Ferries drop anchor for final time

Farewell to the Pride of York and the Pride of Bruges ferries

AS P&O Ferries ends its service between Hull and Zeebrugge, we look back at the two vessels that sailed this route over the past 30 years; sister ships the Pride of Bruges (formerly Norsun) and the Pride of York (formerly Norsea).

The MV Norsea began service with North Sea Ferries in 1987 and sailed under that name until it was renamed the Pride of York in 2003. It was launched on September 9, 1986, and built at a Govan Shipyard.

The MV Norsun began service with North Sea Ferries in 1987 and was renamed the Pride of Bruges in 2003. It was launched in August, 1987, and was built at an NKK shipyard in Japan.

Operations wise, both ships’ operators from 1987 to 1996 were North Sea Ferries, P&O North Sea Ferries from 1996 to 2002, then P&O Ferries from 2002 until 2020.

Keep an eye out for more images on Thursday’s Daily Flashback page.

FIRE FIGHTING: An RAF helicopter hovers over the ferry Norsea, which was hit by a fire in one of its engine rooms about eight miles east of Great Yarmouth in 2002. The ship was carrying 611 passengers from Hull to Zeebrugge when the blaze broke out.

The P&O ferry Pride of Bruges provided an ocean going backdrop for a photo call of the Hessle Theatre Company’s production of Titanic the Musical in 2007, with cast members dressed in costumes at the King George Dock, Hull. Pictured (from left) are Janet Phillips, Lionel Phillips, Neil Collingbourne, Seb Prybode (front), Kate Steel, Lizzy Steel and Josh Meredith.

A view of the Norsea (later renamed the Pride of York) leaving the Port of Hull for its maiden voyage to Zeebrugge in 1987, this view gives a good view of the occasion which hit the headlines at the time.

PILGRIMAGE ON THE SEA: Members of Holy Trinity Church organised a pilgrimage in 2014 to visit the graves of eight First World War soldiers from the region who were buried World War One cemetery at Tyne Cot in Belgium. Pictured on board the Pride of Bruges were (from left) onboard service manager Alie Visser, Canon Reverend Dr Neal Barnes, Pioneer Minister Reverend Matt Woodcock and Keith Thompson in the Captain’s area on board the Pride of Bruges on their way to Belgium, when they presented the Captain with a plaque and laid a wreath in the sea near Spurn Point.

IMPROVEMENT WORK: Arie Van Loo, technical superintendent for P&O North Sea Ferries, oversees the refurbishment work on the ferry the Norsun in 1997, which was in the dry dock at the Europoort terminal near Rotterdam.

NEW NAME: The Norsea was re-named the Pride of York at King George Dock in 2003, with the Sheriff of York, Cllr. Martin Brumby pictured on the bridge with Captain Jerry Walker.

STOCKING UP: Duty Free comes to an end in June, 1999, and a passenger takes time to stock up on duty free goods aboard the Norsun ferry.

LADY WHO LAUNCHES: The late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who launched the P&O North Sea Ferry, the Norsea, in Glasgow in 1986. It was later re-named the Pride of York.