Friday, August 24, 2007

ILHA AZUL AGROUND AT GRACIOSA


The portuguese passenger Ro-Ro cargo ferry ILHA AZUL grounded on the rocks "Baixa dos Remédios" yesterday 23 August 2007, at 11h45 AM, while prepairing to dock in the harbour of Graciosa Island, Azores, with 374 passengers on board.
The ILHA AZUL damaged her underwater hull and was taking in water, but after two hours managed to berth at Graciosa and land the passengers, although the cars and cargo could not be offloaded as the Port side door could not be used.
Owned by TRANSMAÇOR, the ILHA AZUL was operating the inter-island Azores summer ferry service under charter to ATLANTICO LINE. The ILHA AZUL was built in Vigo, Spain in 1980 for the Algeciras - Ceuta - Tanger service as the BAHIA DE CEUTA. Sold to Greek interests in 2004 and rebuilt as the ATHINA she was purchased by present Portuguese owners in March 2006 and registered at Madeira on 31 March 2006. Main technical data : 5.355 GRT, 1.606 net tons ,1.188 DWT. Present passenger capacity 562 pax and120 cars. She has 8 pax cabins for 32 passengers. ILHA AZUL photo taken at Horta in July 2007.
Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

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