Rigel V

Rigel V in Igoumenitsa
History
Name	(1992–2005): Pacific Express (パシフィック エクスプレス) (2005–2010): KC Rainbow (2010–2010): Seco Maru (2010–2016): Ri Zhao Dong Fang (日照东方) (2016–2024): Baja Star (2024–present): Rigel V
Owner	(1992–2005): Marine Express K.K. / Miyazaki Car Ferry (2005–2010): Sea & Ferry Co., Ltd. / KC Lines (2010–2010): Grandferry (2010–2016): Rizhao Haitong Ferry Co., Ltd. (2016–2023): Baja Ferries S.A. de C.V. (2023–present): Ellasa Navigation Corp.
Operator	(1992–2005): Marine Express (2005–2010): KC Lines (2010–2016): Rizhao Haitong Ferry (2016–2023): Baja Ferries (2023–present): Ventouris Ferries
Port of registry	(1992–2005): Tokyo, Japan (2005–2010): Jeju, South Korea (2010–2016): Panama City, Panama (2016–2024): La Paz, Mexico (2024–present): Limassol, Cyprus
Route	Bari – Corfu – Igoumenitsa – Sami Bari – Durrës Former: La Paz – Topolobampo / Mazatlán Former: Pyeongtaek – Rizhao Former: Kawasaki – Miyazaki
Builder	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shimonoseki, Japan
Yard number	962
Laid down	January 1992
Launched	June 1992
Completed	November 1992
Acquired	2024
Maiden voyage	November 1992
In service	1992
Identification	IMO number: 9035096 Call sign: 5BKD6 MMSI number: 210158000
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class & type	Conventional Ro-Pax Ferry
Tonnage	25,323 GT (post-conversion) / 11,578 (original Japanese GT) 5,372 DWT
Length	172.80 m (566 ft 11 in)
Beam	25.00 m (82 ft 0 in)
Draft	6.50 m (21 ft 4 in)
Decks	9
Ramps	Stern and side loading ramps
Installed power	2 × NKK-SEMT Pielstick 14PC4-2V diesel engines (total 33,980 kW / 45,568 hp)
Propulsion	2 × controllable pitch propellers
Speed	26.2 knots (48.5 km/h; 30.2 mph) (max) / 22.0 knots (40.7 km/h; 25.3 mph) (service)
Capacity	1,200 passengers 600 cars (or ~1,400 lane metres for freight)

Rigel V is a fast ferry operated by the Greek company Ventouris Ferries. Built in 1992 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Shimonoseki for the Japanese company Marine Express under the name Pacific Express (パシフィック エキスプレス, Pashifikku ekisupuresu), it entered service in November on inter-island routes between Honshu and Kyushu. Laid up in 2005 following the bankruptcy of Marine Express, it was purchased by the South Korean company C&Cruise, which operates it between South Korea and China under the name KC Rainbow. Sold in 2010 to Grand Ferry, it was renamed Seco Maru (Sekomalu) and operated on the South Korea- Japan route. Resold in 2013 to the Chinese shipping company Rizhao Haitong Ferry, it was renamed Ri Zhao Dong Fang (Rì Zhào Dōng Fāng) and resumed the China-South Korea routes it had previously served under the Korean flag. Purchased by the Mexican company Baja Ferries in 2015, it was renamed Baja Star and operated in the Gulf of California. In 2023 it was sold to Ventouris Ferries, it now sails in the Adriatic Sea and connects Italy and Albania.

History

Origins and construction

In 1990, the financially troubled Japanese company Nippon Car Ferry was acquired by Seacom. The new company, initially renamed Seacom Ferry, then decided to invest in the construction of new vessels to replace the ships currently in service between the islands of Honshū and Kyūshū, most of which dated from the 1970s. The order for two twin fast ferries intended to replace the Takachiho Maru and Mimitsu Maru between Kawasaki and Hyūga was therefore placed with the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyards.

Planned to measure 170m in length and have a gross tonnage of 11,500 GT, the future ships are significantly larger than their predecessors. Inspired by the model established by the Taiheiyō Ferry and Higashi Nihon Ferry in the late 1980s, among others, the Seacom ships' configuration is more oriented towards freight transport, with a spacious two-level garage occupying a total of four decks and a capacity of 100 trailers. Despite a reduction in passenger capacity to 600, the passenger areas are designed to be far more comfortable than those of other ships in the fleet, with corridors offering panoramic views. First-class cabins with balconies are even planned, a feature few ferries offer today. The most notable characteristic of these ships, however, lies in their propulsion system, designed to reach speeds of 26 knots .

The first of these, named Pacific Express, was laid down at Shimonoseki on March 4, 1992, and launched on June 16. Finishing work then continued until November, after which the ship was delivered to its owner. During the ship's construction, Seacom Ferry broke off relations with its parent company, resulting in its name change to Marine Express.

Service

Marine Express (1992-2005)

The Pacific Express entered service on November 20, 1992, between Kawasaki and Hyūga. Sailing at over 26 knots, the ship was then the fastest in Japan. A few months later, in June 1993 it is joined by its twin, the Phoenix Express.

From 1994, the ship also served Miyazaki following the opening of the new terminal.

Starting in 2002, the Pacific Express made a stop on the island of Shikoku during its voyages to Kyushu. The ship thus served Kōchi, in the south of the island, on its trips to Miyazaki, and also served Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture when sailing to Hyūga.

On June 15,2005, Marine Express's operations were suspended and the company was placed into liquidation following severe financial difficulties. While some of its assets and fleet were transferred to Miyazaki Car Ferry, the Pacific Express was not acquired by the new entity and was laid up in Wakayama before ultimately being sold to the South Korean company C&Cruise.

