{{short description|Greek ferry}} {{Infobox ship | display_title = ital |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Ferry Blue star 1 Rhodes.jpg | image_caption = ''Blue Star 1'' in Rhodes. }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = Greece | flag = {{shipboxflag|Greece|civil}} | name = ''Blue Star 1'' | namesake = | owner = Attica Group (2000-present) | operator = *Blue Star Ferries (2000–2021) *Irish Ferries (2021–2023) *Blue Star Ferries (2023–Present) | registry = Piraeus, {{flag|Greece}} | route = | ordered = 1998 | builder = Van der Gissen de Noord, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Nederlands | original_cost = | yard_number = | laid_down = | launched = December 18, 1999 | sponsor = | christened = | completed = 2000 | maiden_voyage = June 13, 2000 | in_service = 2000 | identification = *Call sign: SWET *{{IMO Number|9197105}} *{{MMSI|239710000}} | fate = | status = In service | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | type = Ro-pax ferry | tonnage = *{{GT|29,858}} *{{DWT|4,500}} | displacement = | length = {{convert|176.09|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|25.70|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|6.35|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | draft = | depth = | decks = 10 | deck_clearance = | ramps = *two for vehicles *one for passengers | ice_class = | power = | propulsion = CODAD with four MAN B&W 8L58/64 diesel engines | speed = 27 knots | range = | endurance = | capacity = *1600 passengers *640 vehicles | crew = | notes = | draught = }} }} '''''Blue Star 1''''' is a Greek ferry, which is owned by Blue Star Ferries. She is a motor Ro-Ro/Passenger ferryboat, built in 2000 by Van der Giessen de Noord shipward in Krimpen aan den IJssel, Netherlands.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://faktaomfartyg.se/blue_star_1_2000.htm|title=M/S BLUE STAR 1 (2000)|website=faktaomfartyg.se|access-date=2019-06-22}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ferry-site.dk/ferry.php?id=9197105&lang=en|title=The ferry site|website=www.ferry-site.dk|access-date=2019-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/BlueStarFerries2.html#anchor58321|title=Strintzis Lines Ferry Postcards (Blue Star Ferries – Blue Ferries – Blue Star Jets)|website=www.simplonpc.co.uk|access-date=2019-06-22}}</ref> She is a sistership to ''Blue Star 2''. She holds a total of 1600 passengers and 640 vehicles and has 430 beds in 161 cabins for passengers. She has four MAN B&W 8L58 / 64 diesel engines,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> with combined power of 44,480 kW and reaches speeds of up to 27 knots.
== History==
=== Blue Star Ferries ===
==== 1998–2009: First years ==== The ship was ordered in 1998 by Strintzis Lines.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.greekpassengerships.com/blue-star-1|title=Blue Star 1|website=greekpassengerships|language=en|access-date=2019-06-22}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.adriaticandaegeanferries.com/stbs1eng.html|title=H/S/F Superferry Atlantic – NEVER ENTERED SERVICE|website=www.adriaticandaegeanferries.com|access-date=2019-06-22}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://raflucgr.ra.funpic.de/toppage10.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327182513/http://raflucgr.ra.funpic.de/toppage10.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-03-27|title=Blue star 1|date=2008-03-27|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> The keel was laid on August 24, 1999<ref name=":0" /> and was launched at December 18 of the same year.<ref name=":0" /> She was intended to be named '''Superferry Atlantic<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />''' and serve Brindisi – Patras line'''<ref name=":3" />'''. However, after Strintzis Lines' acquisition of 48% stake by Attica Enterprise and renaming to Blue Star Ferries, she got her current name.'''<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />''' She was delivered on June 6, 2000<ref name=":0" /> and on June 13, she was deployed by between Ancona – Brindisi – Patras'''<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />''', connecting Italy with Greece.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://ellinikiaktoploia.net/blue-star-1/|title=ΜΠΛΟΥ ΣΤΑΡ 1 (BLUE STAR 1)|date=2009-02-14|website=Ελληνική Ακτοπλοϊα|language=el|access-date=2019-06-22}}</ref> By 2001, Brindisi was no longer included on her route, despite her excellent results here'''<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />'''.<ref name=":4" /> Instead she was now stopping to Igoumenitsa from April to October.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> On 2002, due to the Superfast III and IV being sold, she had to replace them and the call in Igoumenitsa became regular.<ref name=":3" /> In July however, due to the delivery of {{MS|Superfast XI||2}}, she was deployed between Piraeus – Patmos – Leros – Kos – Rhodes<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> in Dodecanese,<ref name=":5" /> occasionally stopping in Syros, Mykonos and Amorgos.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> On March 4, 2005, she was replaced by her sistership, and returned to Adriatic, this time between Patras – Igoumenitsa – Bari.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> The last day of her on that route was on January 3, 2007.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />
Afterwards, she arrived at Neorion Shipyards, Syros island for extension on deck 9:<ref name=":5" /> Although the passenger capacity decreased, 15 new cabins were added and some crew cabins became passenger cabins. On January 26, she departed Piraeus towards Zeebrugge, where she arrived 3 days later. Once she arrived, she was deployed between Zeebrugge – Rosyth, in order to cover the space left by the Superfast X, which was sold earlier, until September 14, 2008. She was then returned to Greece and arrived in Patras on September 19. 5 days later she returned on the Patras – Igoumenitsa – Bari line.
