Pride of Bilbao
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| M/V Pride of Bilbao | |
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| Previous names: | M/V Olympia |
| Shipbuilder: | Wärtsilä Shipyard, Turku, Finland |
| Launched: | 31 August 1985 |
| Delivered: | 26 April 1986 |
| Current route: | Portsmouth — Bilbao |
| General Characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 37500 Gross Register |
| Length: | 177.1 m |
| Beam: | 28.4 m |
| Draft: | 6.51 m |
| Propulsion: | 4 × Wärtsilä-Pielstick diesels 23,000 kW |
| Speed: | 22 knots |
| Passengers: | 2500 |
| Car capacity: | 500 |
M/V Pride of Bilbao (formerly M/V Olympia) is a cruiseferry built in 1985.
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[edit] Brief history
Olympia was bulit by the Wärtsilä Shipyard in Turku, Finland, for Rederi AB Slite (a part of Viking Line). The ship was launched on 26 April, 1986 under the name Olympia, and operated between Stockholm and Helsinki. Olympia was built as a sister ship to M/V Mariella.
In 1993 Rederi AB Slite suffered financial problems and was forced to declare bankruptcy. Olympia was sold to Irish Continental Group and chartered to P&O European Ferries who renamed her the Pride of Bilbao. The vessel currently (as of 2006) operates between Portsmouth and Bilbao and has also been previously used to provide a weekly service between Portsmouth and Cherbourg.
[edit] Wildlife research
Volunteers from the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme regularly use the facilities and bridge of the Pride of Bilbao for research into dolphins and many other rare cetacean species in the Bay of Biscay. The charity also organises watches and talks aboard the ferry for interested passengers.
[edit] Possible Connection to Deaths of Yachtsmen
Detectives and officers from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and Hampshire Constabulary investigating the deaths of three yachtsmen examined the ship when it arrived in Portsmouth on 29 August 2006. The ship is one of at least 5 that the MAIB will inspect as part of their investigation. It is thought the ferry or one of the other ships in the area may have collided, or had a near-miss, with the 25-foot yacht Ouzo off the Isle of Wight on August 20th, leading to the deaths. All of the men died from drowning. The MAIB and Police inspected the hull for damage and studied paperwork. P&O Ferries had previously handed over information from a data recorder on board the ferry which led to the follow up inspection of the ship. The ship was inspected again on arrival in Portsmouth on 7 September 2006. After offloading passengers and vehicles from Bilbao the vessel was turned to allow the MAIB to inspect the port side and stern.
On 20 September 2006 a P&O Ferries employee from the Pride of Bilbao was arrested by police on suspicion of causing manslaughter through gross negligence. He was latter released on bail pending further inquiries. [1]
