اقتباس:The vessel was built by the Italian company Italcantieri in 1970 with IMO number 6921282 and named the Boccaccio at Castellammare di Stabia, Italy. It was originally intended for Italian domestic service.[6] Its dimensions included 130.99 m length overall with 23.60 m beam and 5.57 m draught. The main engines are rated at 16,560 kW for a maximum speed of 19 knots. The vessel had an original capacity of 200 automobiles and 500 passengers. There were five sister ships constructed.

The vessel was rebuilt in 1991 by INMA at La Spezia, maintaining the same outer dimensions albeit with a higher superstructure, changing the draught to 5.90 m. At the same time its automobile capacity was increased to 320 and the passenger capacity was increased to 1300. The most recent gross registered tonnage was 11,799.

The Boccaccio was purchased in 1999 by El Salam Maritime Transport, headquartered in Cairo, the largest private shipping company in Egypt and the Middle East, and renamed Al-Salam Boccaccio 98; the registered owner is Pacific Sunlight Marine Inc. of Panama. She is also referred to as Salam 98.