M/V Tregastel
Tregastel has been operated in 1984 and between 1985 and 1989 by Brittany Ferries, mainly on the Roscoff – Plymouth service. From 1989 to 1991, Tregastel has been allocated to the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin – Poole operated by Brittany Ferries’ subsidiary Truckline.
| M/V Tregastel (1985 - 1991) | |
|---|---|
| The Ship | |
| Launch | 9th March 1971 |
| Shipyard | Schiffbau-Gesselschaft Unterweser A.G., Bremerhaven, Germany |
| Owner |
Prekookeanska Plbovibda (1985 - 1987) Finouest (1987 - 1991) |
| Operator |
Brittany Ferries (1985 - 1989) Truckline (1989 - 1991) |
| Routes |
Plymouth (GB) - Roscoff (FR) (1985 - 1989) Poole (GB) - Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (FR) (1989 - 1991) |
| IMO | 7104441 |
| Port of Registry |
Bari, Italy (1985 - 1987) Morlaix, Bretagne, France (1987 - 1991) |
| Technical Datas | |
| Length | 118.01 m |
| Breadth | 18.50 m |
| Draught | 05.01 m |
| Tonnage | |
| Gross Tonnage | 8,499 GT |
| Net Tonnage | 3,507 NT |
| Deadweight | 1,524 t |
| Engines specifications | |
| Main Engines | 2 Man V6V 40/54 engines |
| Power | 9,996 kW |
| Speed | 21.00 knots (service) |
| Passengers & Cargo | |
| Passengers Capacity | 1,200 passengers + 70 crew members |
| Cabins and Seats | 85 cabins (248 berths proposed) + 400 seats |
| Garage Capacity | 340 cars |
Service History
Tregastel's early years
Travemünde was ordered in April 1969 by Moltzau Line AS (DEU), and launched on 9th March 1971. Delivered on 19th May, Travemünde faced as soon as the following day important electrical issues when she was sailing to Travemünde. Repaired, she was eventually introduced on 25th May between Gedser and Travemünde.
On 31st December 1980, Travemünde was sold to Prekookanska Plovidba, which renamed her Njegos. However, she was chartered out to her former owners as soon as the following days to keep operating the route for which she was built until June 1981. From early-July, she was transferred on a route linking Bar and Bari, in Southern Europe, a route operated by Montenegro Lines.
In May 1984, Njegos was chartered by Brittany Ferries for operation on the Roscoff – Plymouth and Saint-Malo – Portsmouth routes to replace Penn Ar Bed that has been sold a few days before, in order to accommodate the passengers booked on the last crossings Penn Ar Bed was scheduled to operate.
She was then chartered out to Sally Line, which repainted her hull and introduced her on a Ramsgate – Dunkirk service. She was laid up in October 1984, available for charter.
Tregastel (1985 - 1991)
From 1st May 1985, Njegos was chartered in by Brittany Ferries for three years in order to replace Benodet on the Roscoff – Plymouth route. Before being introduced, she was renamed Tregastel yet remained registered in Bar. This last fact brought some confusion during 1986’s Route du Rhum edition. Indeed, Tregastel was then laid up in Saint-Malo and a lot of people wanted to have a drink in the "Bar Le Tregastel".
Tregastel was purchased by Brittany Ferries in early-1987, and was sent to Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg for general overhaul and rebuilt. Indeed, Tregastel has been made for operation in tiny harbours, and was equipped with a rudder on her bow and of another wheelhouse on her stern. That was useless for service with Brittany Ferries and it has been decided to replace Tregastel's bow rudder with a bulbous bow, enabling the company to make fuel savings. She was also equipped with stabilizers. Once those works have been completed, Tregastel resumed service between Roscoff and Plymouth.
Tregastel was replaced on the Roscoff – Plymouth service in 1989 by Quiberon and was transferred to Brittany Ferries’ subsidiary Truckline, for service between Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and Poole. She enabled the launch of a passenger service on this route, marketed as low-cost service by Brittany Ferries. During winter 1989-1990, she served on the Ouistreham – Portsmouth service.
Alongside Armorique, she was chartered out to French Army in October 1990 to carry troops to the Persian Gulf.
Tregastel ended service with Truckline in late-1991, being replaced with the introduction of Barfleur the following year. She then operated a few crossings on the Roscoff – Plymouth service and freight-only service on the Ouistreham – Portsmouth route. Laid-up in November 1991, she was offered for sale in December.
From Saint-Clair to Noor
P&O purchased Tregastel in January 1992 and renamed her Treg. She was sent to German shipyard Lloyd for repainting and refurbishment. She then entered service as Saint-Clair on 11th March 1992 on the Aberdeen – Lerwick route. Saint-Clair also served a few times on the Lerwick – Bergen route before being transferred to this route from 1993.
In 1995, Saint-Clair was rebuilt for £1.2 millions in order to upgrade her with sponsons, enhancing her sea keeping ability.
From September 1997, after the closing of the Lerwick – Bergen service, she reverted to the Lerwick – Aberdeen service. Nevertheless, P&O lost its operating agreement for this service in late-2002, and Saint-Clair was laid up. She was sold to a Saudi company which renamed her Barakat, introducing her between Jeddah and Suakin. She was renamed once again in 2011, becoming Noor.
Aboard Accommodations
Aboard Dining and Bar
- Le Tregor - À la carte Restaurant;
- Cafeteria;
- Bar;
- Pastry Shop.
Aboard Shopping
- Perfumes Shop;
- Alcohool and Tobaco shop.
Passengers Accommodations
- 40 cabins with 2 berths and sink;
- 2 en-suite cabins with 2 berths;
- 23 cabins with 4 berths;
- 16 outside en-suite cabins with 4 berths ;
- 2 cabins with 4 berths without sink;
- 2 reclining seats lounges.
Photo Library
See Also
References
- "Mv Travemunde, Past and Present". In Dover Ferry Photos Forum, ; ; , 2015. [retrieved 15th August 2016]. Available at www.doverferryphotosforums.co.uk;
- "Njegos / Tregastel". In Ferry Fantastic, , 2013. [retrieved 15th August 2015]. Available at www.ferryfantastic.webs.com;
- "M/F Barakat". In The Ferry Site, , 2015. [retrieved 15th August 2015]. Available at www.ferry-site.dk;
- "Deckplans". In HHV Ferry, , 2013. [retrieved 15th August 2015]. Available at www.hhvferry.com;
- . "Transformation du TRESGATEL en février/mars 1987". In Marine Marchande, , 2008. [retrieved 15th August 2015]. Available at www.marine-marchande.net (Author of the pictures of the bulbous bow).