On Monday 17th July 1988 the Maltese Company VIRTU FERRIES inaugurated a High Speed Passenger Service from Malta to Sicily chartering the 1988 Norwegian built and Norwegian flag and owned Surface Effect Ship (SES) VIRGIN BUTTERFLY.
VIRGIN BUTTERFLY was built by Bygd av Brødrene Aa A/S, Hyen at Norway as Yard no 190 with 373 GRT; 136 NT and IMO: 8704901. Her callsign was LAFC2 with dimensions as 36.00 m x 11.31m x 2.10m. Passenger Capacity was 330 persons She was chartered from 1988 to 1990.
She was powered by 2x 16cyl. 4T DM (MWM AG, Mannheim), 4,350 bhp (3,200 kW) with 2 water jet propulsion units offering a speed of 47 knots.
Crossings are daily except when weather severe conditions are cancelled. Malta to Pozzallo crossing it takes 90 minutes.
Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com