M/V Pride of Bilbao (formerly M/V Olympia) is a cruiseferry built in 1985. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1800x1200, 281 KB) Summary Pride of Bilbao cruiseferry leaving Portsmouth harbour in July 2003. ... Irish Continental Group plc, ISEQ: ICG_u LSE: ICGC more usually known by its trading name Irish Ferries is a quoted Irish Ferry operator. ... MS Freedom of the Seas under construction at Aker Yards in Turku. ... Turku (IPA:  , Swedish:  ), founded in the 13th century, is the oldest and fifth largest city in Finland, with a population of 174,868 (as of 2005). ... is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... For other places with the same name, see Portsmouth (disambiguation). ... La Muy Noble y Muy Leal e Invicta (The most noble and most loyal and undefeated) Location Location of Bilbao in Spain and Biscay Coordinates : 43,15° n. ... Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo capacity of a ship. ... The metre (American English:meter) is a measure of length. ... SEMT Pielstick is a French diesel engine manufacturer based at Villepinte, France and owned by MAN B&W Diesel Group, a subsidiary of MAN AG (MTU has a minority shareholding of 33%). SEMT Pielstick was formed in 1988 when the business was acquired from GEC Alsthom by MAN and MTU... Diesel or diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of fuel oil (mostly petroleum) that is used as fuel in a diesel engine invented by German engineer Rudolf Diesel. ... The watt (symbol: W) is the SI derived unit of power, equal to one joule per second. ... A knot is a unit of speed abbreviated kt or kn. ... A ship prefix is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a civilian or naval ship. ... Pride of Bilbao, a cruise ferry operated by P&O Ferries. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ...

Brief history

Olympia 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. Olympia was built as a sister ship to M/S Mariella. MS Freedom of the Seas under construction at Aker Yards in Turku. ... Turku (IPA:  , Swedish:  ), founded in the 13th century, is the oldest and fifth largest city in Finland, with a population of 174,868 (as of 2005). ... Rederi AB Slite was a Swedish shipping company, founded in 1947. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location of Stockholm in northern Europe Coordinates: , Country Sweden Municipality Stockholm Municipality County Stockholm Province Södermanland and Uppland Charter 13th century Government  - Mayor Kristina Axén Olin (m) Population (March 2007)  - City 786,509  - Density 4,160/km² (10,774. ... Location of Helsinki in Northern Europe Coordinates: , Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Charter 1550 Capital city 1812 Government  - City manager Jussi Pajunen Area  - City 187. ... Viking Line MS Gabriella Viking Line is a Finnish shipping company that operates a fleet of large combined cruiseferry ships between Finland, the Ã…land Islands, Sweden and Estonia. ... Mariella in Helsinki 2004. ...

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.
Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Irish Continental Group plc, ISEQ: ICG_u LSE: ICGC more usually known by its trading name Irish Ferries is a quoted Irish Ferry operator. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

As of 1994, Pride of Bilbao has been registered in Portsmouth.
For other places with the same name, see Portsmouth (disambiguation). ...

In 2002 she 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 Ferry Pride of Rotterdam one of the Hull-Rotterdam sister flagships of P&O Ferries P&O Ferries (formerly P&O European Ferries) is a constituent company of DP World (which took over its parent company, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) in March 2006). ...

The vessel currently (as of 2007) operates between Portsmouth and Bilbao, completing one return sailing every three days.
She has also been previously used to provide a weekly service between Portsmouth and Cherbourg - the "Party Cruise". For other places with the same name, see Portsmouth (disambiguation). ... La Muy Noble y Muy Leal e Invicta (The most noble and most loyal and undefeated) Location Location of Bilbao in Spain and Biscay Coordinates : 43,15° n. ... For other places with the same name, see Portsmouth (disambiguation). ... Cherbourg is a city of Normandy, in northwestern France, in the Manche département, of which it is a sous_préfecture. ...

