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F/B Bridge

Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Ancona, 22/08/2016 #17373

Ship	Bridge (2015) Charter 11/2015-09/2017	Building Spec.	New South Wales Dockyard, Newcastle, Australia, 1976 – N° 94
Call Sign	P3KD7	IMO Number	7356252
GRT	16.539	DWT	7.480
Dimensions	141,97 x 23,42 x 7,18	Engines	2 Kawasaki-MAN R9V 52/55 13.239 kW
Speed	19 knots	Passengers	850
Beds	204 in 69 cabins	Cars	650
Lane Metres	1.054	Sister Ships
Registry Port	Limassol	Flag	Cipro
Former Names/Own.	Bass Trader – Australian National Line 05/1976-12/1996 Ionian Bridge – Strintzis Lines 01/1997-12/1999 Blue Bridge – Blue Star Ferries 01/2000-05/2004 Mercedes del Mar – Iscomar Ferrys 05/2004-01/2010 Bridge – European Sealines 01/2010-09/2017
New Names/Own.	Duba Bridge – Costavia Shipping 09/2017à Charter a Balearia 06/2018-09/2018 Charter a Balearia 11/2018-02/2019
Line

The “Bass Trader” was ordered by Australian National Line to New South Wales dockyard of Newcastle, Australia, in the middle of the Seventies, aiming to replace the ro/pax service between Sydney and Devonport, Tasmania, by a pure ro/ro service. Delivered in 1976, the “Bass Trader” remained on Sydney-Tasmania run for twenty years, when Australian National Line, sold to the French company CMA CGM, abandoned the ro/ro business remaining only on container service, and the “Bass Trader” was sold to Strintzis Lines, which converted the ferry to a more modern ro/pax design as the “Ionian Bridge”, to serve Brindisi line. In 2000, after the takeover of the company by Attica Enterprises, the company was rebranded as “Blue Star Ferries”, and this ferry was renamed “Blue Bridge”, remaining on the same services as before until May 2004, when was sold to the Spanish company Iscomar. Renamed “Mercedes del Mar”, was deployed on Barcelona – Palma run for four years, when Iscomar found themselves in troubled waters and the services ceased due to financial difficulties, with the ferries moored in port and occupied by the unpaid crews. The lay-up of the “Mercedes del Mar” lasted until the beginning of 2010, when she found again the way to Greece, being bought by Arcoumanis family. From 2010, the ferry, back in blue livery and with “Bridge” name, started serving Italy – Greece and Italy – Albania services, mainly from Brindisi; at the end of 2015, Adria Ferries, which was searching a more freight-oriented vessel to serve Ancona – Durres service, chartered the “Bridge”, which stayed on Ancona – Durres line until mid September 2017; interestingly, the “Bridge”, during low season, was often engaged also on sub-charters to serve the Brindisi – Vlore line and the Porto Empedocle – Linosa – Lampedusa line. When back in Greece after the end of Adria Ferries charter, the “Bridge” was soon sold to Egyptian interests and renamed “Duba Bridge”. Even we’re used to see Egypt as the last spell of service for a ferry, the “Duba Bridge” returned to Europe on June 2018, chartered by Balearia to serve the Malaga – Melilla line and later the Denia – Sant Antoni line. Back to Egyptian owners in September, in November 2019 was again chartered by Balearia, this time for Almeria – Melilla and Almeria – Nador lines. During her last spell of Spanish service, the “Duba Bridge” was soon hit by mechanical troubles, which led the company to avoid renewing charter of the vessel.

Photo Gallery

	William T. Barber
J.Y. Freeman	Collection

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL LINE – Bass Trader (1976-1996)

Igoumenitsa, 30/07/1997	Igoumenitsa, 25/08/1997
Michele Lulurgas	Y. Paze

STRINTZIS LINES – Ionian Bridge (1997-1999)

Igoumenitsa	Brindisi
Daniele Miglio	Frank Lose

BLUE STAR FERRIES – Blue Bridge (2000-2002)

Corfu, 16/04/2003	Corfu, 20/04/2003
Carsten Dettmer	Carsten Dettmer

BLUE STAR FERRIES – Blue Bridge (2002-2004)

Palma, 01/07/2004	Palma, 01/07/2004
Georges Pop	Georges Pop

ISCOMAR FERRYS – Mercedes del Mar (2004-2006)

Valencia, 07/08/2007	Valencia, 30/12/2009
Aratino	Carsten Dettmer

ISCOMAR FERRYS – Mercedes del Mar (2006-2010)

Corfu, 05/08/2010	Corfu, 05/08/2010
Michele Lulurgas	Michele Lulurgas

EUROPEAN SEAWAYS – Bridge (2010-2015)

Trieste, 06/03/2016	Trieste, 06/03/2016	Trieste, 06/03/2016	Ancona, 22/08/2016	Ancona, 22/08/2016	Ancona, 22/08/2016
Vladimir Knyaz	Vladimir Knyaz	Vladimir Knyaz	Michele Lulurgas	Michele Lulurgas	Michele Lulurgas

ADRIA FERRIES – Bridge (2015-2017)

Denia, 04/07/2018	Denia, 04/07/2018
Manuel Hernández Lafuente	Manuel Hernández Lafuente

BALEARIA – Duba Bridge (2018-19)

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