Italian ferry operator GNV has sold the 1981-built Ro-Pax ferry GNV Azzurra for demolition.
The vessel is expected to be towed to a ship recycling centre at Aliaga, Turkey, at the end of October.
GNV said the ferry's departure from its fleet after the 2026 summer season was already planned and was not prompted by an onboard fire earlier this year. The company added that the retirement would not change its operational plans.
A fire broke out in GNV Azzurra’s engine room on June 19 while she was was sailing from Porto Torres to Genoa off Corsica.
GNV said at the time that the crew extinguished the fire and that no one was injured. However, damage to the propulsion systems meant the ferry could not manoeuvre independently.
French and Italian authorities coordinated assistance and its tow back to Sardinia. After inspections by the Porto Torres harbour master's office, the ferry was towed to Genoa on June 24.
The 168.5-metre, 30,316GT vessel was delivered in June 1981 by Öresundsvarvet in Landskrona, Sweden.
She entered service under the name Wasa Star on routes between Finland and Sweden and later sailed as Peter Wessel for Larvik Line and Color Line between Norway and Denmark.
The ship joined Snav as Snav Toscana in 2008 and joined GNV in 2011 as Snav Toscana and was renamed GNV Azzurra in 2017.
GNV is currently introducing eight new vessels under a fleet renewal programme backed by the MSC Group, which includes GNV Orion.