2005-2015

Renamed KC Rainbow and registered under the South Korean flag, the ship underwent some modifications, notably to its safety equipment with the addition of lifeboats, which had previously been absent. The Yellow Sea Ferries logos were also added to its hull, which nevertheless retained its original red color. Following the work, the KC Rainbow was assigned to service starting from December 21, 2005 on a line between Pyeongtaek, South Korea, and Rizhao, China.

Sold in 2010 to Grand Ferry, another Korean shipowner, it was renamed Seco Maru and placed this time between South Korea and Japan on the Busan - Kitakyūshū line. From 2013, it was acquired by the Chinese company Rizhao Haitong Ferry. Renamed Ri Zhao Dong Fang, it once again served the Sino-Korean Rizhao-Pyeongtaek route under the Panamanian flag. In October 2015, it is sold to the Mexican company Baja Ferries.

Baja Ferries (2015-2023)

Renamed Baja Star, the ship was converted at a shipyard in Qingdao to suit its future purpose. To this end, the passenger areas were completely renovated, and 57 private cabins and a lounge were installed in place of the dormitories. With the work completed, it left China in March 2016, to reach Mexico, making a stopover in Yokohama, Japan, the country of his birth. Upon arrival in Mexico, he entered service with Baja Ferries in the month of May in 2016, in the Gulf of California between La Paz and Mazatlán as a replacement for the La Paz Star. However, it was itself replaced by the Mexico Star in 2018.

Offered for charter during this period, it attracted the interest of La Méridionale in 2019, which intended to include it in its bid for the public service delegation between Marseille and Corsica. However, the French company was ultimately excluded from this public service delegation, and the project did not come to fruition.

In December 2019, the Baja Star eventually returned to Baja Ferries' routes due to the sale of the California Star. The ship then operated the La Paz - Mazatlán route until July 27, 2023 the date on which Baja Ferries replaced it with the new California Star in its fleet. Put up for sale, it was acquired at the end of 2023 by the Greek company Ventouris Ferries.

Ventouris Ferries (since 2023)

On December 23, 2023, the Baja Star leaves Mexico and begins its voyage to the Mediterranean. After anchoring for several days near the Panama Canal, it transits on January 13, leaving the Pacific Ocean for good, and then set course for the Canary Islands. After refueling at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on January 28, he crosses the Mediterranean and arrives in Greece on the morning of February 4.

Stationed in Perama while awaiting commissioning, it underwent a transformation throughout 2024, including the application of Ventouris Ferries livery and some interior renovations. Renamed Rigel V, it was introduced to the Italy - Albania route starting in février 2025.

Facilities

The Rigel V has eight decks. While the ship actually spans ten decks, two of them are absent, serving as garages to allow the ship to carry cargo. During the Japanese era, the commercial deck numbering began with the first upper garage deck (corresponding to deck 3). Passenger quarters occupied decks 4 and 5, while deck 6 was reserved for the crew. Decks 0, 1, and 2 housed the garages.

Common areas

Passengers have access to a 138-seat restaurant, a 131-seat bar and lounge, and a small forward lounge located on deck 5, as well as a shop and game rooms on deck 4. During the Japanese era, two sentō (public baths) were located on deck 4. Truck drivers had access to facilities specifically designed for them, such as a dining room on deck 5 and sentō on deck 4.

Cabins

During the Pacific Express era , passengers were divided into two classes based on the level of comfort of their accommodations. First-class passengers were housed in 12 twin cabins located at the front of deck 5. All had private bathrooms and balconies, and two of them were superior suites.

Second-class passengers had a choice of four Japanese-style rooms on deck 5, 10 Western-style rooms on deck 4, 18 dormitories with 18 beds, one with 12 beds, three with 16 beds and one with 75 beds, also on deck 4. Drivers were accommodated in 11 rooms with six beds.

Since Baja Ferries acquired the ship, the second-class dormitories have been replaced by 57 private cabins. There is also a lounge with 343 seats.

Features

The Rigel V is 170m long and 25m wide. Its original tonnage was 24,946 GT before being increased to 25,095 GT in 2016. In its initial configuration, it could carry 660 passengers and 90 vehicles in a spacious 1,400 linear meter cargo garage accessible via two side ramp doors, one located at the bow on the port side and the other at the stern on the starboard side, as well as a rear door. It can now carry 705 passengers. The Rigel V is powered by two Pielstick-Nippon Kokan 14PC4-2V diesel engines, each producing 33,980 kW, driving two propellers that propel the vessel at a speed of 26 knots. The safety equipment at the time consisted mainly of life rafts; it has since been supplemented by four medium-sized enclosed lifeboats.

Routes served

On behalf of Marine Express, from 1992 to 2005, the Pacific Express connected the islands of Honshū and Kyūshū on the Kawasaki - Hyūga, Kawasaki - Miyazaki (from 1994), Kawasaki - Kōchi - Miyazaki and Kawasaki - Nachikatsuura - Hyūga (from 2002) routes.

The ship then sailed for the C&Cruise company between South Korea and China on the Pyeongtaek - Rizhao route from 2005 to 2010.

From 2010 to 2013, it operated the Busan - Kitakyūshū route between South Korea and Japan for the Korean shipping company Grand Ferry.

From 2013 to 2016, he sailed between China and South Korea, once again between Rizhao and Pyeongtaek but this time on behalf of the Chinese company Rizhao Haitong Ferry.

From 2016 to 2023, the Baja Star sailed in the Gulf of California between La Paz in Baja California Sur and Mazatlán in Sinaloa.

Having undergone major renovation works throughout 2024, the ferry, in the meantime renamed Rigel V, then entered service on 4 February 2025 on the connections between Bari and Durres.