Seafrance Rodin
& Seafrance Berlioz



Here the formidable Seafrance Berlioz is about to enter Dover Harbour on a fine mid summer evening in 2007


Seafrance Rodin was the first new ferry built by the French company since Nord Pas-de-Calais of thirteen years previously. This giant was delivered in 2001 to replace Seafrance Renoir on the Dover/Calais service. Sleek in external design, her attractive passenger facilities also made a great impression. Her virtually identical sister, Seafrance Berlioz, was not to arrive until April 2005. Externally there is very little to tell them apart. Internally they have been decorated and furnished in quite constrasting schemes. Their powerful engines enable them to cruise at twenty five knots, facilitating under an hour crossings from pier to pier. The twins have established themselves as the most admired ferries on the route.

M. S. Seafrance Rodin
Builder: Aker Finnyard, Rauma, Finland.
Yard number: 437.
Dimensions (length, breadth, depth) 184 x 27.7 x 6.5 metres
Tonnages (gross, deadweight) 33,796, 5,700.
Engines: Four Wärtsilä diesel.
Power: 39,000 kW.
Speed (knots): 25.
Passenger certificate: 1,900.
Car capacity: 700.

19.5.2001: Launched.
13.11.2001: Delivered to Seafrance, Calais.
30.11.2001: Entered service Dover/Calais.




Seen on departure from Calais, Seafrance Rodin makes an imposing sight in the autumn sunshine.




Here she is seen on approach to Calais on a March afternoon in 2007.
Note that her wheelhouse window frames are painted white in constrast to her sister's which are black.