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)

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Current AIS Location

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History

July 21^st 2000: Keel struck.

October 28^th 2000: Launched.

April 2001: Delivered to Visentini Cantieri Naval, Bari, Italy.

April 2001: Chartered to Stena Line U.K. London, England.

April 27^th 2001: Christened in Dublin by Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Mary Harney.

April 27^th 2001: Services Dublin – Holyhead.

© Rob De Visser

© Stephen Brown (Left) © Gordon Hislip (Right)

© Ian Collard

April 24^th 2002: Collided with a quay in Dublin. Taken out of service for repairs and missed three services.

April 13^th 2003: Stena Line charter completed.

April 14^th 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 6^th 2019: Sold to Adria Ferries Spa, Ancona, Italy and renamed AF CLAUDIA.

July 2019: Chartered to Grimaldi Lines.

July 26^th 2019: Services Civitavecchia – Olbia.

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Adria Ferries Spa

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September 15^th 2019: Completed Grimaldi Lines services.

September 17^th 2019: Arrived Ancona.

September 22^nd 2019: Arrived Rijeka, Croatia.

2019: Services Ancona – Durres.

April 4^th 2020: Shipyard visit in Rijeka, Croatia

September 5^th 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 12^th 2024: Single journey Ancona – Durres line.

January 14^th 2024: Services Durres – Bari

February 20^th 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 26^th 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.

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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)