Code:
Pearl Starways
Base Hull Athena class cruiseferry
Length 178.40 m
Width 29.61 m
Mass 40,039 GRT
Drive Type 2x 4 blade gravity propellers / 4x 23,760 diesel engines
Drive Rating 0.015c with Ion Thrusters
Armament None
Primary Manufacturer
Wärtsilä Marine Turku New Shipyard, Turku, Finland
Owner DFDS (Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab)
Flag of Record Denmark
Faction 'Danelaw (private)
Launched October 10th, 2014
Purpose Cruiseferry
Primary Crew
2200 passengers
Auxillary Vehicles
350 parking slots
Operational Status
active
Originally build as the MS Athena, the MS Pearl Starways used to be a curiseferry emplyed
in various routes on Earth by various owners and under various names. By 2010 and the
increase of traffic to and from Fenspace in cars and other small 'waved vehicles, the owner
of the MS Pearl Starways, the danish DFDS, decided to refit the ship so that it could be used
as a ferry in space.
Extensive rebuilds had to be done to the hull and systems of the ship and nearly from the
base, costing DFDS more then a purpose build ferry may have cost them. However in late
2014, after nearly three years in dock, the MS Pearl Starways took to space after dcking in
Copenhagen, Bergen and Oslo to transport a number of Fen as well as tourists into space
and to Stellvia.
Running a few routes in trial, it became apparent that a regular line Earth-Earth/Moon L5-Mars
and back would be the most profitable. If the possibility arises a stopover at The Island is
possible.
By 2017 the MS Pearl Starways has proven to be very profitable as most small vehicles are
very uncomfortable when used to traverse larger distances.
In 2018 two more purpose build DFDS cruiseferries joined the MS Pearl Starways, through
other shipping companies launched their own cruiseferries by 2020.