MS Viking I
 |
 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 the for[clarification needed] 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.