MV AF Claudia
Ex California Star, Stena Forwarder
© Tim Becker (Dublin, 08/08/2021)
Steel twin screw “NAOS 172” motor vessel built in 2001 by Cantiere Navale Visentini di Visentini Francesco & C, Donada, Italy (Yard No 195) as a Passenger Roll on – Roll off cargo ferry.
Technical Data
- Length: 186 m (overall) 169.50m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 25.60 m
- Depth: 15.0 m
- Draught: 6.50 m (Design)
- Tonnage: 24418 gross /7868 net /7254t deadweight
- Engines: 2 x 4T – 9 cylinder MAN/B&W 9L48/60B diesels
- Power: 18900 kW/29348 HP
- Speed: 24.0 knots
- Capacity: 1000 passengers, 75 cars, 2100 lane metres
- Call Signs: IBTX, XCHS3, IBAC
- MMSI Number: 247391700
- IMO Number: 9243435
- Register Number:
- Ports of Registry: Bari/Italy 🇮🇹, La Paz/Mexico 🇲🇽, Naples/Italy 🇮🇹
- Sister Ships: Partenope (193), Trinacria (194), Kerry (196)
History
July 21st 2000: Keel struck.
October 28th 2000: Launched.
April 2001: Delivered to Visentini Cantieri Naval, Bari, Italy.
April 2001: Chartered to Stena Line U.K. London, England.
April 27th 2001: Christened in Dublin by Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Mary Harney.
April 27th 2001: Services Dublin – Holyhead.
© Rob De Visser
© Stephen Brown (Left) © Gordon Hislip (Right)
© Ian Collard
April 24th 2002: Collided with a quay in Dublin. Taken out of service for repairs and missed three services.
April 13th 2003: Stena Line charter completed.
April 14th 2003: Chartered to Baja Ferries Lines, Mexico and renamed CALIFORNIA STAR.
2003: Services Topolobampo – La Paz.
Andreas Wörteler Collection
April 2007: Sold to Baja Ferries SA De Cv, La Paz, Mexico.
June 6th 2019: Sold to Adria Ferries Spa, Ancona, Italy and renamed AF CLAUDIA.
July 2019: Chartered to Grimaldi Lines.
July 26th 2019: Services Civitavecchia – Olbia.
Adria Ferries Spa
September 15th 2019: Completed Grimaldi Lines services.
September 17th 2019: Arrived Ancona.
September 22nd 2019: Arrived Rijeka, Croatia.
2019: Services Ancona – Durres.
April 4th 2020: Shipyard visit in Rijeka, Croatia
September 5th 2020: Chartered by to GNV for services and operates on the Naples – Termini Imerese, Sicily.
© Carsten Dettmer (Durres, 02/03/2023)
December 2023: Laid up in Ancona.
January 12th 2024: Single journey Ancona – Durres line.
January 14th 2024: Services Durres – Bari
February 20th 2024: News that discussions had taken place to short term (60 days) charter the vessel to DFDS, as refit cover, for services Dunkerque – Rosslare.
February 26th 2024: Whilst in Durres a mooring rope broke and she collided with a jetty. Suffered minimal damage and was able to continue services.
March 7th 2024: Left Bari for Dunkerque (eta: 14/03/2024).
March 14th 2024: Arrived Dunkerque West.
March 15th 2024: Took up service Dunkerque – Rosslare as refit cover for OPTIMA SEAWAYS.
© George Holland (Dunker West, 16/03/2024)
April 1st 2024: Came off service at Dunkerque West owing to “Technical Issues”.
April 7th 2024: Resumed service Dunkerque – Rosslare.
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Tim Becker, Stephen Brown, Ian Collard, Carsten Dettmer, Gordon Hislip, George Holland, Rob De Visser and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
The dimensions listed must be totally off…
Lenght: 46,0 m (overall), 169,5 m (betw. P.P.) (Probably swapped the PP and overall, and forgotten a “1”?)
Breadth: 6 m (Probably meant to be 26 m?)
Ole,
Many thanks for that and now corrected.
“Cut and Paste” is a wonderful thing!
Rgds
Nigel T