AQUA BLUE (ΑΚΟΥΑ ΜΠΛΟΥ)
-Sea Jets Ferries
Built in 1975 (age 49). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: None (under refit in Elefsina)
The veteran ferry AQUA BLUE was built in 1975 in Japan. She began service there as the GREEN ARCH, being deployed on the Osaka-Hiroshima line for the Japanese company Hiroshima Green Ferry. In 1982 she was sold to Kurushima Kosan and she was renamed OKUDOGO 8. She was chartered to Diamond Ferry and was deployed on the Kobe-Matsuyama-Ōita line line. She stayed there until 1990, when she was sold to the Greek company ANEK Lines. She was renamed KYDON and was converted in Perama, entering service in 1991 on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Trieste line on the Adriatic Sea. In 1994 she was deployed on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Bari-Ancona line. She was further converted in 1995, whereupon she got an upgraded stern, improved interior areas and a wider passenger accommodation deck in her front section. She was renamed TALOS and resumed service on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona line. In 1997 she was deployed on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona-Trieste line. She was sold in 1999 to the Lasithi-based company LANE Lines (which was rebranded as LANE Sea Lines in 2006), and she was renamed IERAPETRA L. She was deployed on the Aegean Sea, on the Piraeus-Milos-Santorini-Agios Nikolaos-Siteia-Kasos-Karpathos-Chalki-Rhodes-Castellorizon lifeline. In 2003 she began operating on the Piraeus-Milos-Santorini-Heraklion-Agios Nikolaos-Siteia-Kasos-Karpathos-Chalki-Rhodes-Castellorizon lifeline. She grounded off in Rhodes in 2005, but was rescued and subsequently repaired. In 2006 she was chartered for two days by the Greek football club AEK Athens in order to transport its fans from Rafina to Heraklion, where the team was due to play the final of the Greek Cup for that year. As the team ended-up losing, the ship was severely vandalised by angry supporters, and was seriously damaged. She was nevertheless repaired in Perama and returned to her usual service. In 2008 she operated on the Piraeus-Milos-Santorini-Heraklion-Agios Nikolaos-Siteia-Kasos-Karpathos-Chalki-Rhodes-Castellorizon lifeline and on the Thessaloniki-Kavala-Limnos-Mytilene-Chios-Samos line on the Northeast Aegean Sea, before she was transferred back to ANEK Lines in 2009. She was deployed on the Piraeus-Milos-Santorini-Anafi-Heraklion-Siteia-Kasos-Karpathos-Chalki-Rhodes line and on the Piraeus-Patmos-Leipsoi-Leros-Kalymnos-Kos-Symi-Rhodes line. She was laid-up in Salamina in 2011, but returned to service in 2012 on the Piraeus-Syros-Ikaria-Fournoi-Samos line. Despite her success there, she was again laid-up in Salamina in 2013, missing the entire season and not being a part of the plans of ANEK Lines. She however returned to service once again in 2014, being deployed on the Bari-Durrës line on the Adriatic Sea. After the season was completed and as she was heading towards Piraeus for a refit, a fire emerged in one of her funnels, severely damaging her. She was towed to Drapetsona, where she remained laid-up, with many rumours suggesting she was sold for scrap. She was towed to Perama in 2016, and was presumably bought by Sea Jets. This was confirmed the following year, as she underwent extensive repairs and was again converted in Perama and in Drapetsona. After going through the names of KIARA and AQUA AZZURRO, she was eventually renamed AQUA BLUE, and began service in 2018 for Sea Jets Ferries. She was deployed on the Thessaloniki-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos-Andros-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Santorini-Heraklion line, being the first ship to operate on the line after almost ten years. In 2019 she was deployed on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Ikaria-Samos line. In 2020 she was introduced on the Lavrion-Chios-Agios Efstratios-Limnos-Kavala line on the Northeast Aegean Sea.
PHOTOS (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021):
The AQUA BLUE seen in Piraeus, a day before beginning her service from Thessaloniki to Heraklion via the Sporades and the Cyclades (6/2018).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Piraeus, a day before beginning her service from Thessaloniki to Heraklion via the Sporades and the Cyclades (6/2018).
The AQUA BLUE in Piraeus, just before beginning service with Sea Jets Ferries (6/2018).
The AQUA BLUE in Piraeus, just before beginning service with Sea Jets Ferries (6/2018).
The AQUA BLUE arriving in the port of Paros (7/2018).
The AQUA BLUE arriving in the port of Paros (7/2018).
The AQUA BLUE arriving in the port of Paros (7/2018).
The AQUA BLUE departing Paros (7/2018).
The AQUA BLUE departing Paros (7/2018).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Piraeus, shortly before she began her summer service in Rafina (7/2019).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Piraeus, shortly before she began her summer service in Rafina (7/2019).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Piraeus, shortly before she began her summer service in Rafina (7/2019).
The AQUA BLUE undergoing the final preparations prior to her entry to service in Rafina. During that summer, her hull was painted in navy blue, in contrast to the lighter blue she had during her first summer under Sea Jets (7/2019).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Piraeus, shortly before she started her service in Rafina (7/2019).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Piraeus, shortly before she started her service in Rafina (7/2019).
The stern of the AQUA BLUE in the port of Rafina, shortly before her departure (8/2019).
The AQUA BLUE seen departing the port of Rafina (8/2019).
The AQUA BLUE seen departing the port of Rafina (8/2019).
The AQUA BLUE leaving the port of Rafina and heading towards Andros (8/2019).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Lavrion, during her first season on the Lavrion-Chios-Agios Efstratios-Limnos-Kavala line. Picture taken by my mother, to whom I am truly grateful (8/2020).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Lavrion, during her first season on the Lavrion-Chios-Agios Efstratios-Limnos-Kavala line. Picture taken by my mother, to whom I am truly grateful (8/2020).
The AQUA BLUE docked in Lavrion (9/2021).
The AQUA BLUE docked in Lavrion (9/2021).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Lavrion (9/2021).
The AQUA BLUE seen in Lavrion (9/2021).