F/B Riviera del Conero

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Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Ancona, 03/04/2010 #9603

Ship	Riviera del Conero (2004)	Building Spec.	1974 at Luigi Orlando yard, Leghorn, Italy, 1974 – N° 138
Call Sign	H8QY (à11/2011) 5BMG3 (12/2011à)	IMO Number	7325095
GRT	8.975	DWT	2.283
Dimensions	125,5 x 18,5 x 5,2	Engines	2 Fiat-GMT 14c. 10.297 kW
Speed	19 knots, 21 knots max	Passengers	830
Beds	600 in 189 cabins	Cars	221
Lane Metres	370	Sister Ships	Express Pegasus Grecia Venezia
Registry Port	Panama (à11/2011) Limassol (12/2011à)	Flag	Panama (à11/2011) Cyprus (12/2011à)
Former Names/Own.	Espresso Cagliari – Trans Tirreno Express 1974-76 Espresso Egitto – Adriatica Navigazione (charter) 1976-80 Espresso Egitto – Adriatica Navigazione 1980-91 Egitto Express – Adriatica Navigazione 1991-04 Chartered to Hellenic Mediterranean Lines* Summer 2001 and 2002*
New Names/Own.	AF Michela – Adria Ferries 07/2012-04/2015 Lampedusa – Traghetti delle Isole 04/2015à
Line

First Adria Ferries-owned vessel, was bought in July 2004 from Adriatica. Originally serving Trans Tirreno Express routes ad the “Espresso Cagliari”, was wearing Adriatica colours from 1976 to 2004, being renamed from “Espresso Egitto” to “Egitto Express” after the refit which substantially altered its well-known classic line in 1991. After the purchase by Adria Ferries on 26^th July, 2004 the ferry was renamed “Riviera del Conero”, a name obviously chosen to remind the origins of Adria Ferries owners, a pool of businessmen of Ancona and Marche district; the name of the ferry is the name of Ancona coast; moreover the Italian flag was abandoned to join the Panama one. The only noticeable alteration of the livery was the disappearance of sand-brown and red stripes on the superstructure, plus of the repainting of mainmast and tunnel with the new company’s colours, and her laid-up period at Trieste ends on August, when the ferry finally enters service. She ran successfully on her new service until the beginning of 2005 summer, when she was stopped by some engine trouble; after some survey she seemed to be seriously damaged and the repair work appears to be unprofitable, so the ferry was laid up in Croatia awaiting its destiny, replaced on its service. The ferry made a very surprising comeback after its repairing work and wearing the full Adria Ferries livery as on “Riviera Adriatica”. The ferry was mainly employed on Ancona – Durres line, sometimes replaced by the “Riviera Adriatica” on wintertime, leaving Ancona on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 19.00, arriving at Durres the next day at 13.00 and leaving back at 19.00. On peak seasons (end of August and Christmas time) the three-times a week departure timetable is abandoned for an alternate days departure one. Occasionally, the “Riviera del Conero” was also used on Bari – Durres line. During the 2010 Winter, the ferry was rebuilt with side sponsons, probably needed to made the ship compliant with Stockholm Agreement; during the same period, the outdoor swimming pool was also covered. On December 2011, the “Riviera del Conero” left the Panama flag, being registered in Limassol, Cyprus, until July 2012, when she changed name to “AF Michela”, under which name she spent the last three years for Adria Ferries. On April 2014 was sold to Traghetti delle Isole, a subsidiary of Caronte & Tourist group, as the “Lampedusa”.