MV European Causeway

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The "European Causeway" at Larne - geograph.org.uk - 1196641.jpg
The European Causeway
History
NameEuropean Causeway [1]
Owner P&O-house flag.svg P&O Ferries [1]
Operator
Port of registryNassau, Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas [1]
Route Cairnryan-Larne [1]
Ordered1998
Builder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Yard number1065 [1]
Laid down1999
Launched20 March 2000 [1]
Completed2000
In serviceAugust 2000
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Tonnage20,646  GT [1]
Length156.2 m (512 ft 6 in) [1]
Beam23.4 m (76 ft 9 in) [1]
Draught5.5 m (18 ft 1 in) [1]
Propulsion4 x Wärtsilä 12V38 [1]
Speed23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) [1]
Capacity
  • 410 passengers
  • 375 cars [1]
Crew55
European Causeway at Larne in 2023 EuropeanCauseway.jpg
European Causeway at Larne in 2023

MV European Causeway is a ferry operated by P&O Ferries. She was built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shimonoseki shipyard in Japan. [1]

Contents

History

European Causeway entered service in August 2000 replacing the Pride of Rathlin. [2] She was specially designed for the Cairnryan-Larne route and has not operated in service away from this route only straying for refit periods.

Incidents

On 18 December 2018, European Causeway was involved in an incident in extreme weather conditions. After what was described as a "big dip", several lorries toppled sideways causing damage to other vehicles on the car deck. No injuries were reported. [3] The Marine Accident Investigation Branch carried out an investigation. It was concluded that:

In March 2022, the vessel was detained at Larne by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, due to "failures on crew familiarisation, vessel documentation and crew training", after a new crew was installed, following P&O sacking 800 staff. [5]

On 27 April 2022, European Causeway suffered a complete power loss just off the coast of Larne. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution dispatched three lifeboats to the vessel's location, a coastguard helicopter was dispatched and the Queen Victoria stood by to assist if required. The ship recovered power after roughly two hours adrift and continued the voyage to Larne under her own power, escorted by the lifeboats. [6]

Sister Ships

European Causeway does not have an exact sister however P&O ordered two further vessels based on her design:-

Enlarged version built for P&O Irish Sea's Liverpool-Dublin service. Differences include more powerful engines for higher service speed, full bow ramp for landing on linkspans, large stern ramp, passenger cabins, club lounge and revised crew facilities.
Enlarged version built for P&O Irish Sea as a partner to the European Causeway. Differences include minor revisions to the passenger deck layout, additional passenger lifts and the use of larger lifeboats rather than Marine evacuation systems

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "M/F European Causeway". Ferry-site.dk. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  2. "EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY and EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER (Vessel Profile)". 9 September 2019.
  3. "Lorries toppled after 'big dip' on Larne to Cairnryan ferry". BBC News. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  4. "Cargo shift and damage to vehicles on board ro-ro passenger ferry European Causeway". Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB). Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  5. "P&O Ferries ship detained over crew training concerns". BBC News. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  6. Meighan, Craig. "P&O ferry European Causeway travelling from Cairnryan loses power near Larne". The National. Retrieved 5 May 2022.