MS Viking I

MS Viking I was a roll-on roll-off (RORO) car and passenger ferry and was last owned by Ionian Sky Ferry before being scrapped in 2008. She was originally commissioned by Otto Thoresen of Thoresen Ferries for service between Southampton and Cherbourg across the English Channel.

Viking I in Dover's Eastern Docks, 1967
History
Cyprus
Name:	Viking I, Viking Victory, Neptunia, Media II and Media V
Owner:	Ionian Sky Ferry, from 2007
Operator:	Ionian Sky Ferry until 2008
Port of registry:	Limassol, Cyprus
Route:	Initially, Service between Southampton and Cherbourg
Builder:	Kaldnes Mekaniske Verksted A/S, Tønsberg, Norway
Launched:	1964
Maiden voyage:	11 May 1964
In service:	1964–2008
Identification:	IMO number: 6407652
Fate:	Scrapped in 2008
General characteristics
Class and type:	RORO car and passenger ferry
Tonnage:	5.440 GRT
Length:	99.5 m (326 ft 5 in)
Beam:	23.19 m (76 ft 1 in)
Draught:	4.42 m (14 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	2 × Pielstick Lindholmens 12 PC2V 400
Speed:	18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph)
Capacity:	940 passengers, 180 cars

Revolutionary design

Viking I was designed by naval architect Tage Wandborg in the early 1960s. She was a drive-through car ferry and was a significant and revolutionary design, being one of the first of her kind to operate from the UK across the Western English channel. Viking I was in operation on the Southampton to Cherbourg and Le Havre routes from 1964 for Otto Thoresen's Thoresen Ferries.

References

• Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John (2007). Remembering the Thoresen Vikings: Townsend Thoresen trend setters. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947731.