MV GNV Blu
ex SNAV Adriatico, Stena Baltica, Koningin Beatrix
© Derek Sands (13/08/1986)
Steel twin screw motor vessel built in by Van Der Giesen-De Noord at Krimpen aan de IJsel , Holland (Yard No 935) in 1985 for Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland N.V (S.M.Z.), Hoek van Holland, Holland, as a passenger and vehicle ferry
Technical Data
- Length: 161.80 m (overall) 146.77 m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 27.61 m
- Depth: 18.52 m
- Draught: 6.201 m
- Tonnage: 31,189 gross/15,170 net/4642 – 3060 deadweight
- Engines: 4SA 8 – cylinder MAN B&W 8L40/45 diesels
- Power: 17,909 – 19360 kW/24,348 – 26,300 HP
- Speed: 21.0 knots
- Capacity: 2,100 – 1,900 (1991) – 1,320 passengers, 550 cars or 80 trailers/275 cars.
- Call Sign: PFKW, C6SK8, IBEA
- IMO Number: 8416308
- MMSI Number: 247334600
- Official Number: 22289
- Port of Registry: Vlissingen/ The Netherlands 🇳🇱, Hoek van Holland/Netherlands 🇳🇱, London/UK 🇬🇧, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸, Limassol/Cyprus 🇨🇾, Naples/Italy 🇮🇹
Current AIS Location
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History
August 1st 1984: Building contract signed.
January 5th 1985: Keel struck.
November 9th 1985: Launched by and named KONINGIN BEATRIX by H.M. Queen Beatrix.
© Ton Grootenboer
Sealink News
April 11th 1986 – April 15th 1986: Berthing trials before delivery. Originally she had a plain funnel and it was only after full trials, with Dutch royal approval, she had a “Crown added.
April 22nd 1986: Delivered to Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland N.V (S.M.Z.), Hoek van Holland, Holland.
May 1st 1986: Maiden voyage between Hoek van Holland-Harwich.
© Pieter Inpyn (01/05/1986)
SMZ Postcards
© Ken Larwood
© Brian Fisher
January 1989: Change marketing to “Crown Line”.
© Simonwp
Andreas Wörteler Collection
© Capt Jan Melchers (Left) and SMZ Postcard (Right)
© Pieter Inpyn (01/07/1988)
© Bernd Crause
September 1st 1989: Sold to Stena Ab, Göteborg. Registered to Stena Line B.V. Hoek Van Holland, Holland. Continued in service between Hoek van Holland-Harwich.
© Ken Larwood (Left) (10/08/1989) and © Simonwp (20/08/1988)(Right)
© Ken Larwood
© Pieter Inpyn (01/09/1989)((Left) © Derek Sands (27/08/1989)(Right)
Courtesy of Chris Howell (© Rick Garcia) (06/08/1991)
© Pieter Inpyn (01/07/1993)
1993: Hull markings of “100 years SMZ Harwich – Hook of Holland”.
Sealink News
1994: Reverted to “normal” hull colours
© Tony Garner (27/05/1995)
© Robert J Smith (15/05/1997)
June 2nd 1997: Final day operating between Hoek van Holland-Harwich.
June 14th 1997 – June 18th 1997: Chartered as a hotel ship in Amsterdam for an EU conference.
June 19th 1997: Registered in Netherlands, (Home port Hoek van Holland).
June 22nd 1997: First arrival in Fishguard.
June 27th 1997: Not as planned, commenced service between Pembroke Dock – Rosslare.
July 3rd 1997: Commenced service between Fishguard – Rosslare.
August 3rd 1997: In a heavy storm collided with a pier in Rosslare, passengers and freight unloaded in Dublin the day after. Repaired in Liverpool.
August 8th 1997: Returned to service.
August 14th 1997: Registered in Great Britain with home port of London.
July 13th 1998: Chartered for a trip between Cork – Roscoff carrying contestants of the Tour De France.
March 12th 2002: Final day operating between Fishguard – Rosslare.
March 13th 2002: Renamed STENA BALTICA. Transferred to the Bahama flag, home port Nassau.
March 21st 2002: Commenced service between Karlskrona – Gdynia.
February 24th 2003 – March 7th 2003: Overhaul.
©Frank Heine (Karlskrona, 07/07/2003)
February 2005 – April 2005: Refit at Remontowa, Gdansk, Poland.
June 6th 2005: Introduced between Gdynia – Karlskrona.
July 30th 2005: At the entrance to Gdynia, the ship collided with the breakwater. Suffered minor damage.
July 31st 2005: Returned to service.
August 1st 2005: Taken out of service for completion of repairs.
