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| Mv Princesse Astrid / Georgios B / Bari Express / Express Hermes / Express Erme | |||
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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. D i m e n s i o n s / T e c h n i c a l D a t a IMO Number - 6813320 Registry - Oostende (1968 - 1983), Piraeus (1983 - ) Length on deck - 117.96m (387.2 ft) (overall) 110.65m (363 ft) (between perpendiculars) Breadth of hull - 16.01m (52.5 ft) (extreme) Depth - 5.31m (17.4 ft) (moulded) 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) 1,800 passengers, 180 cars (1983) Call Sign - ORAF (1968 - 1983), SYQR (BARI EXPRESS) H i s t o r y / R e m a r k s 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 week ends. 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 April 6th 1983: Chartered to Sealink UK, operated between Folkstone - Boulogne as cover for the withdrawn HENGIST.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 Alang, India for scrapping.
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All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions. | |||
We would like to thank: Ton Grootenboer and Antonis Lazaris for there assistance in producing this feature. | |||
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