P&O Pride of Dover LAST EVER sailing

Pride of Dover, the original Townsend Thoresen and P&O European Ferries flagship, made her final crossing from Dover to Calais on Tuesday 14 December 2010 at 2355hrs. Upon arrival in the French port she would disembark her vehicles for the final time and sail 'empty' to Dover to enable the crew time to destock her restaurants, bars and shops.

Speaking to P&O personnel at the ships information desk during the outward voyage and pulling a few favours, I (instagram: thebearded_blogger), was granted permission to remain aboard for her sailing back to Dover.

Upon arrival in Calais, by the time it took me to walk from the aft verandah deck to the forward windows in the Horizon Lounge, all vehicles had been discharged, berth ramps raised and mooring team standing by on the quayside for our IMMEDIATE return to Dover.

I WAS OFFICIALLY THE ONLY PASSENGER ABOARD THIS FERRY AND THE LAST TO EVER SAIL ABOARD HER.

Having made my way back to the exterior deck we were already moving astern; the SeaFrance Moliere and Pride of Burgundy remained silent - no horns or sirens to mark this historic event. Pride of Dover glided gently into the English Channel, turning off the pier heads and made her way towards Dover never to return to the Port of Calais.

Being the ONLY passenger aboard a ferry which can accommodate 2000 allowed me to walk freely around the vessel, although it was necessary to dodge gaming machines, crates, boxes and Christmas trees piled up in the aisles, halls and corridors.

Upon arrival in the Port of Dover during the [extremely] early hours of Wednesday 15 December 2010 an announcement was made purely for my benefit:

"this is a message for the only passenger aboard. You may now rejoin your vehicle. No rushing. No pushing or shoving. Cheers mate".

Pride of Dover remained alongside Berth 6 until 16th December 2010. She departed at 1050hrs local time and proceeded across Dover Harbour exchanging horn blasts with the Pride of Canterbury and SeaFrance Rodin - military marching music blaring from her public address system.

Pride of Dover exited the Western Entrance at 1054hrs with three mournful blasts of her horn before turning north-east to head towards Tilbury on the River Thames.

She remained within the dock until 2012 when she was towed to Turkey by the tug Eide Fighter but, with one last fight in her, owing to unfavourable towage conditions both ships turned around off Alderney and remained in safe anchorage in Lyme Bay off Brixham, Devon, UK.

www.a2bviasea.co.uk
Instagram: thebearded_blogger

Music: Someday
Musician: Alexander Delarge
URL: https://icons8.com/music/