Girolata (ship)

Girolata in Marseille
History
Name	(1995–2002): Aretousa (2002–present): Girolata
Owner	(1995–2002): Minoan Lines (2002–present): Compagnie Méridionale de Navigation (CMN) / CMA CGM Group
Operator	(1995–2002): Minoan Lines (2002–present): La Méridionale (2020 charter): Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV)
Port of registry	(1995–2002): Heraklion, Greece (2002–present): Bastia / Marseille, France
Route	Marseille – Porto-Vecchio / Ajaccio Former: Marseille – Tanger Med Former: Patras – Igoumenitsa – Ancona
Ordered	1993
Builder	Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder A/S (Rissa, Norway) Bruce Shipyard (Landskrona, Sweden; hull)
Yard number	56 / 351
Laid down	10 August 1994
Launched	9 January 1995
Completed	8 June 1995
Acquired	June 1995 (by Minoan Lines) 2002 (by La Méridionale)
Maiden voyage	June 1995
In service	1995
Identification	IMO number: 9088859 Call sign: FPOD MMSI number: 226245000
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class & type	Fosen Fast Ro-Pax Cruise Ferry
Tonnage	28,417 GT 5,184 DWT
Length	177.30 m (581 ft 8 in)
Beam	27.00 m (88 ft 7 in)
Draught	6.41 m (21 ft 0 in)
Decks	8
Ramps	Stern loading ramps
Installed power	4 × MAN-B&W 8L48/60 diesel engines (total 35,200 kW / 47,203 hp)
Propulsion	2 × controllable pitch propellers
Speed	23.8 knots (44.1 km/h; 27.4 mph) (service) / 25.0 knots (46.3 km/h; 28.8 mph) (max)
Capacity	816 passengers (196 cabins / ~800 beds) 200 cars / 2,250 lane metres for freight
Crew	50

Girolata is a mixed-use vessel belonging to La Méridionale. Built in 1994 at the Swedish shipyard Shipyard Brucen and completed between December 1994 and June 1995. Built at the Norwegian shipyard Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder, it was originally named Aretousa (Greek: Αρετούσα, Aretoúsa). It began its service in July 1995 on the routes of the Greek company Minoan Lines between Greece and Italy. Sold in 2002 to Compagnie Méridionale de Navigation (CMN), it was put into service on the public service delegation (DSP) routes between Marseille and Corsica under the name Girolata, in reference to the famous tourist hamlet in Southern Corsica, in the commune of Osani. Its assignment changed, however, at the end of 2019 due to the partial exclusion of La Méridionale from the DSP as of that date. Initially used between mainland Italy and Sicily under charter by the Italian company Grandi Navi Veloci from January to October 2020, she was then transferred in December to La Méridionale's new route between France and Morocco. She has since returned to the DSP routes between Marseille and Corsica. Since March 2023 it now serves Porto-Vecchio.

History

Origins and construction

In 1993, Superfast Ferries, a newly established Greek company, announced the upcoming commissioning of two new ships intended to serve routes between Greece and Italy at the exceptional speed of 27 knots. Designed to surpass their competitors in size and quality, these vessels sparked competition among the various Adriatic shipping companies. It was in this context that Minoan Lines decided to build a new vessel with similar specifications.

Designed to measure 177 meters in length and have a gross tonnage of 28,000 GT, the future Aretousa thus surpasses its competitors in terms of size. Its speed, however, is limited to 23 knots, as Minoan Lines prefers to focus on the quality of service offered. Furthermore, since no sister ship is planned, excessive speed would create a discrepancy between the new vessel and the shipping company's existing fleet. With this in mind, the passenger facilities, with a capacity of 1,500, will be designed for maximum comfort, including a large central bar, two dining areas at the bow, and even a pool bar at the stern. Due to the delicate situation in Yugoslavia at the time, the demand for roll-on/roll-off freight on shipping lines is skyrocketing; therefore, the ship's garage is designed to accommodate a large number of trailers, with 1,970 linear meters of space, representing a capacity for 140 trailers as well as 200 passenger vehicles.

The ship is laid down on May 29, 1994 at the Bruce Shipyard in Landskrona, Sweden. Launched on December 15, it was towed to the Fosen Mekaniske Verksted shipyard in Rissa, Norway, where the finishing touches were completed. The Aretousa was delivered on June 9, 1995 to Minoan Lines.

Service

Minoan Lines (1995-2002)

After leaving Norway to join Greece, the Aretousa was put into service on July 9, 1995 between Greece and Italy on the Patras - Ancona line.

