M/V Purbeck

As Coutances, her sister-ship, Purbeck was built in 1978 in Le Havre for Truckline. Once delivered, Purbeck was introduced on the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin – Poole service.

In 1986, one year after Truckline’ purchase by Brittany Ferries, Purbeck was lengthened by twenty meters in La Rochelle, in order to enable her to cope with the growing traffic on her route.

After the introduction of Barfleur on the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin - Poole service, in 1992, Purbeck was not kept in Truckline’ fleet, and was chartered out to numerous operators. Thus, Purbeck has been operated by British Channel Islands Ferries between 1993 and 1994. Between 1994 and 2000, she has been chartered mainly by Commodore Ferries, which took over BCIF in 1994. Nevertheless, she has also been chartered to Sally Line, Irish Ferries and to Truckline in 1997.

Purbeck has been chartered in by Brittany Ferries between 2000 and 2002 in order to cope with the growing demand for freight transportation on the route linking Ouistreham and Portsmouth. Purbeck's charter was to last until the delivery of Mont Saint Michel, scheduled for summer 2002. However, she was delivered much behind schedule, in December 2002, and Brittany Ferries had to keep chartering Purbeck through summer 2002 on the purpose of accommodating as many booked customers as possible.

In 2006, Purbeck was bought by Conferry (which has also purchased two years later her sister-ship) and was renamed Maria Rosario.