MV Italia Express

ex Norwave

Norwave – © Patrick Hill (Hull, 30/06/1987)

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1966 by A.G.”Weser” Werk Seebeck, Bremerhaven, (Yard No 898) as a Passenger/RoRo Cargo/Ferry

Technical Data

• Length: 108.82 m (overall) 97.34m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth: 19.26m
• Depth: 13.70m
• Draught: 4.979m
• Tonnage: 3540 gross/ 1544net/1914t deadweight
• Engines: Two 14-cylinder Smit & Bolnes diesels
• Power: 3879 kW/5200 bHP
• Speed: 15 knots
• Capacity: 235 passengers/70 cars/47 commercial trailers
• Call Sign: GRYM
• IMO Number: 6519455
• Official Number: 305799
• Port of Registry: Hull/UK, Piraeus/Greece
• Sister Ships: Norwind

History

July 2^nd 1965: Launched

December 1965: Delivered to North Sea Ferries Ltd, Hull, England.

© Fotoflite

December 17^th 1965: Commenced service between Hull – Rotterdam.

June 1974: Commenced service between Hull – Zeebrugge.

1978 (LR): Registered owner; North Sea Ferries Ltd. Registered manager; P&O Ferries.

© Simonwp (Hull, 10/05/1981)

September 11^th 1983: While en-route between Hull and Zeebrugge vessel caught fire and had to be towed to Immingham.

September 1983: Towed to Amsterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Amsterdam, Holland for repairs.

November 11^th 1983: Resumed in service.

© Simonwp (Hull, 06/05/1984)

© Corveleyn Roger (Hull, 01/11/1985)

© Robert J Smith (Zeebrugge, 09/08/1985)

May 23^rd 1987: Sold to Ventouris Lines, Piraeus, Greece for delivery in July 1987.

© Corveleyn Roger (Zeebrugge, 11/06/1987) (Left) and © J K Byass (Right)

June 30^th 1987: Final day in service between Hull – Zeebrugge.

June 30^th 1987: Taken over by the new owner and renamed  ITALIA EXPRESS. (Registered to Gitanic Shipping Co., Honduras).

July 2^nd 1987: Left Zeebrugge for the Mediterranean.

1987: Commenced service between Patras – Corfu – Igoumenitsa – Bari.

March 24^th 1988: Whilst being rebuilt at Drapetsona near Piraeus there was an unexplained explosion causing severe damage. Declared a total loss.

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: J K Byass, Patrick Hill, Corveleyn Roger, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

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