MV Ulysses (2000)

MV Ulysses approaching Dublin Port
History
Cyprus
NameMS Ulysses
OwnerIrish Continental Group
OperatorIrish Ferries
Port of registryLimassol,  Cyprus
RouteDublinHolyhead
BuilderAker Finnyards Oy, Rauma shipyard
Cost€110M / IR£80m
Yard number429
Laid down24 January 2000
Launched1 September 2000
Completed2001
In serviceMarch 2001
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Tonnage50,938 GT
Length209.2 m (686.4 ft)
Beam31.84 m (104.5 ft)
Height51 m (167.3 ft)
Draught6.3 m (20.7 ft)
Depth15.75 m (51.7 ft) (moulded)
Decks12
Ice class1A
Installed power4x MaK M43
Propulsion2 x LIPS type 4C16 controllable pitch propellers
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity
  • 1,938 passengers
  • 1,342 cars
  • 241 trucks
  • 4,076 lanemeters

MV Ulysses is a RORO car ferry currently owned and operated by Irish Ferries. The ship was launched on 1 September 2000 at Aker Finnyards shipyard in Rauma, Finland and services the DublinHolyhead route.

The vessel stands 12 decks high, at a height of 167.5 feet (approx 51 metres) from keel to mast. The vessel has five vehicle decks, including a stowable mezzanine deck consisting of two 'swing decks', called 'Plates', which are lowered to accommodate a greater number of 'low vehicles' (i.e. vehicles up to 2 metres high)—these swing decks are primarily used in holiday seasons when there is a much greater number of passenger vehicles. When launched she was the world's largest car ferry in terms of vehicle capacity.