F/B Ionian Bridge

F/B IONIAN BRIDGE

Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Igoumenitsa, 30/07/97

Ship	Ionian Bridge (1996)	Building Spec.	1976 at NSW Government, Newcastle, Australia N° 94
Call Sign	P3KD7	IMO Number	7356252
GRT	7.480	DWT	6.374
Dimensions	141,97 x 23,42 x 7,18	Engines	2 Kawasaki - MAN, 13.428 kW
Speed	17 knots	Passengers	800
Beds	204 in 69 cabins	Cars	650
Lane Metres	1.054	Sister Ships
Registry Port	Limassol	Flag	Cypriotan
Former Names/Own.	Bass Trader – Australian National Line 1976-96
New Names/Owners	Blue Bridge – Blue Star Ferries 2000-04 Mercedes Del Mar – Iscomar Ferrys 2004à
Line

Built in 1976 to connect Eastern coast of Australia and Sidney to Tasmania, was purchased and heavily rebuilt by Strintzis Lines at Perama in 1997. Her refit was very important and the original appearance of the ship was radically altered; as “Bass Trader” the ship had only a funnel at starboard, but in occasion of her refit also a funnel at port side was istalled, even if it didn’t work. Second ship in Strintzis fleet offering the Camping on Board service, in 1997 was put on the line Brindisi - Igoumenitsa, departing from Brindisi at 20.00 arriving at Igoumenitsa the following day at 05.00, departing at 08.00 and arriving at Brindisi 15.00 hours. From 1998, with Ionian Sun on Aegean routes she changes the timetable, departing from Brindisi on morning and from Igoumenitsa and Corfu on evening. On winter 1999/2000, after been renamed “Blue Bridge” was chartered to Superfast Ferries for the line Bari - Patras, without stop at Igoumenitsa, that period operated only by “Superfast I”. Being taken over by Blue Star Ferries at the beginning of 2000, she was on Brindisi - Corfu – Igoumenitsa until May 2004, when she was sold to Iscomar Ferrys of Spain for their service between Barcelona and Valencia to Balearic Islands.

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL LINE – Ro/Ro Bass Trader, photo © J.Y. Freeman

Photo from the site Strintzis Lines

BLUE STAR FERRIES F/B Blue Bridge – Photo © Frank Lose

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