Norman Arrow beats the pirates!

French cross-channel ferry operator LD line’s new fast ferry for its Dover-Boulogne service, Norman Arrow, is due to arrive in the UK port of Dover this week, after successfully transiting the pirate infested waters off Somalia, on its long delivery voyage from the Incat shipyard in Tasmania. 

A combination of the 112m wave-piercing catamaran’s high speed and precession manoeuvrability was always going to be in the ferry’s favour in the event of an attack. Nonetheless, being fully aware of recent piracy incidents in the region, the officers and crew onboard Norman Arrow were well prepared for the unlikely event of a boarding attempt by pirates.

One of the two Masters onboard, Capt Guy South comments; ‘We locked every door and padlocked all the void spaces and access to the cabin was restricted to the port aft door only. We also posted an extra lookout aft throughout the high risk area.

‘The Norman Arrow’s speed was increased from economic delivery running to 30 knots for the most dangerous section and we also secured the mooring decks aft with as much rope as we had spare.

‘If we were attacked the plan was that all the crew would go to the electronics rooms, the fourth engine would be run up and we’d run away. All small boats were given a wide berth and we also followed the Recommended Transport corridor reporting to the warships as we went along.

‘We didn’t see any pirates but there was a ship attacked with Rocket Propelled Grenades about four hours ahead of us along our route. We also saw about half a dozen warships from various nations,’ Capt South said.

After transiting the Suez Canal last week, Norman Arrow called at Valetta, Malta for bunkering, before sailing directly to Dover, were she is due to arrive on 26 May. When she enters service between Dover and Boulogne in June, Norman Arrow will be the first ever freight carrying high speed vessel to operate across the Dover Strait.   Sphere: Related Content