August 8th 2005: Returned to service.
September 12th 2005 – September 28th 2005: Out of service for further repairs at Öresundsvarvet, Landskrona.
© Andreas Wörteler
October 14th 2009: In rough weather, entered Karlskrona and collided with the passenger gangway.
June 27th 2011: Final day in service between Karlskrona – Gdynia.
June 29th 2011: Arrived Landskrona for lay-up.
© Dirk Jankowsky
August 20th 2011: Left Landskrona for Lysekil.
August 21st 2011: Arrived Lysekil for further lay-up.
August 23rd 2012: Technical sea-trials.
January 24 2013: Sold to SNAV Spa, Naples, Italy.
February 4th 2013: Renamed SNAV ADRIATICO.
February 5th 2013: Left Lysekil for Italy.
February 14th 2013: Arrived Naples.
© Carsten Dettmer (Left) and © Wil Weijsters (Right)
April 20th 2013 – April 22nd 2013: Naples to Ancona.
April 27th 2013: Services between Ancona – Split.
December 2013: Transferred to Italian flag, home port Naples.
2014: Left SNAV service and was chartered to the Panamanian company, Ferry Xpress for services between Colon – Cartagena – Colon and Colon – Bocas del Toro -Colón.
© Juan G Mata
© Pascal Bredel (Colon, 25/04/2015)
May 12th 2015: Arrived in Naples.
May 21st 2015: Left for Barcelona.
May 23rd 2015: Arrived in Barcelona prior at charter to Acciona and services between Barcelona – Mahon.
© Josep Pretel (Barcelona, 24/05/2015)
© Josep Pretel (Barcelona, 24/06/2016)
© Juanfra Monzón (Barcelona, 01/07/2016)
© Josep Pretel (Barcelona, 12/07/2016)
May 2017: Registered to Grandi Navi Veloci SpA, Naples, Italy.
June 2017: Charter to Acciona Trasmediterranea completed.
July 2017: Commenced service between Naples – Palermo.
© Frank Heine (Palermo 06/08/2017)
October 4th 2018: Final seasonal sailing Palermo – Naples and laid up in Naples.
October 2018: To Fincantieri shipyard, Palermo for refit/repairs.
January 13th 2019: Resumed services between Palermo and Naples
May 25th 2019: Off service and moored at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo.
© Wil Weijsters (Naples, 11/06/2019)
September 3rd 2020: Chartered by the Italian government to act as a quarantine ship for migrants attempting to land in Sicily. Sailed from Lampedusa to Trapani.
April 21st 2021: Continues as a quarantine ship at Porto Empedocle Anchorage, Sicily.
January 17th 2022: Arrived in Palermo.
April 22nd 2022: Renamed GNV BLU and commenced services Genoa – Porto Torre.
October 21st 2022: Services Bari – Durres.
© Carsten Dettmer (Durres, 04/04/2023) © Carlo Martinelli (Genoa, 07/06/2023)
May 12th 2023: Sailed to Naples.
June 2023: Took up services Genoa – Porto Torre.
🆕 © Dogan (Genova, 14/08/2023)
October 10th 2023: Short lay up in Genoa for maintenance.
November 18th 2023: Sea trials.
November 25th 2023: Services Bari – Durres.
March 22nd 2024: Came off service and sailed to Naples.
March 24th 2024: Took up services Naples – Palermo.
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: Pascal Bredel, Bernd Crause, Carsten Dettmer, Dogan, Brian Fisher, Fotoflite, Tony Garner, Ton Grootenboer, Frank Heine, Pieter Inpyn, Dirk Jankowsky, Ken Larwood, Carlo Martinelli, Juan G Mata, Capt Jan Melchers, Juanfra Monzón, Josep Pretel, Derek Sands, Simonwp, Robert J Smith, Frans Truyens, Wil Weijsters and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
Thanks for the info. I took the Konngin Beatrix in April 1993 from Harwich to Hoek van Holland. I can remember the dutch drinking songs coming from the next cabin!
Hi Nigel: I cannot seem to find your link on Mv Prinses Beatrix built in July 1939. I know it’s rather late, but I am writing 26 chapters at once. I’m trying to figure out if the Ministry of War Transport, U.K. also renamed and commissioned her HMS PRINCESS BEATRIX, and whether she was also converted by Harland & Wolff into an assault Infantry Landing Ship along with her sister HMS QUEEN EMMA. Did they serve together in the commando raids in 1942?
Thank you very much indeed. As always, I am truly grateful.
Caroline Wolter Hall
Caroline,
I have replied via email and shall be in touch again shortly
Nigel T