Dover Tugs welcome the MS Spirit of Britain ferry into Dover Harbour, Kent, UK.

The photo shows the MS Spirit of Britain about a minute after she first entered the Eastern Entrance from the Straits of Dover and English Channel at 11.07 am on Sunday, January 9th, 2011.

On the left is the Dover Harbour Board tug, DHB Doughty, in front of the Eastern Arm pier (the building near the end is Dover Port Control). On the right in front of the Southern Breakwater is her sister-tug, DHB Dauntless. Both tugs are firing their water cannon in traditonal salute.

The orange blob to the right of the super-ferry`s bow is the Dover lifeboat, `City of London II`. The Dover Harbour Board Pilot and Harbour Patrol Vessel, DHB Dovorian is hiding somewhere, too.

The ferry is scheduled to begin operating on the Dover to Calais route on January 21st.

Ferry Details (1):

Name: Spirit of Britain
Operator: P&O Ferries
Port of registry: Dover, United Kingdom
Route: Dover-Calais (English Channel)
Builder: STX Europe, Rauma, Finland
Yard number: 1367
Launched: 8 June 2010
Status: Completed

General characteristics (2):

Tonnage: 49,000 tonnes
Length: 213 m (698.8 ft)
Beam: 31.4 m (103.0 ft)
Draft: 6.5 m (21.3 ft)
Installed power: 4 x MAN 7L 48/60 Diesels
Propulsion: 2 x controllable pitch propellers
3 x Bow thrusters
Speed: 22 kn (41 km/h)
Capacity: 2,000 passengers, 650 vehicles
Call Sign: 2DXD4
IMO: 9524231
MMSI: 235082716

DHB Doughty: Call Sign MZGA8, IMO 9190468, MMSI 232004783
DHB Dauntless: Call Sign MZGC8, IMO 9190456, MMSI 232004784

More info on the original Dover Tugs welcome the MS Spirit of Britain ferry into Dover Harbour webpage.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog (Social Psychology)