P&O Ferries Pride of Bilbao - Further Ferry Information and Vessel Description MS Pride of Bilbao is a cruiseferry owned by Irish Ferries and operated by P&O Ferries on their Portsmouth—Bilbao service. She was built in 1986 as MS Olympia by the Wärtsilä shipyard in Turku, Finland for Rederi AB Slite, Sweden for use in Viking Line traffic. The vessel currently operates between Portsmouth and Bilbao, completing one return sailing every three days but also been previously used to provide a weekly service between Portsmouth and Cherbourg.
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Pride of Bilbao was built by the Wärtsilä Shipyard in Turku, Finland, for Rederi AB Slite. The ship was launched on 26 April, 1986 under the name Olympia, and operated between Stockholm and Helsinki for Viking Line. The vessel was built as a sister ship to MS 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. As of 1994, Pride of Bilbao has been registered in Portsmouth. The vessel currently operates between Portsmouth and Bilbao, completing one return sailing every three days.
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In 2002 the Pride of Bilbao received a major refurbishment, during which the vast majority of public spaces were updated and brought in line with P&O Ferries' new corporate branding of onboard facilities, as well as updating her livery. In addition to this, all Club Cabins and Suites received new carpets and textiles as well as having their en-suites remodelled and refurbished.
P&O Ferries Pride of Bilbao Ferry Statistics
- Length - 177.10 m
- Breadth - 28.4 m
- Draught - 6.51 m
- Speed - 22 knots
- Engines - 4 × Wärtsilä-SEMT Pielstick 12PC2-6V
- Built - 1985
- Yard - Wärtsilä Turku, Finland
- Cars - 580
- Passengers - 2500
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