ASTERION II (ΑΣΤΕΡΙΩΝ ΙΙ)
-ANEK Lines
Built in 1991 (age 34). Registered in Limassol. Current line: Piraeus-Heraklion
The cruiseferry ASTERION II was built in 1991 in Japan, as the ISHIKARI for the Japanese company Taiheiyō Ferry. She was deployed on the Nagoya-Sendai-Tomakomai line, where she operated for 20 years. In 2011 she was sold to the Chinese company Grand Shipping Line and she was renamed GRAND SPRING. She underwent a refit in Shanghai and she subsequently began service on the Weihai-Pyeongtaek line, thus connecting China with South Korea via the Yellow Sea. She was laid-up in Weihai in 2015. The following year she was sold to the South Korean company Gwangyang Line in order to enter service on the Gwangyang-Shimonosheki line on the Korea Strait, but the project did not materialise and the ship remained laid-up in Weihai. In 2018 she was acquired by the Greek company ANEK Lines and she was renamed ASTERION II. She was converted in Perama, and she was deployed on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Venice line on the Adriatic Sea. In 2024 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Samos-Patmos-Leros-Kos-Symi-Rhodes line on the Dodecanese. In 2025 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Heraklion line.
PHOTOS (2022, 2025):
The ASTERION II seen from Corfu, as she heads towards Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The ASTERION II seen from Corfu, as she heads towards Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus, while featuring the new livery of ANEK Lines and after having been moved to the Aegean Sea, whereupon she began service on the Piraeus-Heraklion line (5/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus, while featuring the new livery of ANEK Lines and after having been moved to the Aegean Sea, whereupon she began service on the Piraeus-Heraklion line (5/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus, while featuring the new livery of ANEK Lines and after having been moved to the Aegean Sea, whereupon she began service on the Piraeus-Heraklion line (5/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus, during her first year on the Aegean Sea (5/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus, during her first year on the Aegean Sea (5/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus, during her first year on the Aegean Sea (5/2024).
The ASTERION II seen resting in Piraeus (5/2024).
The ASTERION II seen resting in Piraeus (5/2024).
The ASTERION II seen resting in Piraeus (5/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in the port of Piraeus, after she began her summer operations on the Dodecanese (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in the port of Piraeus, after she began her summer operations on the Dodecanese (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in the port of Piraeus, after she began her summer operations on the Dodecanese (6/2024).
The ASTERION II spotted in Piraeus (6/2024).
The ASTERION II spotted in Piraeus (6/2024).
The ASTERION II spotted in Piraeus (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen as she is docked in Piraeus (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen departing the port of Piraeus during the evening (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus during the late evening. Picture taken by my good friend Dimitris Karakostas, to whom I am very grateful (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen as she is docked in Piraeus (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen as she is docked in Piraeus (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen entering the port of Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen entering the port of Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen entering the port of Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen beginning her maneuvering procedure in order to dock in Piraeus (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen beginning her maneuvering procedure in order to dock in Piraeus (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen beginning her maneuvering procedure in order to dock in Piraeus (6/2024).
The ASTERION II seen having finished her maneuvering procedure and now docking in Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen having finished her maneuvering procedure and now docking in Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen docking in Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen docked in Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen docked in Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen docked in Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II resting in the port of Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II resting in the port of Piraeus (7/2024).
The ASTERION II seen docked in Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen docked in Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen docked in Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen resting in Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen resting in Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen resting in Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II spotted in Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II spotted in Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II spotted in Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen as she is resting in the port of Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen as she is resting in the port of Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen as she is resting in the port of Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in the port of Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in the port of Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in the port of Piraeus (8/2024).
The ASTERION II spotted in Piraeus, just before the completion of her first summer season on the Aegean Sea. She would later resume service on the Piraeus-Heraklion line (8/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus, having resumed service on the Piraeus-Heraklion line and having returned to the port (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus, having resumed service on the Piraeus-Heraklion line and having returned to the port (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen as she is about to dock in Piraeus (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen as she is about to dock in Piraeus (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen as she is about to dock in Piraeus (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen in Piraeus, while trying to dock. She experienced an engine failure right after having entered the port, and she therefore required the tug boat IFESTOS 3 of Vernicos Tugs to assist her in order to dock safely (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen trying to dock in Piraeus (after having arrived from Heraklion), despite her engine failure (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen trying to dock in Piraeus (after having arrived from Heraklion), despite her engine failure (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen continuing her attempts to safely dock in Piraeus despite her technical issues (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen continuing her attempts to safely dock in Piraeus despite her technical issues (12/2024).
The ASTERION II seen having managed to dock safely in Piraeus despite her engine failure, and seen unloading her passengers and vehicles (12/2024).
The ASTERION II now seen resting in the port of Piraeus (12/2024).
The ASTERION II now seen resting in the port of Piraeus (12/2024).
The ASTERION II now seen resting in the port of Piraeus (12/2024).
The ASTERION II spotted in Piraeus (12/2024).
The ASTERION II spotted in Piraeus. Her technical issues were temporary as she immediately resumed her service to Heraklion on that very same day (12/2024).