F/B Duchess M - Limassol

F/B DUCHESS m

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

Ship	Duchess M(1990-00 and 2001à)	Building Spec.	1970 at United Dockyards Taikoo, Hong Kong, N°598
Call Sign	P3JE3	IMO Number	7006819
GRT	6.576	DWT	2.601
Dimensions	111,66 x 17,07 x 4,97	Engines	2 Crossley-Pielstick, 8.311 kW
Speed	18 nodi	Passengers	1.000
Beds	336, 84 cabine, 78 con servizi	Cars	250
Lane Metres	710	Sister Ships	Iniochos Express II (scrapped)
Registry Port	Limassol	Flag	Cyprus
Former Owners	Union Ss. Co 1970-76 Sealanes 1976-78 Iniochos Shipping 1978-80 Brittany Ferries 1980-89	Former Names	Wanaka 1970-76 Rata Hills 1976-78 Iniochos Express 1978-80 Breizh Izel 1980-89
New Owners		New Names	Balbek 2000
Line	Laid up at Eleusis bay, Greece

The only ship still in service for Marlines, was bought in 1990 to substitute the “Queen M” (a very hard target) and due to the same line performed by the ex-flagship until the following year, when she was unexpectedly diverted to a new line, the Brindisi - Corfu - Igoumenitsa - Patras, never mentioned on Marlines’s brochures. She was on that line for the following two years, calling in 1992 also at Ithaca, very strange thing considering that a call at Cephalonia could have been more lucrative. In 1994 the port of call in Italy changed from Brindisi to Bari and “Duchess M” was on that line along with “Baroness M”, “Countess M” and “Crown M” alternatively. From 1995 the line ended at Igoumenitsa and for the following two years the “Duchess M” was on that line together with “Baroness M”. On Summer 1997 was again on Ancona services, ending Marlines’s services to the Doric port in September after 15 years of service. In the last three years served the Bari - Igoumenitsa line, together with “Countess M” in 1998 and being substituted by the “Dame M” on winters. Laid up in Eleusis awaiting for her sale under the awful name “Balbek” in 2000, disaccording to this impression, in July 2001 the ship came back again to service with the original name “Duchess M”, first serving as Hotel Ship for the G8 summit in Genoa and then back on Bari – Igoumenitsa line, calling also at Corfu. Maybe the plans for a return of Marlines to ferry services are true? Anyway, for 2002 and 2003 season this ship sailed to Kotor in Montenegro,on 2004 instead she served Durres. Actually is laid up.

BRITISH CHANNEL ISLAND FERRIES Ro/Ro Breizh-Izel photo from Pieter Inpijn’s colection

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