From the outset of its service, the ship's performance proved disappointing, particularly due to its lower speed compared to its competitors from Superfast Ferries, both launched the same year as the Aretousa. Their speed of 27 knots, reducing crossing time by approximately fifteen hours, greatly contributed to their success. Minoan Lines then decided to build two new ships derived from the Aretousa, designed to be faster. Thus, in anticipation of the Pasiphae 's entry into service, the Aretousa was transferred to the Patras- Igoumenitsa - Corfu - Venice route, starting from January 14, 1998.

On June 6, 2001 it suffered a major engine failure off the coast of Apulia. Towed to Manfredonia, it was joined by the Pasiphae, which had been diverted to take on its passengers. The Aretousa was then towed to Piraeus where it was repaired before resuming service on June 26.

In the early 2000s, Minoan Lines embarked on a major fleet renewal program to counter the aggressive competition from Superfast. The Aretousa was thus replaced by more efficient vessels starting in 2001. Withdrawn from service, it was sold in 2002 to Compagnie Méridionale de Navigation for 61 million euros.

La Méridionale (since 2002)

Delivered to CMN on January 18, 2002 the ship left Greece that same day to reach France under the name Girolata. It arrived in Marseille on January 20. Between February and March, it underwent a conversion to adapt it to the public service delegation routes between the mainland and Corsica. Its capacity was thus reduced to 816 passengers, and its layout underwent some modifications, notably the removal of the outdoor swimming pool. It was also repainted in the company's livery, featuring a grey hull and a yellow funnel with a white stripe incorporating the CMN logo.

Its acquisition occurred within the context of the implementation of the public service delegation (DSP) for subsidized freight and passenger transport between Marseille and Corsica, awarded in 2001 to La Méridionale and SNCM. To cope with the constant increase in freight traffic and to modernize their fleets, both shipping companies strengthened their vessels: SNCM by ordering a new ship and La Méridionale by deploying the Girolata to replace the Santa Regina on the alternative Bastia and Ajaccio route. Despite a lower roll-on/roll-off capacity than the Kalliste, the ship benefited from a speed of 23 knots. Its varied and high-quality facilities made it, at that time, the most comfortable mixed cargo ship ever deployed on the Corsican route, as well as the one offering the largest passenger capacity.

Girolata begins its commercial exploitation on March 11, 2002 between Marseille and Bastia. Initially assigned alternately to Ajaccio and Bastia, he will ultimately be assigned to the Ajaccio line.

In 2010, during its scheduled maintenance, the ship was partially repainted in La Méridionale's new colors in anticipation of the arrival of the Piana. Its funnel was repainted blue, and the company's old logos were replaced with the new versions. The lower hull initially remained gray before being decorated in 2011 with a predominantly light blue livery.

The morning of August 26, 2011, while maneuvering to dock in Marseille, the Girolata struck the SNCM ferry Napoléon Bonaparte on its port stern, which was also docking nearby. The impact, however, caused only minor damage, limited to crumpled metal on the passenger-cargo vessel and a destroyed lifeboat on the cruise ferry.

On October 16, 2015, the ship's authorization to carry passengers was temporarily revoked following an inspection by the classification society Bureau Veritas, which revealed a malfunction in its bow thrusters. The Girolata, however, continued its crossings, carrying only freight, until its thrusters were repaired.

During its technical stop in Marseille, the mixed-use ship is adorned with the new livery of La Méridionale, inspired by the previous one but with more pronounced visual effects, notably with its two darker shades of blue and bands of the same color bordering the portholes on decks 8 and 9. The interior fittings are renovated with the addition of new carpets and 70 cabins are completely refurbished.

During its next technical stop, this time in Santander, Spain, at the beginning of 2018, the side openings used for ventilation of the upper car deck were sealed, putting an end to the problems of water infiltration in bad weather. The sealing of these openings consequently led to the installation of a new internal ventilation system.

On October 1, 2019, La Méridionale is partially excluded from the new public service delegation contract in favor of its former partner, Corsica Linea. Relegated to serving secondary ports in Southern Corsica, La Méridionale is forced to operate only two of its three ships. The Girolata is therefore chartered in January 2020, by the Italian company Grandi Navi Veloci for a period of one year. The mixed-use vessel begins its rotations between mainland Italy and Sicily on January 3 under the French flag with a Corsican crew on board. It replaced the Greek ferry Kriti I, whose charter contract ended in October 2019.

Its operation was, however, interrupted in March due to exceptional restrictions on passenger transport caused by the COVID-19 epidemic affecting Italy. The Girolata therefore returned to Marseille on March 26 in order to be disarmed there pending the resumption of its activities.

