MV Italia Express
ex 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 (899)
History
July 2nd 1965: Launched
December 1965: Delivered to North Sea Ferries Ltd, Hull, England.
© Fotoflite
December 17th 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 11th 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 11th 1983: Resumed in service.
© Simonwp (Hull, 06/05/1984)
© Corveleyn Roger (Hull, 01/11/1985)
© Robert J Smith (Zeebrugge, 09/08/1985)
May 23rd 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 30th 1987: Final day in service between Hull – Zeebrugge.
June 30th 1987: Taken over by the new owner and renamed ITALIA EXPRESS. (Registered to Gitanic Shipping Co., Honduras).
July 2nd 1987: Left Zeebrugge for the Mediterranean.
1987: Commenced service between Patras – Corfu – Igoumenitsa – Bari.
March 24th 1988: “While undergoing repairs at a quay in Drapetsona near Piraeus, Greece, Limpet mines attached to its hull caused severe damage, and the ship was declared a total loss. Underwriters initially contested the payout, alleging the sinking was intentional or tied to fraud, but the owners were ultimately vindicated in court after insurers failed to prove definitive misconduct.”..
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)
