Duba Bridge

History
Name	1976–1997: Bass Trader 1997–1999: Ionian Bridge 1999–2004: Blue Bridge 2004–2010: Mercedes De Mar 2010–2017: Bridge 2017–2020: Duba Bridge
Owner	1976–1997: Australian National Line 1997–1999: Strinzis Line 1999–2004: Blue Ferries 2004–2010: Iscomar 2010–2017: European Seaways 2017–2020: Costavia Shipping
Port of registry	Cyprus
Builder	State Dockyard, Newcastle, Australia
Yard number	94
Launched	8 November 1975
Out of service	2020
Identification	IMO number:  7366252
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics
Tonnage	16,537  GT 4,050  DWT
Length	142 m (465 ft 11 in)
Beam	23 m (75 ft 6 in)
Draught	7 m (23 ft 0 in)

Duba Bridge was a roll-on/roll-off cargo ship. Built by the State Dockyard for the Australian National Line as Bass Trader, it was later rebuilt with accommodation for passengers and operated for a variety of operators in Europe.

History

Bass Trader was built by the State Dockyard, Newcastle for the Australian National Line being launched on 8 November 1975. ^[1] It operated from Sydney to Hobart and Bell Bay until December 1996. ^{[2] [3]}

It was sold to Strinzis Line, Greece and was rebuilt in Perama into a ferry with accommodation for 204 passengers in 69 cabins, 536 deck passengers and space for 51 cars. Renamed Ionian Bridge, it operated between Greece and Italy. In 1999 it was sold to Blue Ferries and renamed Blue Bridge. In 2004 it was sold to Iscomar and renamed Mercedes De Mar operating between Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca. ^[4]

In 2010 it was sold to European Seaways and renamed Bridge operating between Italy and Greece until being laid up in 2016. In October 2017 it was sold to Costavia Shipping and renamed Duba Bridge operating across the Red Sea between Duba, Saudi Arabia and Safaga in Egypt. In June 2018 it was chartered by Baleària and operated between Málaga and Melilla. It was laid up in Greece in 2020. It was sold to Shree Ram Shipping Industries for scrapping arriving in Alang, India in May 2021. ^[4]

References

1. New Bass Trader Australian Transport February 1976 page 22
2. Andrews, Graeme (1980). A Log of Great Australian Ships. AH & AW Reed. p. 23. ISBN   0589502026.
3. ANL: a fleet history of Australian National Line, 1957-1999. Nautical Association of Australia. 2020. pp. 281–286. ISBN   9780975689646.
4. Ferry News World Ship Society New South Wales Branch Newsletter June 2021 page 2