Between the 27th and the 29th of May, it made a crossing between Tangier and Marseille to repatriate 500 French nationals stranded in Morocco due to the epidemic. He undertook a second trip for this purpose from the 3rd to June 5 between Nador and Marseille. With the situation gradually improving, the Girolata returned to Italy on June 15 and resumed its crossings with Sicily the following day. During the summer of 2020, it sailed mainly between Naples and Palermo.

When its charter ended in October, the ship was returned to La Méridionale. Without assignment on the Corsican routes since the company's removal from the DSP, it was announced that the Girolata would be assigned at the beginning of November to a new route linking Marseille to Tangier.

Delayed due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 epidemic, the opening of the route finally took place in December. The Girolata inaugurated the sailings to Morocco on December 3 and makes its first commercial crossing to Tangier. Scheduled for the previous day, the departure was nevertheless delayed due to lengthy health measures and bad weather. The ship reaches the port of Tangier Med on December 5 at 8:00 am.

The context of the health crisis and the resulting restrictions will, however, have negative repercussions on this new international route, particularly due to the suspension of passenger traffic by the Moroccan authorities until June 15, 2021. Thus, despite a good occupancy rate, the Marseille -Tangier route is struggling to be profitable. The Girolata,however, continues to operate the Marseille-Morocco service without interruption until the end of the month. March 2023, the date on which La Méridionale decided to transfer it to the Marseille - Corsica routes and replace it with the Pelagos on the Morocco service. The ship was then assigned to the Marseille - Porto-Vecchio route, replacing the Kalliste under the new Public Service Delegation (DSP) effective since the 1st of February.

Facilities

The Girolata has 10 decks. While the ship actually spans 12 decks, two of them are devoid of garage space to allow the ship to carry cargo. Passenger quarters are located on decks 6 and 5, while the crew quarters occupy deck 7. Decks 3 and 4 house the garages.

Common areas

Originally designed for long voyages, the Girolata boasted a number of facilities of a quality uncommon for a mixed-use ship of its time. Among these facilities, all located on deck 6, were the Alta Rocca lounge bar amidships, the Mare e Monti restaurant on the port bow, the La Parata self-service restaurant on the starboard side, and an outdoor bar at the stern. The ship also had a small cinema located at the stern on deck 5. During its time under the Greek flag, an outdoor swimming pool was present at the stern on deck 6, but this was removed in the years following its acquisition by La Méridionale.

Cabins

The Girolata has 196 private cabins, mostly located on deck 5 towards the front of the ship, although some are situated on deck 4. Both inside and outside cabins can accommodate up to four people and all have private bathrooms with shower, toilet, and sink. The ship also features two small Pullman lounges on deck 6, offering a total of 50 seats.

Features

The Girolata is 177.30 meters long and 27m wide, with a draft of 6.60 meters and a gross tonnage of 28,417 GT. The ship originally carried 1,500 passengers before its capacity was reduced to 816 in 2002. It has a car deck with 1,973 linear meters of roll-off space, accommodating 140 trailers, and can also hold 200 vechiles. It is accessible via two aft ramps. The ship originally had a forward ramp, which was sealed off in the early 2000s. The Girolata is powered by four MAN-B&W 8L48/60 diesel engines, producing 31,200 kW of power, driving two controllable-pitch propellers, giving the vessel a top speed of over 23 knots. The combined-use vessel is also equipped with two bow thrusters and a roll stabilizer with two retractable fins. It carries two large enclosed lifeboats, supplemented by two medium-sized lifeboats, a rigid inflatable boat, and numerous inflatable rafts.

Routes served

On behalf of Minoan Lines, the ship operated the routes between Greece and Italy on the Patras - Ancona route from 1995 to 1998, then on Patras - Igoumenitsa - Corfu - Venice from 1998 to 2001.

For La Méridionale, from 2002 onwards, the Girolata was assigned to the public service delegation (DSP) routes between Marseille and Corsica. Primarily used for overnight crossings to Ajaccio, it sometimes called at the ports of Bastia or Propriano.

Between January and October 2020, due to the partial eviction of La Méridionale from the DSP, the Girolata sailed between mainland Italy and Sicily from Civitavecchia to Palermo or Termini Imerese under charter by the Italian company Grandi Navi Veloci.

In March 2023, the ship was assigned to La Méridionale's international service between France and Morocco on the Marseille - Tangier route. Since the end of the month it is once again being operated on the Corsican route between Marseille and Porto-Vecchio.