Two ferries remembered from spells in home waters are starting new services in the Mediterranean and Adriatic, the best known being the former Koningin Beatrix (1986/31,910gt), which has been bought by Italian operator SNAV to replace the route’s previous high-speed craft between Ancona and Split as SNAV Adriatico. Built at the former Van der Giessen yard near Rotterdam, SNAV Adriatico joins near sisters SNAV Lazio and SNAV Sardegna with SNAV.
TransEuropa’s Oleander (1980/13,728gt) has been chartered by Acciona Trasmediterranea to link Valencia with Ibiza, providing a one-ship service until joined by 97m Incat fast craft Milenium Tres (2006/0]6,464gt) from 17 June. Built as Pride of Free Enterprise, she became Pride of Bruges in 1988 and then P&OSL Picardy. She made her debut as Oleander in 2002.
