Kefallinia (1965 ship)

M/V Kefallinia (Greek: Κεφαλληνία) was a Greek ro-ro ferry. It was the first passenger ferry for Strintzis Lines (Now Blue Star Ferries). It was built in 1965 at the Th. Zervas & Sons shipyard in Perama, Greece. It could hold up a total of 600 passengers and 70 vehicles. It had Two 8-cyl, Werkspoor diesel engines with combined power of 2942 kW and could reach speeds up to 15 knots.

History
Greece
Name	Kefallinia (1965-1993) Express Paros (1993-1999)
Owner	Strintzis Lines, Greece (1965-1993) Katapoliani, Greece (1993-1999)
Completed	1965
In service	1965
Out of service	1999
Fate	Sold, 1999
Tanzania
Name	Zahara (1999-2001)
Owner	Victoria Marine Passenger Transport Ltd., Tanzania (1999-2001)
Acquired	1999
In service	1999
Out of service	2001
Identification	IMO number: 6520791
Fate	Abandoned, 2001
General characteristics
Type	Ro-Ro ferry
Tonnage	2,375 GRT 794 DWT
Length	82 m (269 ft 0 in)
Beam	11.15 m (36 ft 7 in)
Depth	3.04 m (10 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	2 × 8-cylinder Werkspoor diesel engines, 2,942 kW (3,945 hp)
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Capacity	600 passengers 70 vehicles

History

The ship operated for Strintzis Lines mainly between the city of Patras and the Ionian island of Cephalonia. She also operated on other Greek islands. In 1993 she was sold to the Katapoliani company, and renamed Express Paros (Greek: Εξπρές Πάρος) remaining in service in Greek waters, sailing between Syros, Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini, and occasionally other smaller islands.

In 1999, when she reached the permitted age limit, the ship was sold to the Tanzanian company Victoria Marine Passenger Transport Ltd., renamed Zahara, and served between Dar es Salaam and Mtwara. After a breakdown at sea in 2001 the ship was barred from sailing in Tanzanian coastal waters, and was abandoned in Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian Ports Authority announced in 2005 that it would scrap the derelict vessel unless the owners removed it. She was finally scrapped in November 2005.

Route

The ship was used on the following routes:

MS Kefallinia's history of routes

Owner	Name	Date	Route
Strintzis Lines	Kefallinia	1965-1977	Patras-Sami
			Patra-Sami-Vathi
			Patra-Sami-Vathi-Frikes-Vassiliki-Nydri-Meganisi-Mytikas-Kalamos-Astakos
			Patra-Sami-Fiskardo-Paxi-Corfu
		1977-1984	Patra- Sami
			Patra- Sami-Vathi
			Patra-Sam-Paxi-Corfu
		1984-1992	Patra- Sami-Vathi Kyllini-Poros
		1992-1993	Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Otranto
Katapoliani	Paros Express	1993-1999	Syros-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini (And other islands)
Victoria Passenger Marine Transport	Zahara	1999-2001	Dar el Salaam - Mtwara

External links

• McMorrow, Brian (24 June 2006). "Photo of the MV Zahara beached along Kivukoni Front, Dar es Salaam". pbase.com. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
• Boyle, Ian (2010). "Strintzis Lines Postcards". simplonpc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2012.