FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII (ΦΛΑΪΝΓΚ ΝΤΟΛΦΙΝ ΧVIII)
-Hellenic Seaways (2005-2019)
Built in 1984, scrapped in 2019 (age 35). Was registered in Piraeus.
The hydrofoil FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII was built in Georgia (then part of the Soviet Union) in 1984, for the Greek hydrofoil company Ceres Flying Dolphins, joining alongside her sister ship, the FLYING DOLPHIN XVII. She began service on the Sporades in 1993, being assigned on the Agios Konstantinos-Volos-Trikeri-Pefki-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos-Marmaras line. In 1999 Ceres Flying Dolphins was transferred to Minoan Flying Dolphins, which became Hellas Flying Dolphins in 2002. The hydrofoil remained on the Sporades under the latter's ownership, although this time she was on the Agios Konstantinos-Volos-Trikeri-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos line. In 2005, when her company was rebranded as Hellenic Seaways, she returned to the Saronic Gulf, being deployed on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porto Cheli line. Even though she was supposed to be retired in 2014 because of the completion of her 30 years of service, Hellenic Seaways was granted a one-year extension for both her and the FLYING DOLPHIN XVII. Then, even though her service was due to end in 2015, the hydrofoil was again granted an indefinite extension, allowing her to continue her operations on the Saronic Gulf. In 2019, however, she was seriously damaged by a fire which occurred while she was undergoing her annual refit in Perama. Having been declared a constructive total loss, she was scrapped on the spot in late 2019, after a 35-year-long career in Greece.
PHOTOS (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018):
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving Piraeus (7/2015).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving Piraeus (7/2015).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving Piraeus (7/2015).
Crossing the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII on the Saronic Gulf (7/2015).
Crossing the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII on the Saronic Gulf (7/2015).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving Aegina in a summer evening. The indoor passenger area features a beautiful shade of dark blue light during the evenings (8/2015).
Crossing the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII on the Saronic Gulf, en route to Aegina (8/2015).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII preparing to leave the port of Piraeus (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII preparing to leave the port of Piraeus (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII preparing to leave the port of Piraeus (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving the dock next to the E8 gate in Piraeus (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII heading towards the port of Piraeus' exit (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII heading towards the port of Piraeus' exit (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII heading towards the island of Aegina (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII heading towards the island of Aegina (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII heading towards the island of Aegina, with her updated Cosmote livery (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen heading towards the island of Aegina, with her updated Cosmote livery (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII resting in Piraeus (7/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII in Aegina (8/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII in Aegina (8/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving the port of Aegina (8/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving the port of Aegina (8/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving the port of Aegina (8/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen leaving the port of Aegina for Piraeus (8/2016).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII having just entered the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII exiting the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII exiting the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII exiting the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII preparing to depart the port of Piraeus (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII departing the port of Piraeus (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII departing the port of Piraeus (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII departing the port of Piraeus (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII departing the port of Piraeus (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving Piraeus (8/2017).
Crossing the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII on the Saronic Gulf, as she heads from Aegina to Piraeus (8/2017).
Crossing the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII on the Saronic Gulf, as she heads from Aegina to Piraeus (8/2017).
Crossing the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII on the Saronic Gulf, as she heads from Aegina to Piraeus (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII resting in the port of Piraeus during the morning (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII resting in the port of Piraeus during the morning (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen resting in Piraeus (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen resting in Piraeus (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen resting in Piraeus (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving the port of Aegina (8/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen resting in Piraeus during the evening (9/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen resting in Piraeus during the evening (9/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII leaving the port of Aegina during the evening (9/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII having just returned to the port of Piraeus (9/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII having just returned to the port of Piraeus (9/2017).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII resting in Piraeus (7/2018).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII resting in Piraeus (7/2018).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII resting in Piraeus. This turned out to me my last-ever picture of the ship, as she had a major fire incident in 2019, which completely destroyed her. As a result, she was forced to end her career on the Saronic Gulf by being scrapped in late 2019 (7/2018).