MV ''European Causeway'' is a

ferry A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus ...

operated by

P&O Ferries P&O Ferries is a British shipping company that operates ferry, ferries from Scotland to Northern Ireland, and from England to Continental Europe (France, Belgium and the Netherlands). The company was created in 2002 through mergers and acquisi ...

. She was built at

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group and its automobile division is the prede ...

Shimonoseki shipyard in Japan.

History

''European Causeway'' entered service in August 2000 replacing the ''Pride of Rathlin''. She was specially designed for the Cairnryan-Larne route and has not operated in service away from this route only straying for refit periods.

Incidents

On 18 December 2018, ''European Causeway'' was involved in an incident in

extreme weather Extreme weather includes unexpected, unusual, severe weather, severe, or unseasonal weather; weather at the extremes of the historical distribution—the range that has been seen in the past. Extreme events are based on a location's recorded weat ...

conditions. After what was described as a "big dip", several lorries toppled sideways causing damage to other vehicles on the car deck. No injuries were reported. The

Marine Accident Investigation Branch The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is a UK government organisation, authorised to investigate all maritime accidents in UK waters and accidents involving UK registered ships worldwide. Investigations are limited to establishing ca ...

carried out an investigation. It was concluded that: *The route being followed had not been adjusted sufficiently to mitigate the effects of the sea conditions and reduce the likelihood of severe rolling. *The cargo lashings applied were insufficient for the forecasted weather conditions and the ship’s approved cargo securing manual provided limited guidance to ship’s staff. *Drivers remaining in their vehicles during the ferry’s passage, in contravention of international regulations and company policy, was not uncommon and is an industry-wide issue. In March 2022, the vessel was detained at Larne by the

Maritime and Coastguard Agency The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the United Kingdom that is responsible for implementing British and international maritime law and safety policy. It works to prevent the loss of lives at sea and to prevent mar ...

, due to "failures on crew familiarisation, vessel documentation and crew training", after a new crew was installed, following P&O sacking 800 staff. On 27 April 2022, ''European Causeway'' suffered a complete power loss just off the coast of Larne. The

Royal National Lifeboat Institution The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat (rescue), lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on s ...

dispatched three lifeboats to the vessel's location, a coastguard helicopter was dispatched and the stood by to assist if required. The ship recovered power after roughly two hours adrift and continued the voyage to Larne under her own power, escorted by the lifeboats.

Sister Ships

''European Causeway'' does not have an exact sister however P&O ordered two further vessels based on her design:- *''European Ambassador'' now, . Built 2000. :Enlarged version built for P&O Irish Sea's

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

service. Differences include more powerful engines for higher service speed, full bow ramp for landing on

linkspan A linkspan or link-span is a type of drawbridge used mainly in the operation of moving vehicles on and off a roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) vessel or ferry, particularly to allow for tidal changes in water level. Linkspans are usually found at ferry t ...

s, large stern ramp, passenger cabins, club lounge and revised crew facilities. *. Built 2002. :Enlarged version built for P&O Irish Sea as a partner to the ''European Causeway''. Differences include minor revisions to the passenger deck layout, additional passenger lifts and the use of larger lifeboats rather than

Marine evacuation system A marine evacuation system (MES) is a lifesaving device found on many modern passenger ships or oil rigs consisting of an inflatable slide or escape chute where a passenger can evacuate straight into waiting life rafts. Developed in 1979 by RFD, ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:European Causeway Ferries of the United Kingdom Ferries of Ireland 2000 ships Ships of P&O Ferries Ships built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries