RIGEL V (ΡΙΓΚΕΛ V)
-Ventouris Ferries
Built in 1992 (age 33). Registered in Limassol. Current line: Bari-Durrës
The cruiseferry RIGEL V was built in 1992 in Japan, as the PACIFIC EXPRESS for the Japanese company Marine Express (previously known as Seacom Ferry). She was deployed on the Kawasaki-Hyūga line, while from 1994 she began serving the Kawasaki-Miyazaki line. In 2002 she added Kōchi to her itinerary, being therefore deployed on the Kawasaki-Kōchi-Miyazaki line. In 2005 her company ceased operations. While many of her fleetmates went on to join the Japanese company Miyazaki Car Ferry, the PACIFIC EXPRESS was instead laid-up in Wakayama. Later in that same year she was sold to the South Korean company Yellow Sea Ferries and she was renamed KC RAINBOW. After a refit in Busan, she was inserted on the Rizhao-Pyeongtaek line, thus connecting China with South Korea via the Yellow Sea. In 2010 she was sold to the South Korean company Grand Ferry and she was renamed SECO MARU. She was deployed on the Busan-Shimonosheki line, this time linking South Korean with Japan via the Korea Strait. After 3 years, she was bought by the Chinese company Rizhao Haitong Ferry in 2013. After being renamed RI ZHAO DONG FENG, she returned to operate on the Rizhao-Pyeongtaek line. In late 2015 she was sold to the Mexican company Baja Ferries. She was renamed BAJA STAR and she began service in 2016 on the Mazatlán-La Paz line on the Gulf of California. In 2018 she was withdrawn from service and she was laid-up in La Paz, but she was reactivated in late 2019 in order to resume service on the Mazatlán-La Paz line, where she stayed until 2023, when she was replaced by the newest vessel of the company, namely the CALIFORNIA STAR. She was sold later in that same year to the Greek company Ventouris Ferries, and she was renamed RIGEL V. She arrived in Perama in 2024, and she performed a conversion which lasted for a whole year. She began service in 2025, being deployed on the Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Bari-Durrës line on the Adriatic Sea.
PHOTOS (2024):
The RIGEL V seen in Perama, while undergoing her conversion in order to enter service for Ventouris Ferries (8/2024).
The RIGEL V seen in Perama, while undergoing her conversion in order to enter service for Ventouris Ferries (8/2024).
The RIGEL V seen in Perama, while undergoing her conversion in order to enter service for Ventouris Ferries (8/2024).
The RIGEL V seen while undergoing her conversion in Perama, in anticipation of her introduction to service for Ventouris Ferries on the Adriatic Sea (8/2024).
The RIGEL V seen while undergoing her conversion in Perama, in anticipation of her introduction to service for Ventouris Ferries on the Adriatic Sea (8/2024).
The RIGEL V seen while undergoing her conversion in Perama, in anticipation of her introduction to service for Ventouris Ferries on the Adriatic Sea (8/2024).