MPV Italia

Lake Garda
MPV Italia
Date Built -- 1908
Builder -- Escher Wyss
Date re-built -- 1976
Length -- 52.22m
Breadth -- 6.50m
Passenger capacity -- 600
normally operates charter sailings
also some busy local timetabled sailings from Peschiera
vice a smaller motor vessel during the Summer period on a non-advertised basis
Have YOU any further information about MPV Italia ?
 
2021 First Sailings of the 2021 Season
Entered service at Riva on Wednesday 7th July operating the new "north end of the lake" shuttle service sailings 71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-79-80 serving Torbole,  Limone and Malcesine
 
2020 With sister MPV G Zanardelli returning to service after a major re-build,  the motor paddle vessel had been expected to revert to her usual role - based at Peschiera - primarily operating charter sailings,  but the Coronavirus precautions stopped that and in the end she remained at the dock all year
 
28th August 2019 Last reported timetabled sailings of the season
Operated sailings 51-52-53-54-55-56 to and from Malcesine was on Wednesday 24th August
Are you aware of any other later sailings in 2019 anywhere on the lake - late August seems very early to finish ?
10th July 2019 With completion of the major overhaul of sister MPV G Zanardelli being delayed,  the motor paddle vessel was moved up north and again based at Riva for the peak-season covering the "local" sailings 51-52-53-54-55-56 vice a smaller motor vesselcommencing Wednesday 10th July
New for 2019,   the first and last round trips were extended further south to and from Brenzone
13th June 2019 The motor paddle vessel again covered the full-length sailings 2-3 from Peschiera to and from Riva on Thursday 13th June vice the usual car ferry
Are you aware of any other earlier sailings in 2019 ?
3rd May 2019 First reported timetabled sailings of the season
Owing to the non-availability of the regular car ferry,  the motor paddle vessel unusually covered the full-length "spring timetable" sailings 2-3 from Peschiera to and from Riva on Friday 3rd May
Are you aware of any other earlier sailings in 2019 ?
 
27th September 2018 Last reported timetabled sailings of the season
Operated sailings 51-52-53-54-55-56 to and from Malcesine was on Thursday 27th September
Are you aware of any other later sailings in 2018 ?
25th August 2018 Operated a special evening fireworks cruise from Riva at 2115 on Saturday 25th August
8th June 2018 First reported timetabled sailings of the season
With sister MPV G Zanardelli out of service all year undertaking a major re-build,  the motor paddle vessel was based at Riva and operated sailings 51-52-53-54-55-56 to and from Malcesine commencing on Friday 8th June
Are you aware of any other earlier sailings in 2018 ?
 
9th June 2017 The motor paddle vessel was again in 'weekday' service sailings 10-11-12-13-14-15 vice a motor vessel on Friday 9th June,  but all weekend she was back on her unusual sailings 10-11-12-13-14-15 commencing at Peschiera
Are you aware of any other sailings in 2017 ?
2nd June 2017 First reported Public Sailings of 2017
Owing to the non-availablity of the regular motor vessels,   the motor paddle vessel unusually operated sailings 16-17-18-19 commencing at Desenzarno at 0800 on Friday 2nd June
Are you aware of any earlier sailing in 2017 ?
 
21st August 2016 Last reported Public Sailings of 2016
The motor paddle vessel operated sailings 10-11-12-13-14-15 vice a motor vessel on Sunday 21st August
Are you aware of any other later sailing in 2016 ?
31st May 2016 First reported Public Sailings of 2016
Owing to the non-availablity of the regular car-ferry, the motor paddle vessel operated the full-length sailings 2-3 for several days, commencing Tuesday 31st May
Are you aware of any other sailing in 2016 ?
 
30th June 2015 First and ONLY reported Public Sailings of 2015
The motor paddle vessel operated local sailings 10-11-12-13-14-15 at the southern end of the lake vice a smaller motor vessel on Tuesday 30th June
Whilst there are her usual sailings when she is in service, it is very rare for her to operate mid-week

Are you aware of any earlier sailing in 2015 ?
 
2014 According to the NLG, the motor paddle vessel was planned to primarily operate charter sailings but would also operate timetabled sailings at the southern end of the lake vice a smaller motor vessel on busy days - mainly at weekends
Unfortunately no one has reported ANY sighting of her to me during the season, but surely she MUST have operated on some occasions - have you seen her in service or sailed on her this year ?
 
4th August 2013 Last reported Public Sailings of 2013
The motor paddle vessel operated local sailings 10-11-12-13-14-15 at the southern end of the lake vice a smaller motor vessel on Sunday 4th August
Are you aware of any earlier sailing ?
10th July 2013 First reported Public Sailings of 2013
The motor paddle vessel operated full-length sailings 2-3 vice the regular car ferry on Wednesday 10th July and the following two days
Are you aware of any earlier sailing ?
 
