SEALINK-HOLYHEAD
Justin Merrigan
Earl Godwin
Built in 1966 for Rederi AB Svea as the Svea Drott, this handsome ferry entered service on the Helsingborg-Travemünde crossing. In 1974, she was bareboat chartered to Rederi AB Gotland for service between Visby and Oskarshamn. A boiler failure in British Rail's aging Channel Islands ferry Falaise saw the Svea Drott's debut on the English Channel, in September 1974, on sub-charter for the Weymouth-Channel Islands services.
As she was when she came to Holyhead for conversion - the Svea Drott. © Howard Onions
As she was when she came to Holyhead for conversion - the Svea Drott. © Howard Onions
On completion of the charter the ship retured to Helsingborg, Sweden, in October. Such was her success on the Channel however that in November she was purchased by Lloyd's Leasing Ltd, London and chartered to British Rail. Following a major refit at Holyhead, the ship entered service on the Channel Islands routes in 1975 as the Earl Godwin.
Completing her refit in Holyhead's drydock, the newly named Earl Godwin. © Ronnie Roberts.
Completing her refit in Holyhead's drydock, the newly named Earl Godwin. © Ronnie Roberts.
Earl Godwin
Built:
IMO No.
Deadweight
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1966, AB Öresundvarvet Landskrona, Sweden
6606026
1064 tonnes
4.0 metres
Lloyds Register +100A1
99.5 metres
18.29 metres
5.67 metres
1000 passengers
160 cars
Bow and stern
