MV Grecia Express

ex Norwind

Norwind – © Simonwp (Hull, 06/06/1982)

Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1966 by A.G.”Weser” Werk Seebeck, Bremerhaven, (Yard No 899) as a Passenger/RoRo Cargo/Ferry

Technical Data

• Length: 108.82 m (overall) 97.34m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth: 18.95m
• Depth: 13.70m
• Draught: 5.119m
• Tonnage: 3692 – 3598 – 4112 gross /1661 – 1603 – 1989 net/1984t – 1884t deadweight
• Engines: Two 14-cylinder Smit & Bolnes diesels
• Power: 3825 kW/5200 bHP
• Speed: 15 knots
• Capacity: 249 passengers/70 cars/47 commercial trailers
• Call Sign: PGKB, SVJE
• IMO Number: 6525909
• Official Number: 13838/9237
• Port of Registry: Rotterdam/Netherlands, Piraeus/Greece
• Sister Ships: Norwave

History

October 22^nd 1965: Launched

March 1966: Delivered to Noordzee Verdiensten N.V., Rotterdam, Holland.

March 21^st 1966: Commenced service with North Sea Ferries between Europoort (Rotterdam) – Hull.

December 1974: Commenced service between Zeebrugge – Hull.

© Simonwp (Hull, 23/07/1978) (Left) and (Hull, 13/05/1979) (Right)

🆕 © Wolfgang Fricke (Hull, 01/07/1979)

© Simonwp (Hull, 12/07/1981) (Left) and (Hull, 09/03/1985) (Right)

© Simonwp (Zeebrugge, 19/06/1986)

© PWR (Hull)

July 5^th 1987: Final day in service between Hull – Zeebrugge.

October 1987: Sold to Ventouris Lines, Piraeus, Greece. (Registered to Gitanic Shipping Co, Honduras). Renamed GRECIA EXPRESS.

1988: After rebuild in Greece commenced service between Patras – Corfu – Igoumenitsa – Bari.

1992 (LR): Registered owner; Ventouris Group Enterprises S.A. Registered manager; Strive Shipping Corp.

© Bernd Crause (24/07/1992)

©  Bernd Crause (27/07/1992)

December 1993: Whilst sailing in the Aegion near Piraeus the vessel caught fire under unexplained circumstances. She was declared a total loss and sold for breaking.

1995: Sold to Seltas Gemi Sokum A.S. Aliaga, Turkey for scrap.

June 6^th 1995: Arrived, under tow, at Aliaga, Turkey.

August 15^th 1995: Scrapping began.

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: Bernd Crause, Wolfgang Fricke, PWR, Simonwp and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

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