Emeraude Ferries

Emeraude Ferries
Founded1904
Defunct2006
FateDissolved
Headquarters
Saint-Malo
,
France
Area served
English Channel
Key people
Pierre Legras, MD
Gordon Forrest, CEO
ServicesPassenger transportation
Freight transportation
Parent2003-2006: Sogestran
Websitewww.emeraudeferries.com
Emeraude France in Douglas Harbour

Emeraude Ferries was a shipping company which operated vehicle and passenger ferries between the French city of Saint-Malo and the Channel Islands. The company ceased trading in May 2006 following strong competition[1] and difficulties in finding a suitable vessel for the 2006 season.

History

[edit]
Solidor at sea 1981

Emeraude Ferries was founded in 1904 as Bateaux de la Côte d'Émeraude.[2] The initial operations of the company were to transport passengers and cargo between towns along the Côte d'Émeraude, including Saint Malo, Dinard and Cap Fréhel, and along the River Rance.[3]

In 1987 Emeraude took over the services and boats of Vedettes Blanches et Vertes. Blanches et Vertes was formed from the amalgamation of the two previous operating companies Vedettes Blanches Saint Malo and Vedettes Vertes Granvillaises who had first launched their high speed catamaran services to the Channel Islands in 1976.[3]

In 1988 the company rebranded its ferry services as Emeraude Lines.[4]

Competition arrived in March 2003 when Condor Ferries were granted a licence to carry cars from Jersey to St Malo. Previously only Emeraude Lines was permitted to carry cars and passengers to St Malo direct from Jersey.[5]

In November 2003 Emeraude Lines was purchased by the Sogestran Group.[6][7] The company was renamed Emeraude Ferries.

Fleet

[edit]

Emeraude operated a fleet of passenger and car ferries.

Ship Built In service Tonnage Current status/Notes
Solidor 1965 (Jos L. Meyer Verft, Papenburg, Germany) 1977-1989 970 GT[8] Scrapped at Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard in 2010[9]
Trident 2 1976 (Westermoen Hydrofoil, Mandal, Norway) 1987-1990 Purchased by Vedettes Blanches et Vertes in 1985[3]
Trident 3 1982 (Westermoen Hydrofoil, Mandal, Norway) 1987-1996 252 GT[10] Originally launched by Vedettes Blanches et Vertes as Trident, renamed 1986[3]
Trident 4 1981 (Westermoen Hydrofoil, Mandal, Norway) 1988-1998 [3]
Solidor 2 1977 (Scheepswerf Hoogezand, Hoogezand, Netherlands) 1989-1998 Scrapped at Tandanor Shipyard in 2022[11]
Trident 5 1974 (Westermoen Hydrofoil, Mandal, Norway) 1990-1996 and 1998-2000 211 GT [12][3]
Trident 6 1981 (Westermoen Hydrofoil, Mandal, Norway) 1990-1994 [3][13]
Trident 7 1979 (Westermoen Hydrofoil, Mandal, Norway) 1991-1998 [3][14]
Pegasus 1977 (Westermoen Hydrofoil, Mandal, Norway) 1991-1999 [3]
Emeraude 1994 (Leroux & Lotz Naval, St Malo, France) 1994 851 GT[15] Sank in October 2022 in port of Papeete after being laid up by owners Aremiti Ferry, since Februay 2005 due to continual engine issues[3][16][17][18][19]
Solidor 3 1996 (Kværner Fjellstrand, Omastrand, Norway) 1996-2001 [3][20]
Emeraude Express 1986 (Marinteknik Verkstads, Öregrund, Sweden) 1998 [3]
Normandie Express 1988 (Marinteknik Verkstads, Öregrund, Sweden) 1999-2003 [3][21]
Solidor 4 1987 (Westamarin, Mandal, Norway) 1999-2003 Originally built as a W 5000L refrigerated cargo catamaran for carrying fish and fresh produce between Iceland and The Netherlands. After several years lay-up in Norway, rebuilt during 1992–93 by Oskarshamns Varv as a car carrying fast ferry, including the adding of a third passenger deck for an operator in the Caribbean[3][22]
Sea Shuttle 1' 1994 (MK Sea Transportation International, South Africa) 2000-2001 Waterborne airport shuttle for Air France between Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Nice Airport, operated by Emeraude[3][23]
Solidor 5 2000 (Kværner Fjellstrand, Omastrand, Norway) 2001-2005 [3][24]
Emeraude GB 1990 (Incat, Tasmania, Australia) 2004-2005 3,000 GT Holder of Hales Trophy 1990-1998. Entered Emmeraude service as Hoverspeed Great Britain. Currently in service (2024) as HSC High Speed Jet with Seajets[25]
Emeraude France 1990 (Incat, Tasmania, Australia) 2005 3,012 GT Currently in service (2024) as HSC Cat with Seajets[26]

References

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  1. ^ BBC News "Ferry firm resumes link to France", retrieved 5 May 2011
  2. ^ http://www.ferries.org "Emeraude Ferries", retrieved 5 May 2011
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Timoleon, Tim, ed. (January 2003). The French Connection - The Red and Green Fleet (PDF). Classic Fast Ferries. pp. 2, 4–9. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  4. ^ Goodfellow, Ray. "Emeraude Ferries". Dover Ferry Photos. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  5. ^ BBC News "Condor to compete on ferry route", retrieved 5 May 2011
  6. ^ Jersey Evening Post "Emeraude takeover approved"[usurped], retrieved 5 May 2011
  7. ^ BBC News "Emeraude creditors meet", retrieved 5 May 2011
  8. ^ "HISAR 2, IMO 6504773". Baltic Shipping. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  9. ^ "M/S LANGELAND (1965)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Trident 3". Ship Photos. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  11. ^ "M/S LANGELAND TO (1977)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Trident 5". Ship Photos. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  13. ^ "M/S ALISUR AMARILLO (1981)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  14. ^ "M/S TUMLEREN (1979)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  15. ^ "CORSAIRE, IMO 9075589". Baltic Shipping. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  16. ^ "HSC EMERAUDE (1994)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Former Channel Island ferry sinks in Pacific port – 28 years after its disastrous time serving Jersey". Jersey Evening Post. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Corsaire (ex HSC Emeraude)". Boats of St Malo. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Emeraude". Channel Islands Shipping. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  20. ^ "M/S SOLIDOR 3 (1996)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  21. ^ "M/S ÖREGRUND (1988)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  22. ^ "M/S ANNE-LISE (1987)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Air France - Emeraude Ferries". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  24. ^ "M/S SOLIDOR 5 (2000)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  25. ^ Michael Koefoed-Hansen (2010). "HSC Searunner". The Ferry Site. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  26. ^ "HSC Seacat TASMANIA (1990)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
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