"SPIRIT OF FRANCE" is finally here

I thought a couple of times of showing these pictures because they are not of a very good quality, in the end didn't resist, after all they are some of the first photos taken anywhere of the new P&O FERRIES "SPIRIT OF FRANCE". Last year exactly one year ago I was on the very same spot to photograph the new "SPIRIT OF BRITAIN" fresh from the yard, Phillippe Brebant which I didn't know at the time travelled on the same crossing and we eventually met at the same spot to photograph the new ship. It was a cold rainy day, I remember Phillippe telling me " Vitor we really need to like ships to negotiate this weather and photograph ships", well this year the weather was even worse, visibility close to nil, sub zero temperatures and snowing. It didn't matter in the end because the ship was there for everyone to wonder, I had made the crossing from Dover, the fourth day of service of this amazing ferry, a member of the crew at reception told me very proud, "this is our fourth day at sea" with a smile worth mentioning, well going back to the ship's particulars, "SPIRIT OF FRANCE" was built in Finland by STX EUROPE and delivered to P & O in January this year, the ship was originally due to be delivered in September last year but due to vibration problems, the delivery was delayed for a few times, she'e here now and she is superb, P & O huge investment of 360 million euros finally paying off. "SPIRIT OF FRANCE" is 49000 GRT with a cruising speed of 22 knots and capacity for 1059 cars or 180 lorries. Photos taken last sunday at Calais, 12th February 2012