Valencay Car Ferry. And What Happened to Her.

            The Postcard

A postally unused carte postale that was published by Helio-Cachan of Val-de-Marne. On the divided back they have printed:

"Société Nationale des Chemins
de Fer Français.
Ligne Dieppe-Newhaven
car-ferry 'Valencay'"

The excellent website doverferryphotosforums.co.uk provides inter alia the following information about the Valencay, as well as many interesting photographs of the vessel:

The Valencay

Valencay's keel was struck on the 5th. October 1964, and she was launched on the 6th. February 1965 by Mrs. Roger Guibert, the wife of SNCF deputy chairman.

After sea trials on the 18th. June 1965, she arrived in Dieppe on the 21st. June 1965.

On the 27th. June 1965, Valencay arrived in Newhaven for ramp tests.

On the 7th. July 1965 she was commissioned under the command of Commandant Guyomard, and on the 13th. July 1965 she was engaged in the service between Dieppe and Newhaven.

In December 1975 it was announced that both Valencay and her sister ship Villandry were to be 'stretched' in order to cater for the increase in freight lorry traffic. 

Valencay was converted in 1977, with 75% of the after-end of the ship's accommodation being cut and raised by 56cm in order to give greater headroom for freight on the main vehicle deck below.

Also Valencay was converted to a bow loader and had her funnel tops extended. Thus modified she was able to carry 20 rather than 10 lorries.

On the 30th. May 1984, owing to National Union of Seamen protests with blocking at Newhaven, she operated a service from Dieppe to Dover. 

In 1984 Valencay was sold to Strintzis Lines S.A., Piraeus, Greece, and renamed Eptanisos, operating between Rafina - Andros - Tinos - Mykonos.

In May 2000 she was sold to Ventouris Ferries, Piraeus, and renamed Pollux, operating between Bari and Durres.

In 2003 she was transferred to Panamanian flag and renamed Pollux 1.

In November 2003 she was sold to India for scrapping.

-- Valencay Statistics

Length on deck:  105.01 m (344.6 ft) (overall)
Breadth of hull:  17.07 m (56.0 ft) (extreme) 
Depth:  10.6 m (34.9 ft)
Draught:  3.96 m (12.1075 ft) (maximum)
Engines:  Two 6-cylinder Pielstick diesels
Speed:  21 knots (max on completion)
Capacity:  1,200 passengers, 140 cars.

Taken on: February 21, 2024

Tags:

postcard

old

nostalgia

nostalgic

Helio

Cachan

Val

Marne

Dieppe

Newhaven

Valencay

1965

1975

1977

62VCF63 « less

Sets appears in: • Ships and Boats

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