30th June 2012 Operated sailings 2-5 vice the regular car ferry on Saturday 30th June
Are you aware of any later sailing ?
10th June 2012 First reported Public Sailings of 2012
The motor paddle vessel operated sailings 6-11-12-13-30-31 vice a smaller motor vessel on Sunday 10th June
 
13th August 2011 Operated the full-length timetabled sailing to Riva and return on Saturday 13th August vice the regular car ferry - she was unusually observed passing her sister MPV G Zanardelli who was also operating a full-length timetabled sailing from Riva on the same day !
Do you have any further information ?
Spring 2011 Unlike previous years (when the motor paddle vessel was regularly used on timetabled sailings at the southern end of the lake vice a smaller motor vessel) there have been NO reported sightings to me
Are YOU aware of any or have any further information ?
 
11th September 2010 60th Centomiglia Regatta
The motor paddle vessel was originally advertised to operate a special Regatta Cruise from Gargnano (depart 0830) on Saturday 11th September but nearer the time this was changed to be covered by mv Andromeda
Spring 2010 Unlike previous years (when the motor paddle vessel was used on timetabled sailings at the southern end of the lake vice a smaller motor vessel) she was expected to have worked the occasional charter sailing but it appears she spent most of the time in dock with engine problems
There were NO 2010 sightings reported to me, although it is possible there were some "odd" outings - Do YOU have any further information ?
 
5th September 2009 Last reported sailing of the season
Operated a special Regatta sailing in rough conditions on Saturday 5th September
Are you aware of any later sailings ?
25th May 2009 Centenary of the Motor Paddle Vessel
To mark her 100th birthday MPV Italia was open to the public on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May at Desenzano where an historical exhibition was on display
14th April 2009
onwards
There were only limited reported sighting of the MPV in service this summer on her "traditional" non-advertised local "southern end of the lake" sailings
12th April 2009 First reported sailings of the season
The motor paddle vessel was observed operating the full-length sailings 2-3-4-5 on Easter Sunday 12th April
Unlike the previous year when this arrangement continued most dates throughout the Spring timetable period, the motor paddle vessel was back on the short sailings at the south end of the lake on Tuesday 14th April

If you see her in service any time, please e-mail me with any information (or photo) you have - thank you
 
23rd June 2008 Unusually operated the 0950 full-length Summer sailings 2-3-4-5 from Peschiera to Riva and return on Monday 23rd June vice the regular car ferry - this arrangement was repeated on Thursday 26th June
25th May 2008 There were only limited reported sighting of the MPV in service this summer on her "traditional" non-advertised local "southern end of the lake" sailings but as unual on a non-advertised basis
18th May 2008 The MPV was expected to have operated the Spring timetable sailings 2-3-4-5 on Sunday 18th May but instead a delayed sailing 2 was operated by mv Tonale
It is understood that the MPV had broken down

Can YOU confirm or advise otherwise so correct information may be posted for the benefit of other visitors to this website
22nd March 2008 First sailings of the season
The motor paddle vessel was observed calling at Limone on return sailing 5 on Easter Saturday 22nd March and this arrangement continued most dates throughout the Spring timetable period
 
30th September 2007 Last reported timetabled sailing of the season - did you see her in service after that date ?
The motor paddle vessel operated her "traditional" non-advertised sailing 6-11-12-13-30-31 on Sunday 30th September
8th September 2007 The motor paddle vessel operated a special Regatta Cruise from Gargnano (depart 0830) on Saturday 8th September
Summer 2007 No timetbled sailings by the motor paddle vessels are were advertised for the summer time-table period
However, besides some private charter sailings, she has been observed on several occasions operating timetabled sailings at the southern end of the lake but, as usual, on a non-advertised basis vice a smaller motor vessel
She mainly operates her 'traditional' three round trips commencing from Peschiera at 0855 on those days she is rostered to public sailings
She also occasionally undertakes sailings 2-3-4-5 from Peschiera to Riva along the east side of the lake vice the regular car ferry and was observed at Limone on Wednesday 30th May and again on Saturday 30th August when the regular car-ferry had an evening fireworks cruise

If YOU have any further information, please e-mail me so I can post it for the benefit of other visitors to this site
7th April 2007 First sailings of the season advised to me
The motor paddle vessel was observed operating sailings 6-11-12-13-30-31 on Easter Saturday 7th April
Are you aware of any earlier outings during 2007 ?
 
23rd September 2006 Last reported timetabled sailing of the season - did you see her in service after that date ?
The motor paddle vessel operated her "traditional" non-advertised sailing 30 on Saturday 23rd September
9th September 2006 The motor paddle vessel operated a special Regatta Cruise from Gargnano (depart 0830) on Saturday 9th September
8th August 2006 Unusually operated the full-length sailings 10-15 from Desenzano to Riva along the west side of the lake on Tuesday 8th August vice the normal motor car ferry which had ceased carrying cars due to the very low lake level in 2006
Summer 2006 No sailings by the motor paddle vessels were advertised for the summer time-table period
However, besides some private charter sailings, she was observed on numerous occasions mainly operate timetabled sailings at the southern end of the lake but, as usual, on a non-advertised basis
She mainly operated her 'traditional' two round trips commencing from Peschiera at 0855
She also occasionally undertook sailings 2-3-4-5 from Peschiera to Riva along the east side of the lake (see 2006 Sightings page for all cased reported to me)

If YOU have any further information, please e-mail me so I can post it for the benefit of other visitors to this site
27th May 2006 First sailings of the season ?
What appeared to be the motor paddle vessel was observed operating sailings 6-11-12-13-30-31 on Saturday 27th May vice a motor vessel
Can you confirm or advise of any other dates she operated during the spring period ?
 