==== 2010–2021 ==== [[File:20100412 egine28.jpg|left|thumb|''Blue Star 1'' at Piraeus in 2010.]] After 3 years on the Patras Igoumenitsa line, in 2011, she was deployed between Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona between February 10 and March 21. The following day she returned on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Bari line for three more days until deploying between Piraeus – Syros – Santorini – Patmos – Leros – Kos – Rhodes, serving the Aegean Sea from the first time in 6 years. On February 1, 2012, she was deployed between Piraeus – Heraklion, under the ANEK-Attica joint venture, for one year, before returning to the Adriatic Sea on November 15, 2013.
She was then deployed between Patras – Igoumenitsa – Ancona, for one month before returning to the Aegean Sea on December 9. Since then, she operated the following lines: {| class="wikitable" |+ !Period !Route |- |January 9, 2014 – March 30, 2014 |Piraeus – Chios – Mytilene |- |April 3, 2013 – October 26, 2014 |Piraeus – Santorini – Kos – Rhodes |- |October 26, 2014 – January 29, 2015 |Piraeus – Chios – Mytilene |- |January 29, 2015 – February 23, 2015 |Piraeus – Heraklion |- |February 23, 2015 – May 26, 2015 |Piraeus – Syros – Patmos – Leros – Kos – Rhodes |- |May 26, 2015 – 2016 |Piraeus – Psara – Chios – Mytilene / Piraeus – Karlovasi – Chios – Mytilene – Lemnos – Kavala |- |2016–2018 |Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Psara-Oinousses-Chios-Mytilene |- |2018–2021 |Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Amorgos-Santorini-Samos-Patmos-Leros-Kalymnos-Kos-Symi-Rhodes |}
==== 2023 onwards: Return to Blue Star Ferries ==== After her Irish Ferries charter was completed she was returned to Blue Star Ferries and entered service on the Piraeus – Chania route, replacing the ''Blue Galaxy.'' thumb|''Blue Star 1'' sailing for Irish Ferries.
=== Irish Ferries === In 2021, the ''Blue Star 1'' was chartered by Irish Ferries for its Pembroke to Rosslare route<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/news-listing/irish-ferries-introduces-a-newer-and-faster-ship-onto-the-rosslare-pembroke-route/#:~:text=Blue%20Star%201%20was%20built,Rosslare%20to%20Pembroke%20Dock%20route.|title = Irish Ferries introduces a newer and faster ship onto the Rosslare - Pembroke Route}}</ref> in order to replace the ''Isle of Inishmore'', which was moved to Irish Ferries' new route between Dover and Calais.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/ports-logistics/new-smaller-faster-irish-ferries-20261575|title = New smaller but faster Irish Ferries ship on Wales to Ireland route|date = 26 March 2021}}</ref> The charter lasted for two years. She began service on 6 April 2021 and completed the charter on May 30, 2023. She was replaced by the Oscar Wilde, chartered by Irish Ferries from Tallink.
== Liveries == '''Original livery'''
The original consisted of a blue hull with the Blue Star Ferries logo in it, plus the "STRINTZIS LINES" text, referring to the company's old name. The decks were white with a black horizontical stripe in the middle deck. The funnel was orange with a blue star.
'''Current livery'''
The "STRINTZIS LINES" text was later removed from the livery.
'''"Superfast" livery'''
During her brief service in the North Sea, along with her formal Blue Star livery, she also had a "Joint service with" text along with the Superfast logo in a red background.
'''"ANEK, Superfast" livery'''
While briefly operating in the Piraeus-Heraklion line, along with the formal Blue Star livery, she also had the ANEK, Superfast logo on a white background.
'''"Irish Ferries" livery'''
In 2021 she was repainted in an Irish Ferries livery for her charter to the company, this involved the replacement of the Blue Star Ferries logo on the hull with an Irish Ferries logo as well as the repainting of the funnel to green with the Irish Ferries logo. <gallery> File:Blue Star 1 Firth of Forth.JPG|"Superfast" livery File:Blue Star 1 in Heraklion 2.JPG|"ANEK, Superfast" livery File:Sail Away (51292495631).jpg|Irish Ferries livery (2021) </gallery>
== Route ==
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.marinetraffic.com/el/ais/details/ships/shipid:211325/mmsi:239710000/imo:9197105/vessel:BLUE_STAR_1 Ship's current position in Marinetraffic.com] *[https://www.bluestarferries.com/en/about-us/the-fleet/our-ships.html Blue Star 1 on Blue Star Ferries] *[https://www.arxipelagos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10832 Tribute to the ship by Archipelagos.com] *[https://www.shipfriends.gr/forum/topic/68-blue-star-1-imo-9197105/ Forum about Blue Star 1 in Shipfriends.gr] *[https://mesametaforas.gr/forum/thread-7111-Blue-Star-1-IMO-9197105 Forum about Blue Star 1 in Mesametaforas.gr]
Category:Ro-ro ships Category:1999 ships Category:Ferries of Greece Category:Ships built in Krimpen aan den IJssel Category:Ships of Blue Star Ferries