MS Viking I
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 Viking I in Dover's Eastern Docks, 1967
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Cyprus | |
| Name | Viking I, Viking Victory, Neptunia, Media II and Media V[clarification needed] |
| Owner | Ionian Sky Ferry, from 2007 |
| Operator | Ionian Sky Ferry until 2008 |
| Port of registry | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Route | Initially, Service between Southampton and Cherbourg |
| Builder | Kaldnes Mekaniske Verksted A/S, Tønsberg, Norway |
| Launched | 1964 |
| Maiden voyage | 11 May 1964 |
| In service | 1964–2008 |
| Identification | IMO number: 6407652 |
| Fate | Scrapped in 2008 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | RORO car and passenger ferry |
| Tonnage | 5.440 GRT |
| Length | 99.5 m (326 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 23.19 m (76 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 4.42 m (14 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Pielstick Lindholmens 12 PC2V 400 |
| Speed | 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) |
| Capacity | 940 passengers, 180 cars |
MS Viking I was a roll-on roll-off (RORO) car and passenger ferry and was last owned by Ionian Sky Ferry before being scrapped in 2008. She was originally commissioned by Otto Thoresen of Thoresen Ferries for service between Southampton and Cherbourg across the English Channel.
Revolutionary design
Viking I was designed by naval architect Tage Wandborg in the early 1960s. She was a drive-through car ferry and was a significant and revolutionary design, being one of the first of her kind to operate from the UK across the Western English channel. Viking I was in operation on the Southampton to Cherbourg and Le Havre routes from 1964 for Otto Thoresen's Thoresen Ferries.
References
- Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John (2007). Remembering the Thoresen Vikings: Townsend Thoresen trend setters. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947731.