One of the ships that DFDS (Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab) used to operate was the 1978 built roll on/roll off vessel TOR BELGIA.
She was built in France by Dunkerque by Société Metallurgique et Navale at Dunkerque-Normandie in 1978 as yard no 305 launched on 8th April as FOSS HAVRE trading until 1981, renamed VILLE DU HAVRE until 1987, KAMINA until 1990, MAERSK KENT until 1992, and TOR BRITANNIA until January 1999. During October 1994 a major conversion was carried out consisting of lengthening by 24 metres (193 metres from 170 metres) placing a flume tank above the weather deck, installing internal movable ramp and additional car decks. She had 12 passenger capacity (mainly truck drivers) and freight capacity was 2.695 lane metres. Propulsion was by two 12 Cylinders Diesel type Sulzer ZV 12-40/48 with one controllable LIPS pitch propeller with 19.5 knots as maximum speed.
She was renamed TOR BELGIA during March 1999 and in October 2003 she was sold to the Norwegian Company KS Bolag, based at Oslo and chartered back for five years. September 2008 charter ended. In June 2010 she was sold to Astonvilla Prosperites S.A., Panama and renamed DUBAI GATE and in July 2010 she was scrapped at Alang, India.
All images are back to 4th May 2010 while TOR BELGIA was anchored at OPL Malta.
Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Thursday 30th April, 2020