Blue Star 1 (ΜΠΛΟΥ ΣΤΑΡ 1) | Irish Ferries
Blue Star 1 (ΜΠΛΟΥ ΣΤΑΡ 1) Fast Facts
| Current Name: Blue Star 1 (ΜΠΛΟΥ ΣΤΑΡ 1) | Previous Names: N/A |
| Shipyard: van der Giessen -de Noord [NL], #979 | IMO Number: 9197105 |
| Current Operator: Blue Star Ferries | Current Route: Rosslare [IE] - Pembroke Dock [GB] (from April 2021) |
| Length Overall: 171.4m | Beam: 26.2m |
| Passenger Capacity: 1,890 (for Blue Star Ferries) / 1,500 (for Irish Ferries) | Vehicle Capacity: Approx. 1,745 lane metres of freight (4.9m free height) or 780 cars |
| Tonnage: 29,858 gt | Sister-ships: Blue Star 2 |
Overview of Blue Star 1
BLUE STAR 1 is an Attica Group-owned fast Ro-Pax ferry. She was delivered by Van der Giessen -de Noord in 2000 and has mainly operated for Blue Star Ferries on services within Greek waters and between Greece and Italy. She was originally ordered by Strintzis Lines as SUPERFERRY ATLANTIC.
Strintzis Lines was acquired by Attica enterprises during construction. As a direct result of this its services were rebranded as Blue Ferries (for existing older tonnage) and Blue Star Ferries (for new tonnage). The name of the new ship was thus changed to BLUE STAR 1.
From April 6 2001, BLUE STAR 1 has served Irish Ferries’ Rosslare – Pembroke Dock route.
Design
The interior design of BLUE STAR 1 was also changed as a result of the new ownership. Previous plans by Claus P. Horn were replaced with a design by Attica’s favoured architect Apostolos Molindris & Associates (AM&A) just one month prior to the launch of the ship. AM&A was also responsible for the interior of most of Attica’s Superfast Ferries new-builds.
BLUE STAR 1 has a single sister-ship, BLUE STAR 2 (originally to be named SUPERFERRY PACIFIC). The sister-ships were the only fast Ro-Pax ferries to be built by Van der Giessen-de Noord. Their design, like most other VGN-built ferries, is an in-house yard design.
Previous Northern European service
Between January 2007 and September 2008, BLUE STAR 1 served Superfast Ferries’ Rosyth – Zeebrugge route. Apart from that spell, her entire operation career has been spent in The Mediterranean.
Irish Ferries
From early-March 2021, BLUE STAR 1 was strongly rumoured to have been chartered by Irish Ferries. On March 24, BLUE STAR 1 was photographed at Piraeus receiving Irish Ferries branding. Prior to her arrival at the Perama ship repair zone for maintenance work in early March she had been laid up since September 2020. The ship relocated to nearby Piraeus on March 20.
On March 26, 2021 Irish Ferries announced that BLUE STAR 1 would be introduced on the Rosslare – Pembroke Dock route during April. The ship replaces ISLE OF INISHMORE which is to be redeployed to a new Dover – Calais service. BLUE STAR 1 took over from ISLE OF INISHMORE on April 6, 2021.
Blue Star 1 Passenger Facilities
The public facilities are mainly housed on Deck 7. Deck 8 is mostly dedicated to cabins while Deck 9 is a crew deck.
Public Deck (Deck 7)
- A la Carte Restaurant
- Self-service Restaurant & Goodys Burger House
- ‘Roma’ Cafe & Bar
- 3 x Air Seat Lounges
- Observation Lounge & Bar
- Gift Shop
- Flocafe Bar
- Entrance Lounge
- Yacht Club
- Wi-fi
- Reception Desk
- Pursers Office
Cabin Deck (Deck 8)
A total of 176 cabins are housed on Deck 8 according to Blue Star Ferries, including;
- Luxury outside cabins
- Standard outside cabins
- Inside cabins
- Cabins for persons with special needs
- Pet friendly cabins
Additionally, the Atrium Bar is also on Deck 8.
Crew Deck (Deck 9)
- Crew areas
- First aid
- Kennels
Blue Star 1 Technical Data
| Blue Star 1 (ΜΠΛΟΥ ΣΤΑΡ 1) | |
| IMO Number | 9197105 |
| Callsign | SWET |
| Building Yard | Van der Giessen-de Noord NV, Krimpen aan den IJsell (near Rotterdam), The Netherlands |
| Hull Number | #979 |
| Design | Van der Giessen-de Noord |
| Interior Architect | Apostolos Molindris & Associates (AM&A) |
| Contract Date | July 1998 |
| Keel Laid | 01 June 1999 |
| Launched | December 1999 |
| Completion / Delivery | |
| Hull Number | #979 |
Certification | Lloyds Register of Shipping |
| Class Notations | LMC, UMS 100A1:ROLL-ON ROLL-OFF CARGO AND PASSENGER SHIP:LILI, SHIPRIGHT SCM, SHIPRIGHT (IHM-EU+) |
| Current Operator | – To be chartered to Irish Ferries from April 2021 |
| Vessel Management | Blue Star Ferries SA |
| In service (Blue Star Ferries) | June 2000 (Ancona - Brindisi - Patras) |
| Usual Route | Rosslare – Pembroke Dock |
| Length Overall | 171.4 m |
| Length B.P. | 160.575 m |
| Beam | 26.2 m |
| Draught | 6.45 m |
Gross Tonnage | 29,858 |
| Deadweight | 4,500 |
| Number of Decks | 10 |
| Main Propulsion | Four MAN B&W 8L58/64 marine Diesel engines, each producing 11,120 kW running at 428 rpm. Each pair of engines drives a single KaMeWa 5.4m diameter propeller at 144 rpm via a two input one output reduction gearbox. Two KaMeWa 1,200 kW transverse bow thrusters |
| Other Machinery | Three MAN 6L28/32 auxiliary engines Blohm + Voss fin stabilisers Hamworthy KSE access equipment |
| Power (Max) | 44,480 kW (59,650 BHP) |
| Design Speed | 27 kts |
Passenger Capacity | 1,890 (for Blue Star Ferries) / 1,500 (for Irish Ferries) |
| Crew | 112* (* figure quoted in Shippax Designs 00) |
| Passenger Cabins | 192* (* figure quoted by Blue Star Ferries. Additional cabins were added during 2007) |
Vehicle capacity | 780 cars or 1.718 lane meters* (* figures quoted by Blue Star Ferries) |
| Lane Metre Breakdown (as built) | Lower Hold (Deck 2): 100 cars (3.0m free height). Main Deck (Deck 3): 850 lm approx. with 4.9m free height/ Upper Deck (Deck 5): 895 lm approx. with 4.9m free height. 1,745 freight lane metres total |
| Vehicle access | Single-level-drive-through loading configuration with direct access via a single bow and dual stern doors on deck 3. Tilting ramps between deck 3 and 5, and deck 3 and 2 allow all decks to be accessed via single-level shoreside facilities. |
| Flag state (port) | Greece (Piraeus) |
| As-built sister-ships | Blue Star 2 |
BLUE STAR 1 with further Irish Ferries branding applied to the ship during Monday March 22. Notably her funnel was painted green rather than white as used on the former