The ferry “Golden Bridge”, chartered for the Motril-Melilla route

This morning, the Cypriot-flagged ferry “Golden Bridge” arrived at the port of Motril (Granada), chartered by FRS Iberia to cover the route to Melilla starting next July 1st, where it will replace the ferry “Volcán de Tauce”, which will move to the Motril-Tanger Med route. The Hispano-German shipping company has taken its time to resolve the situation, occupying the niche that was once the first bet of Naviera Armas in the region, marked by a resounding commercial success.

This will be the third Japanese-built ferry to operate on regular lines in Spain. We cannot say it is a gem, as it is an aging vessel, which by the time of its incorporation will be 29 years old, having entered service in May 1990 under the flag of the prestigious Japanese company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) on the Tokyo-Kushiro line, named “Sabrina”.

In 2000, it changed to a Panamanian flag under the Chinese company Weidong Ferry Co., which kept it operating on the Weihai-Incheon (South Korea) line renamed “Golden Bridge II”, and after more than 18 years in Chinese hands, it was acquired by Galaxy Seaways, being flagged in Cyprus with the same name but dropping the numeral. Since November 2018, it has been at the Perama shipyard undergoing renovations.

Construction number 330 from the Kanda Zosen shipyard, Kawakari factory (Japan), is a vessel of 26,463 gross tonnage and 6,090 deadweight, with main dimensions of 186.50 m in overall length, 24.80 m in beam, and 6.85 m in draft. It is powered by two Pielstick engines with a power of 17,530 kW on independent shafts, which gave it a speed of 23 knots when new. It has accommodation for 1,500 passengers and 500 cars. IMO Code 8902345.

Photo: Port Authority of Motril