My maiden voyage on "OSTENDE SPIRIT"

Commercial Drivers Restaurant and the bar below, the only passenger facilities opened for the moment on board the "OSTENDE SPIRIT", the passenger capacity will be for 900 passengers and further facilities will reopen by the end of February.

"OSTENDE SPIRIT" was built in Germany by SCHICHAU UNTERWESSER in 1987, she was laid-up in October of 2012 by P & O FERRIES after 25 years in service on the Dover/Calais route. Soon after been withdrawn from service rumours circulated associating her as the new TRANSEUROPA ferry on the Ramsgate/Oostende service. "OSTENDE SPIRIT" entered service last friday, 1.2.2013 as the third ship on this mostly freight service, I have sailed her yesterday, 6.2.2013 from Oostende to Ramsgate, she looked great in her new livery, unfortunately when inside the ship she looked like a ghost vessel, all the passenger facilities remain the same but they were all shut down apart from the Commercial Drivers Restaurant and a Bar at the aft of the ship, the only opened toilets were in such a poor state, all the hand dryers had been removed for some odd reason, the crew assured me that new ones should be in place by next week and they were a complete washout. If you planning to travel on the ship make sure you bring a reasonable amount of money sterling or euros with you because on board there is a cash only environment. "OSTEND SPIRIT" was not due to start her new role for another 2/3 weeks but the refit on "GARDENIA" precipitated operations, "GARDENIA" will resume service next week and there are rumours that "OSTENDE SPIRIT" will be withdrawn from service to finish her much needed improvements, the capacity of the ship will be for 900 passengers, the former HORIZON LOUNGE will reopen soon as well as the former BRASSERIE, the ship is on charter for three years, the new operators will focus mainly on freight but will market the leisure passengers as well, perhaps the admission of foot passengers would be a good step forward, this new ship is a big bonus for TEF, the crew is hard working and very cooperative, the only way is truly forward. Photos yesterday 6.2.2013