F/B Ionian Queen - Limassol

F/B IONIAN QUEEN

Photo © Apostolos Kaknis, Piraeus, 18/08/05 #3061

Ship	Ionian Queen (2005)	Building Spec.	1988 at Ishikawajima Harima (I.H.I.), Kure, Japan, N° 2972
Call Sign	C4CC2	IMO Number	8712635
GRT	30.385	DWT	7.622
Dimensions	192,90 x 29,40 x 6,75	Engines	2 Pielstick 8c, 17.480 kW
Speed	21,8 knots	Passengers	1.000
Beds	344	Cars	452
Lane Metres	1.860	Sister ships	Ferry Azalea Ferry Shirakaba Ionian King
Registry Port	Limassol	Flag	Cyprus
Former Owners	Shin Nihonkai Ferry 1988-04 Endeavor Shipping 2004à	Former Names	New Akashia 1998-04 Ionian Glory 2004-05
New Owners		New Names
Line	Bari – Igoumenitsa – Patras

A very beautiful ferry, delivered to Shin Nihonkai Ferry of Osaka in 1988 by Ishikawajima Harima Industries (I.H.I.), better known as turbo-charges manufacturer for automotive industry (they also developed the twin turbines of Maserati Quattroporte IV Edition). The ferry was delivered as the first of a four sisters series which were built within six years (the following ones were delivered in 1991, 1994 and again 1994); not a prticularly speedy vessel, was deployed between Maizuru, on the Western Coast of Honshu island, and Otaru, close to the capital of Hokkaido island, Sapporo. Was replaced by two newly-built ferries in 2004 and put for sale; was then bought by Endeavour Shipping of Mr Gianetatos, a company which is in business with Agoudimos Lines and renamed “Ionian Glory”. This beautiful ferry arrived in Greece in January 2005 and started the rebuilding work at Perama yards; differently from the “Ionian King” she had two stern ramps, already installed in Japan; however the starboard side one should be modified from her appearance under Japanese days. In the meanwhile of her refit was renamed “Ionian Queen”, reflagged to Cyprus and registered in Limassol: this statement allows her to make the domestic trade Patras – Igoumenitsa, being Cyprus a new member of European Union. The final result of the rebuilding work is a fabulous ferry: the “mazinga” type ramp was removed from starboard side, replaced by a stern ramp which leads directly to the upper garage deck, with a free height of 4,20 metres, as the main garage. On the new starboard-side stern ramp there is also a passenger entrance with stairs and escalator which leads to the three passenger decks. The bed number is not very high; anyway the ship has very spacious public rooms and with a far modern design; the ferry has the casino, the a-la carte restaurant, self service, the shop, but also very distintive services on services like those carried by the ferry as the disco-theatre at deck 9, two suites with separate living-room and private balcony (the first time ever on a Italy – Greece ferry) and also the swimming pool, which seemed to have been built in Greece, with wooden floor and tables with sun umbrellas. She started serving the Patras – Igoumenitsa – Bari line at the end of August 2005, with a little delay on the previously stated start, and she “met” the quay at Bari on her first approach to the Italian port, however without consistent damage. Together with her sister “Ionian Queen” sails daily from Patras at 17:30 and Igoumenitsa at 23:55, sailing back to Greece from Bari daily at 18:30 except of Saturday, at 17:30, and on Sunday, at 14:00.