| | Mv
Express Erme ex Princesse Astrid, Georgios
B, Bari Express, Express Hermes | | | |  | | | |
Roy Thornton Collection Steel twin screw motor vessel, built by N.V. Boelwerf S.A., Tamise, (Yard No 1440) for the Belgian Marine Administration’s Ostend service in 1969. Engined by Sulzer Bros., Winterthur. Launched February 2nd, 1968. | | | |
| | | |  Technical Data
| | | | | | | | | Length |
117.96m (387.2 ft) (overall) | | | | Breadth of Hull |
16.01m (52.5 ft) (extreme) | | | | Draught |
3.81m (12.5 ft) (maximum) | | | |
Tonnage |
3,188 gross (1969), 3,397 (1983), 1,519 net (1969), 1,919 (1983), 485 deadweight, 592 (1983) | | | |
Engines |
Two 12-cylinder Sulzer two-stroke single-acting diesels | | | | Power |
7,061 kW | | | | Speed |
19.0 knots (service), 21 knots (max) | | | | Capacity |
850 passengers, 173 cars (1969) | | | | Call Sign |
N/A | | | | MMSI Number |
N/A | | | | IMO Number |
6813320 | | | | Registry |
N/A | | | | | | | |
| | | |  History
| | | | | | |
February 2nd 1968: Launched.
August 1968: Delivered to Belgian Marine, Oostende, Belgium. This was rather later than expected due to a small fire on board while the ship was fitting out. Her stern door was higher than that of her near sister ROI BAUDOUIN thereby allowing more freight to be carried from the outset
Roy Thornton Collection
August 15th 1968: Commenced service between Ostend - Dover.
1968-1973: Also operated between Ostend - Parkeston Quay (Harwich).
Roy Thornton Collection
November 1970: Belgian Marine joined the Sealink consortium. Trading as Sealink
February 9th 1971: Collided with a breakwater in Ostend.
November 1st 1971: Belgian Marine became the Belgian Maritime Transport Authority - Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT).
Roy Thornton Collection
1974: Stern altered when the crew accommodation in that area was moved to the after part of the upper deck.
1980: Operated only at weekends.
December 1982: Laid up in Ostend.
February 1983 - March 30th 1983: Chartered to Sealink UK for use between Folkstone - Boulogne, to cover for the late return from overhaul of HENGIST.
April 1st 1983: Laid up.
April 6th 1983: Chartered to Sealink UK, operated between Folkestone - Boulogne as cover for the withdrawn HENGIST.
July 1983: Sold to Ventouris Group, Piraeus Greece. Renamed GEORGIOS B. Left Ostend for Piraeus.
Roy Thornton Collection
November 1983: Rebuilt in Perama.
1984: Renamed BARI EXPRESS.
July 1984: Commenced service between Bari - Korfu - Igoumenitsa - Patras.
1988: Commenced service between Rafina - Andros - Tinos - Mykonos.
© Ton Grootenboer (left) and © Antonis Lazaris (right)
October 1998: Sold to Agapitos Express Ferries, Piraeus, Greece. Renamed EXPRESS HERMES. Commenced service between Pireo - Syros - Paros - Naxos, Heraklia - Schinousses - Koufonissia - Amorgos - Astypalea.
© Ton Grootenboer (left) and © Antonis Lazaris (right)
November 8th 1999: Sold to Minoan Flying Dolphin, Greece. Operated under the Hellas Ferries trading banner.
© Ton Grootenboer
2002: Laid up.
September 2003: Sold for breaking in India. Renamed EXPRESS ERME.
September 11th 2003: Left Eleusis Bay for India.
October 20th 2003: Arrived at Alang, India for scrapping.
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| | | | All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions found. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking:
Ton Grootenboer and Antonis Lazaris for their assistance in compiling this feature. | | | |
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