Ship christened = 30 November 2001 by Cherie Blair | Ship completed = | Ship acquired = 16 November 2001 | Ship commissioned = | Ship recommissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = 2 December 2001 | Ship out of service = | Ship renamed = | Ship reclassified = | Ship refit = | Ship struck = | Ship reinstated = | Ship homeport = | Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|9208629}}
| Ship motto = | Ship nickname = | Ship honours = | Ship honors = | Ship captured = | Ship status = {{Ship in active service}} | Ship notes = | Ship badge = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Roll-On Roll-Off Cargo and Passenger Cruiseferry | Ship type = | Ship tonnage = *{{GT|59,925}}
| Ship displacement = {{convert|25113|LT|t|0|lk=in|abbr=on}} | Ship length = {{convert|215.44|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|31.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|6.04|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = 12 | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = *4 × Wärtsilä 9L46C | Ship speed = {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = *1,360 passengers
| Ship crew = | Ship notes = }} |
MS Pride of Hull is a Bahamas registered passenger and cargo roll-on/roll-off cruiseferry in service with P&O North Sea Ferries on the Hull – Rotterdam route.
Design
Pride of Hull was designed as two ships in one, both a car ferry and a cargo transporter, with three large freight decks, loaded by a single stern door and a car deck, on deck 7, loaded via a side ramp. She is {{convert|215.05|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long with a beam of {{convert|31.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and a draught of {{convert|6.04|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. She is powered by four Wärtsilä 9L46C diesel engines which have a total power output of {{convert|37800|kW|hp}} which can propel her at {{convert|22|kn|km/h}}. She has two bow thrusters, two stabilisers and twin rudders.{{fact|date=June 2016}} With Mampaey quick release disc type towing hook.
Service
Pride of Hull was originally ordered as Pride of Rotterdam, along with a sister ship Pride of Hull on 24 January 1999 from Fincantieri, Italy to replace the aging {{MS|Norsea||2}} and {{MS|Norsun||2}} which had been operating the Hull – Rotterdam route since 1987. On 11 March 2001, Norstar suffered a major engine room fire and was subsequently withdrawn from service upon arrival at Zeebrugge. As a result of this, the MS Norsun was required to go into refit early for subsequent transfer to the Kingston upon Hull – Zeebrugge as had been planned. The Hull – Rotterdam route operated with one British and one Dutch crew, the Dutch crew being assigned to Pride of Rotterdam and the British to Pride of Hull, as a result, in March 2001, with Pride of Hull having already been completed the names of the two vessels were swapped so that she could enter service as Pride of Rotterdam with the Dutch crew.
The newly renamed Pride of Hull was launched on 11 April 2001, finally being delivered to P&O Ferries on 16 November 2001. She was christened by Cherie Blair in Hull on 30 November 2001, entering service on 2 December 2001. Upon entering service she was the joint title holder of the World's Largest Cruiseferry with her sister, the Pride of Rotterdam
On 17 March 2022, P&O announced they were to fire 800 seafaring employees, including the entirety of the Pride of Hull’s crew, in a bid to save costs. In protest, the ship’s crew refused to leave, and Captain Eugene Favier raised the gangplank and refused access to P&O’s security, who were sent to forcefully remove the crew should they fail to leave the vessel. The standoff ended after five hours, when Captain Favier held discussions with P&O bosses, who agreed to provide the relevant documents to the crew, as requested by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.{{cite web |last=Dresch |first=Matthew |date=17 March 2022 |title=Captain of P&O ferry hailed as hero after 'refusing to let police board vessel' |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/captain-po-ferry-hailed-hero-26495175 |access-date=17 March 2022 |website=mirror }}
Engine room fires
On 10 December 2008, Pride of Hull suffered a minor engine room fire whilst en route to Kingston upon Hull.
Another engine room fire broke out on 20 October 2020, this time en route to Rotterdam.{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/nearly-300-passengers-stuck-aboard-p-o-ferry-after-engine-room-fire-12110037|title=Nearly 300 passengers stuck aboard P&O ferry after engine room fire|website=Sky News|access-date=26 October 2020}}
Sister ships
Pride of Hull has one sister ship:
- {{MS|Pride of Rotterdam||2}}
Gallery
File:PrideofRotterdam.png|An early image of Pride of Hull
File:Pride of Hull - geograph.org.uk - 854062.jpg|Pride of Hull berthed at its dock in Hull.
References
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
|before={{MS|Silja Europa}}
|title=World's Largest Cruiseferry
|years=2001–2004
|with={{MS|Pride of Rotterdam}} (2001–2004)
|after={{MS|Color Fantasy||}}}}
{{s-end}}
{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}
{{P&O ships|portsmouth=no|stena=no|euro=no|pandoro=no|irish=no}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pride of Hull}}
Category:Ferries of the United Kingdom
Category:Ships built by Fincantieri
Category:Ships built in Venice