MV Maria Dolores was delivered on 3 February 2006 by shipbuilders Austal Ship to owners Virtu Ferries in Fremantle, Western Australia. Virtu Ferries crew have been on standby in Fremantle for the maiden voyage to Malta.

The vessel departed Fremantle on Tuesday 7 February for Malta with port calls at Cocos Island and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, Aden (Yemen) and finally the Suez Canal with stops in Suez and Port Said (Egypt). The Maria Dolores will call at Pozzallo before arriving in Malta.

The Maria Dolores will berth at the Passenger Terminal at the Valletta Waterfront and will be open to the public, before entering service to Pozzallo, Catania and Reggio Calabria. Members of the public and interested parties will be cordially invited to visit the vessel to see on board facilities.

The vessel carries 600 passengers in three separate lounges, two tourist and one club class, and a total 65 vehicles including 10 trucks/TIR/coaches.