1st October 2005 Last reported sailings of the season
The motor paddle vessel operated her "traditional" non-advertised sailings 6-11-12-13-30-31 on Saturday 1st October
10th September 2005 The motor paddle vessel operated a special Regatta Cruise from Gargnano (depart 0830) on Saturday 10th September
Summer 2005 So far, no details of any public sailings by the motor paddle vessel are advertised for the summer time-table period
However, besides some private charter sailings, it is expected she will continue to mainly operate timetabled sailings at the southern end of the lake on those days she is in operation, but, as usual, on a non-advertised basis (possibly modified on any dates she has a private charter for part of the day)
(see also 2005 Sightings page which suggests she is mainly sticking to her usual three round trips commencing from Peschiera at 0855

If YOU have any further information, please e-mail me so I can post it for the benefit of other visitors to this site
24th April 2005 First sailings of the season advised to me
The motor paddle vessel was observed operating sailings 6-11-12-13-30-31 on Sunday 24th April
Are you aware of any earlier outings during 2005 ?
 
23rd October 2004 Last reported sailings of the season
The motor paddle vessel unusually appeared in late October operating the mid-week full length early-Winter sailings 2-5 from Peschiera to Riva and return instead of the usual motor vessel with a final outing reported on Saturday 23rd October
2nd October 2004 The motor paddle vessel operated her "traditional" non-advertised sailings 6-11-12-13-30-31 on Saturday 2nd October
She can be seen leaving Desenzano harbour on what is undertood to have been her final sailing of 2004 from that port
Summer 2004 No timetabled sailings were advertised to be operated by the motor paddle vessel
However, besides some private charter sailings, she mainly operated timetabled sailings at the southern end of the lake and the occasional visit to Riva vice a motor vessel all on a non-advertised basis including those days she was advised to me as being in service 

If YOU have any further information, please e-mail me so I can post it for the benefit of other visitors to this site
6th April 2004 Very unusually operated mid-week timetabled sailings 2-3-4-5 during the Spring Timetable on Tuesday 6th April - 1000 Peschiera to Riva and 1600 return instead of the usual motor vessel as observed passing Bardolino on the last sailing of the day
4th April 2004 First sailings of the season
Unusually operated timetabled sailings 2-3-4-5 during the Spring Timetable on Sunday 4th April - 1000 Peschiera to Riva and 1600 return instead of the usual motor vessel
 
Summer 2003 The motor paddle vessel was again based at Peschiera and operated some timetabled sailings at the Southern end of the lake
The latest confirmed date in service was Sunday 27th July - sailing vice a motor vessel on a non-advertised basis

It is likely she continued in service much longer - have YOU sailed on her or did you see her in service any later in 2003 ?
25th May 2003 First sailings of the season
Unusually operated timetabled sailings 2-3-4-5 on Sunday 25th May - 0945 Peschiera to Riva and 1620 return instead of the usual motor vessel
This arrangement was repeated on Monday 2nd June
 
Peak-Summer 2002 Last sighting of 2002 advised to me was "mid-August"
Do YOU have any further information ?
Did YOU sail on her or see her in service any earlier, later, mid-week or weekends ?
Understood to have operated sailings 8-9-12-13-30-31 vice a smaller motor vessel most days during the Summer
11th July 2002 First sighting of 2002 advised to me was on Thursday 11th July when the motor paddle vessel unusually operated the 0945 full-length timetabled sailing 10 from Desenzano to Riva instead of the regular car-ferry mv Tonale
(This was the day of the Italian National Strike and it appears the motor paddle vessel remained at Riva)
 
2001 I was not advised of any timetabled sailings during 2001
Are YOU aware of any ?
14th September 2001 Last advertised sailing of 2001
Operated a special afternoon sailing from Peschiera visiting Salo'  "for an hour ashore" on Friday 14th September
29th August 2001 Operated the final special non-landing evening sailing from Riva on Wednesday 29th August
23rd July 2001 First advertised sailing of 2001
Operated a special afternoon sailing from Garda visiting Maderno "for an hour ashore" on Monday 23rd July
 
1975 The steam engine was replaced by a diesel motor
 
1945 Sunk near Sirmione during the war following an air attack
- returned to service in 1952
 
1907 The paddle steamer was originally launched as PS Italia
 


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Updated - Lakes Brienz, Geneva, Luzern, Thun, Zurich, Konstanz, Maggiore, Como, Garda 8th July 2021   e-mail   (c)1999-2021 John B Bird