Hi to all of you
-EXPRESS ADONIS was sold to Sri Lankan interests for further
trading and
not scrap. The ship was allegedly delivered to her new owners
earlier today.
-Milena and Daliana have
been sold to undisclosed Dubai interests for use as floating hotels.
The
price
tag is reported to be around USD 10mil en bloc. I suspect it could
be the
same company who already bought the CROWN(ex-Byblos, Crown M) and
the POSEIDON C. Work is actually progressing on the POSEIDON and
i see her sailing for Dubai in the not-too-distant future.
-Panagia Parou will do the line Piraeus-syros-tinos-mykonos
-Panagia Thalassini will do the line Lavrio-syros-tinos-mykonos
-Perhaps the most significant change is the AEOLOS KENTERIS which
is set to commence sailings between Piraeus, Paros and Naxos. In
other
words, the confrontation in the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene route between
Hellenic Seaways and NEL(C-Link) is spreading in the Cyclades as well
in a war of attrition that only the stronger will survive.
- As regards the HSW conventional ferries, the lineup _AT THE MOMENT_
looks like being: Express Aphrodite in the Western Cyclades(Serifos,
Sifnos,
Milos etv), Express Pegasus to Ikaria and Samos, Express Athina
along with
the Express Santorini to Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini. Two conclusions:
1) The Express Apollon is not featured unfortunately. Contrary to
info that
she would be given a serious refit which would ensure further
service, it
has been confirmed that two potential buyers have already inspected
her.
2) The Rafina to Andros-Tinos-Mykonos route is left without
conventional
vessel but only with Highspeed 2 and Flyingcat 3
Obviously HSW is desperate to promote Highspeeds and sell everything
else
but NOT within Greece as the management is shivering in the thought
that
their
older conventional tonnage can be successfully employed by other
Greek
owners
in diect competition with their fast ferries. At the moment the only
HSW
Ferries
operating in the Aegean(excluding Aegina near Piraeus), are the
Express
Apollon
and Nissos Mykonos. This company operates like an open-air cinema:
summer only.
As to the quality/frequency of service in the HSW routes(bar the
Chios-Mytilene one)
during the winter, a brief look at the sailing tables will tell the
story itself.
- Sister company Blue Star Ferries suffered a serious setback as the
Blue Star Naxos
clipped her right propeller in rocks while anchored off Santorini
due
to bad weather.
The ship was sent to Syros Shipyards in a rush and it is rumoured
the
damage is
grave as the ship is to remain out of service well into January. As
a
result the Blue Star
Paros made a rush return to action as herself she was at Syros for
her
annual overhaul.
No announcements by the Monistry whatsoever and no media attention
whatsoever
here, contary to whenever there is a similar incident with other
operators and mainly
GA Ferries. Do i need to make any more comments on that?
- The NICOLAS A is back in action deputising for the ANTHI MARINA
and the
RODANTHI that are now in annual overhaul. Very shortly the MARINA
will
take the
place of the RODANTHI but the NICOLAS A looks set to continue her
sailings
between Piraeus, Kos and Rhodes all the way until the end of the
summer.
Of course
one can never be certain with GA Ferries.
- Last but not least, SAOS Ferries have requested permission from
the
Ministry
to employ the PANAGIA SOUMELA, former Lady of Mann, between the port
of Volos and Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos. The request was not
put into
discussion during the last session of the relevant committee, but
this
will happen
in the near future. Should this materialise, i think i need to
revert
with info abt Volos
and how to get there as i am sure a great many of you would like to
take
the trip.
Be warned though that you will certainly not like the sight of her,
her
stern is being
given a squar shape and my guess is she will look awful.
Source:efoplis of January and Nikos
best regards
Lucas Latreche
Topic: news about greek ferries (Read 3104 times)