MV Ulster Queen (1967)

MV Ulster Queen was a passenger ferry operated across the Irish Sea by P&O Ferries between 1967 and 1981.

For the 1930 motorship, see MV Ulster Queen (1930).
Ulster Queen as Poseidonia laid up in Eleusis in 2004.
History
Name
  • Ulster Queen (1967-1982)
  • Med Sea (1982-86) (unregistered)
  • Al Kahera (1986-87
  • Ala-Eddin (1987-88)
  • Poseidonia (1988-2005)
  • Al Kahfain (2005)[1]
Owner
  • Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (1988-2005)
  • Pangloss Bav. Co. Ltd. (1982-1988)
  • P&O Ferries Ltd (1978-1982)
  • Belfast Steamship Co (1967-1978)
Operator P&O Ferries (1978-81)
RouteLiverpool-Belfast (1967-1981)
BuilderCammell Laird
Yard number1323
Completed23 May 1967
In service6 June 1967[2]
Out of service7 November 1981
IdentificationIMO number: 6703317
FateWrecked on Hyndman Reef, Safaga 2005
General characteristics
Tonnage4,270 GT
Length115.22 m (378.0 ft)
Beam16.46 m (54.0 ft)
Draught4.13 m (13.5 ft)
Installed power2x 12-cylinder, Pielstick diesel; 5295 kW.
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Capacity
  • 274 1st class passengers
  • 138 2nd class (cabin)
  • 598 2nd class (seats)
Notes[3]

History

Ulster Queen was the second of three new car ferries delivered to Coast Lines in 1966/67 to update the Irish Sea services of the Belfast Steamship Company. She was built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead. With her sister, Ulster Prince she took over the Liverpool - Belfast night service, replacing the pre-war motorships Ulster Monarch and Ulster Prince (2). The smaller, third new ferry, Lion took over the Ardrossan - Belfast day service of Burns & Laird. Coast Lines were taken over by P&O in 1971 and the ferries subsequently took on the P&O Ferries colours, with pale blue funnels.[4]

The service closed in 1981 and both ships were laid up in Ostend. Ulster Queen saw further service as Med Sea, Al Kahera and Ala-Eddin. In 1988, she was bought by Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, and renamed Poseidonia.

On 2 November 2005, she caught fire during a voyage from Suez to Jeddah. One crew member was lost. The following day, she sank on Hyndman Reef, Safaga and lies as a wreck.[1]

Service

References
  1. "M/F Al Kahfain". Ferry-site.dk. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  2. "M/S Ulster Queen". faktaomfartyg.se. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  3. "Ship Fact Sheet ULSTER QUEEN (1967)" (PDF). P&O Heritage. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  4. "Ulster Queen - Poseidonia". Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
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