[1] It has since been surpassed on both counts by another Virtu Ferries catamaran, the MV Saint John Paul II.

[3][6] It was built by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia, and it was fabricated in modular blocks which were then fitted out together, since the vessel was larger than the hall it was constructed in.

[11] During this voyage, the vessel was chased by four pirate skiffs near the Bab-el-Mandeb in the Red Sea, but it easily managed to outrun them.

[3][12][13] The vessel commenced operations on 4 October 2010,[14] becoming the flagship of Virtu Ferries[15] and replacing the catamaran MV Maria Dolores which had been in service since 2006.

[18][19] The vessel continued to operate the Malta-Sicily route until the larger catamaran MV Saint John Paul II entered into service in March 2019.

[20] When the Jean de La Valette ceased operations on the Malta-Sicily route, the vessel underwent a refit at Cádiz in Spain.

[21] The catamaran is to operate in Trinidad and Tobago for one year until two new ferries arrive in the islands,[20][23] with the possibility of an extension by a further six months.

[24] It is to be crewed and maintained by Virtu Ferries staff from Malta,[23] along with 14 caterers and cleaners from Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile the government of Trinidad and Tobago thanked Virtu ferries for the 'invaluable' service the vessel provided for the past 18 months.