Facilities List

Bars:

• Silverstones Show Bar (3 bars) - Deck 7
  
• Felix Pub - Deck 7
  
• POSH Bar - Deck 8
  
• Sauna Bar - Deck 2
  
• Terrace Bar (outside) - Deck 8
  

Restaurants and Cafes:

• International Food Court - Deck 7
  
• Four Seasons Carvery and Buffet - Deck 7
  
• Langan's Brasserie - Deck 7
  
• Cafe Oliveto's - Deck 6
  

Shopping:

• Offshore Shopping - Deck 6

Lounges:

• Whale and Dolphin Watching Observatory - Deck 8
  
• Observation Lounge - Deck 8
  
• Peninsular and Oriental lounges (quiet areas) - Deck 8
  
• Arcade and Atrium areas - Decks 6, 7 and 8
  
• Massage chairs - Deck 7
  
• Commercial Driver's Lounge (freight drivers only) - Deck 8
  

Leisure:

• Steiner's Hairdressing Salon - Deck 6
  
• Steiner's Treatment Rooms - Deck 6
  
• Swimming pool - Deck 2
  
• Jacuzzi - Deck 2
  
• Children's splash pool - Deck 2
  
• 4x saunas - Deck 2
  
• Gym and workout room - Deck 2
  
• 2x cinemas - Deck 8
  
• Casino and fruit machine rooms - Deck 7
  
• Megadrome video games machine room - Deck 8
  
• Children's playrooms and Dolphin Club - Deck 6
  

Facilities:

• 24-hour Guest Services - Deck 6
  
• Bureau de Change - Deck 6
  
• 3x Satellite telephones - Deck 6
  

Cabins: (all en-suite)

• Club Suites (sleeps 2)
  
• Large Club Cabins (sleeps 2)
  
• Family Club Cabins (sleeps 3 adults, or 2 adults 2 children)
  
• Club Cabins (sleeps 2)
  
• Outside 4 berth Cabins (sleeps 4)
  
• Outside 2 berth Cabins (sleeps 2)
  
• Inside 4 berth Cabins (sleeps 4)
  
• Inside 3 berth Cabins (sleeps 3)
  
• Inside 2 berth Cabins (sleeps 2)
  
• Inside 2 bunk Cabins (sleeps 2)
  

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. Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti (see text) The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... Map of the Bay of Biscay. ...

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. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is a United Kingdom government agency that examines and investigates marine accidents to or on board UK ships worldwide, and ships in UK waters. ... Hampshire Constabulary is the Home Office police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England. ... For other places with the same name, see Portsmouth (disambiguation). ... is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Isle of Wight is an English island and county, off the southern English coast, to the south of the county of Hampshire. ... P&O Ferry Pride of Rotterdam one of the Hull-Rotterdam sister flagships of P&O Ferries P&O Ferries (formerly P&O European Ferries) is a constituent company of DP World (which took over its parent company, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) in March 2006). ... Voyage Data Recorder, or VDR, is a data recording system designed for all vessels required to comply with the IMOs International Convention SOLAS Requirements (IMO Res. ... is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

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 released on bail pending further inquiries,[1] and then re-arrested and charged in February 2007 [2]. is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

The MAIB report into the sinking of the Ouzo was released on 12 April 2007. It concluded that the sinking of the yacht was due to the Pride of Bilbao colliding with her, or passing so close that she had been swamped or capsized by the vessel’s wash [3]. Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

As of April 2007 the trial of the Pride of Bilbao officer accused of manslaughter of the Ouzo's crew continues.

References

• P&O Ferries homepage
• Sailtospain.co.uk, P&O Ferries marketing website
• Sky News claims Ferry linked to deaths of yachtsmen
• MAIB Report on the investigation of the loss of the sailing yacht Ouzo and her three crew south of the Isle of Wight during the night of 20/21 August 2006
• Biscay Dolphin Research Programme