MV Porto

Ex Arion, Nautilus 2000, Arion, Astra I, Astra, Istra

© Simonwp (Kiel, 01/08/2004) 

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1965 by Brodogradiliste Uljanik, Pula, Yugoslavia (Yard No 248) as a Passenger/Cruise ship.

Technical Data

• Length: 116.83 m (overall) 105.03 m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth: 16.60 m
• Depth: 7.35 m
• Draught: 5.14 m
• Tonnage: 5465 – 5634  gross/2734 – 2812 net/1640t deadweight
• Engines: 2 Oil 2SA 10-cylinder Sulzer/Jugoturbina diesels 
• Power: 11030kW/7500 bHP
• Speed: 19.0 knots
• Capacity: 338 passengers
• Call Sign: YTMI ……… CQUU
• IMO Number: 6419057
• Official Number:
• Port of Registry: Rijeka/Yugoslavia , Yalta/Ukraine 🇺🇦, Panama 🇵🇦, Madeira/Portugal 🇵🇹
• Sister-Ship: Dalmacija (243)

History

December 15^th 1963: Keel laid.

July 20^th 1964: Launched.

July 10^th 1965: Delivered to Jadranska Linijska Plovidba, Rijeka, Yugoslavia. 

July 1965: Entered service cruising in the Adriatic Sea, as well as the Adriatic Sea – Egypt.

© Wolfgang Fricke (Itea, October 1972) (Left) © DDGHANSA (Hamburg) (Right)

© Derek Longly (@ Newhaven)

© Brian Fisher (Southampton, Sept 1984)

© Brian Fisher (Tilbury, May 1985)

1991: Sold to Caravella Shipping, Yalta, Ukraine and renamed ASTRA. Cruising for Mono Co between Odessa – Haifa.

© Mike Jackson (Dover, April, 1995)

© Simonwp (Kiel, 01/06/1996)

1996: Sold to Goring Shipping Co, Panama and renamed ASTRA I. 

1999: Sold to Constellation Cruise Holdings SA, Panama and renamed ARION .

© Mike Jackson (Dover, September 1996)

1999: Renamed NAUTILUS 2000 .

2001: Sold to Arcalia Shipping Co. Ltd., Panama and renamed ARION .

© Ken Smith (Tilbury, 02/07/2004)

© Frank Behrends (Istanbul, 15/08/2010)

May 2013: Sold to Coral Cruises Transportes, Lisbon, Portugal and renamed PORTO .

© Marcel and Ruud Coster (Ijmuiden, 12/05/2012)

2013: Laid up in Lisbon.

September 2018: Sold for scrapping.

October 21^st 2018: Towed from Lisbon to Aliaga, Turkey.

November 5^th 2018: Arrived Aliaga.

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: Frank Behrends, Marcel and Ruud Coster, Brian Fisher, Wolfgang Fricke, Mike Jackson, Derek Longly, Simonwp and Ken Smith for their assistance in producing this feature.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)