F/B Blue Island

Photo © Pieter Inpijn

Ship	Blue Island (2000)	Building Spec.	1973 at Naikai Zosen, Japan, N° 899
GRT	18.858	DWT	5.052
Dimensions	167,23 x 24 x 6,3	Engines	2 Hitachi - Burmeister & Wain, 13.827 kW
Speed	21,5 knots	Passengers	1.700
Beds	700 in 220 cabins	Cars	600
Lane Metres		Sister Ships	Blue Galaxy
Registry Port	Patras	Flag	Greek
Former Owners	Taiheiyo Ferry 1973-89	New Names	Albireo 1973-89 Ionian Island 1989-99
New Owners	Turkish Marmara Lines 2001	New Names	Cesme 1 2001à
Line	Chartered to Algerie Ferries

She was a full sister of “Blue Galaxy” under Japanese flag, but rebuilt in a different way coming in Greece, with a more enclosed superstructure. She is the new flagship of Strintzis Lines since 1990, when she was put on the line Ancona - Corfu - Igoumenitsa - Patras, remaining on that line until 1995 when, after the Joint Venture with Minoan Lines was put on the new line Venice - Corfu - Igoumenitsa - Patras, on which she sailed also the following year. In 1997, although always on Venice line, is back on Ancona, also for 1998 and 1999, then in 2000 returns “full time” on the line Venice - Corfu - Igoumenitsa - Patras, linking also Heraklion (Crete) reestabilishing a direct link Italy - Crete which was absent since 1997. On January 2001 she was put on Brindisi – Patras link; the results were unsatisfacting, also because the strong success of 2000 season was due to the speed of “Blue Star 1” and “Blue Star 2”; then the ship was chartered to “Turkish Marmara Lines” to serve Venice and Cesme with the name “Cesme 1”. Remainde without any operator for 2002 season, for Summer 2003 is chartered to Algerie Ferries, linking Marseille and Alicante to Algeria.

STRINTZIS LINES F/B Ionian Island photo © Michele Lulurgas, Corfu, 13/06/97

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