LEFKA ORI (ΛΕΥΚΑ ΟΡΗ)
-ANEK Lines, operated by Superfast Ferries
ex-BLUE HORIZON (ΜΠΛΟΥ ΟΡΑΪΖΟΝ) of Blue Star Ferries (2000-2023)
Built in 1987 (age 38). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona
One of the finest Greek ferries of the past two decades, the LEFKA ORI was built in 1987 in Japan as the VARUNA for the Japanese company Higashi Nihon Ferry. She spent the first years of her career in Japan, on the Sendai-Tomakomai line, until 1998, when she was bought by the Greek company Strintzis Lines. After a year-long conversion in Perama, she was renamed SUPERFERRY HELLAS and she was deployed on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Ancona-Venice line on the Adriatic Sea. Strintzis Lines was purchased by Attica Group in 2000, thus becoming Blue Star Ferries, so the ship was renamed BLUE HORIZON. She was initially part of the Blue Ferries division, before the latter was merged with Blue Star Ferries in 2004. She was deployed on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Venice line in 2000, where she remained until being transferred to the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Bari line in 2003. She remained in this service until 2010, when her company deployed her on the Piraeus-Chania line. In 2012 she was laid-up in Syros, but she returned to service the following year initially on the Patras-Igouemnitsa-Bari line (to replace the ferries of Attica Group on the Adriatic Sea, which were undergoing their refits), and later on the Piraeus-Santorini-Kos-Rhodes line on the Dodecanese for the summer. In 2014 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Heraklion line, under the ANEK-Attica Group joint venture. In 2023 she was involved in a highly controversial and tragic incident, as members of her crew pushed away a passenger that was embarking while the ship was departing from Piraeus, resulting in the passenger's drowning. Later in that same year Attica Group acquired ANEK Lines, and the BLUE HORIZON was transferred to the latter after having been renamed LEFKA ORI, hence becoming the second ship in the history of the company to take that name (the first one being her former fleetmate under Blue Star Ferries, namely the BLUE GALAXY, which also went on to join ANEK Lines in 2024 as the KISSAMOS). Despite being painted in the livery of ANEK Lines, she did not operate for the company, instead being assigned to operate under the livery of Superfast Ferries in 2024. She returned to the Adriatic Sea after being deployed on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona line.
PHOTOS (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023):
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2013).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus, with her Japanese fleetmate, the BLUE GALAXY, in the back (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (8/2015).
The beautiful BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (8/2015).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2016).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2016).
A close-up picture of the BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (7/2016).
The beloved BLUE HORIZON in the port of Piraeus (7/2016).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (7/2016).
Another close-up photo of the BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (8/2016).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus, in her third season operating on the Piraeus-Heraklion line under the ANEK-Attica Group joint venture (8/2016).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (8/2016).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (8/2016).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in the port of Piraeus (7/2017).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (7/2017).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in the port of Piraeus, in her fourth consecutive season operating on the Piraeus-Heraklion line (7/2017).
The BLUE HORIZON taking a breather in Piraeus (7/2017).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus during the morning (8/2017).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus during the morning (8/2017).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus during the evening (9/2017).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (6/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (6/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (6/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (6/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (6/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (6/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in Piraeus (6/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in Piraeus (6/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having just entered the port of Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having just entered the port of Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having just entered the port of Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON preparing to maneuver in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON preparing to maneuver in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON preparing to maneuver in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON beginning to maneuver in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON beginning to maneuver in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON beginning to maneuver in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON maneuvering in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON maneuvering in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON maneuvering in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having just docked in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having just docked in Piraeus (7/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having departed Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON exiting the port of Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having just exited the port of Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having just exited the port of Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having just exited the port of Piraeus (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON having just exited the port of Piraeus and heading towards Heraklion (8/2018).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2019).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2019).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in Piraeus during the evening (7/2019).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in Piraeus during the evening (7/2019).
The BLUE HORIZON seen resting in Piraeus (8/2019).
The BLUE HORIZON seen resting in Piraeus (8/2019).
The BLUE HORIZON seen resting in Piraeus (8/2019).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (8/2019).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (8/2019).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON seen taking a breather in the port of Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus, shortly before she headed to Perama in order to begin her annual refit (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus, shortly before she headed to Perama in order to begin her annual refit (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON in Piraeus, shortly before she headed to Perama in order to begin her annual refit (8/2020).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (7/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (7/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (7/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in the port of Piraeus (8/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in the port of Piraeus (8/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in the port of Piraeus (8/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus during the evening (9/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus during the evening (9/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON seen as she rests in Piraeus (9/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON seen as she rests in Piraeus (9/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON seen as she rests in Piraeus (9/2021).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in the port of Piraeus (9/2022).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in the port of Piraeus (9/2022).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus, having docked in the E1 gate after completing her annual winter refit in Perama, after which she entered service on the Piraeus-Chania line while temporarily replacing the ELYROS of ANEK Lines which was performing her own annual refit (1/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen docked in Piraeus, in her first day of service after returning from her annual winter refit, and being temporarily assigned on the Piraeus-Chania line in order to replace the ELYROS of ANEK Lines, which was undergoing her own annual winter refit (1/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen docked in Piraeus, in her first day of service after returning from her annual winter refit, and being temporarily assigned on the Piraeus-Chania line in order to replace the ELYROS of ANEK Lines, which was undergoing her own annual winter refit (1/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen docked in Piraeus, in her first day of service after returning from her annual winter refit, and being temporarily assigned on the Piraeus-Chania line in order to replace the ELYROS of ANEK Lines, which was undergoing her own annual winter refit (1/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in the port of Piraeus (1/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in the port of Piraeus (1/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in the port of Piraeus (1/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen resting in Piraeus (3/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen resting in Piraeus (3/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen resting in Piraeus (3/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen having just entered the port of Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen having entered the port of Piraeus and heading towards her docking spot (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen having entered the port of Piraeus and heading towards her docking spot (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen beginning her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen beginning her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen beginning her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen while undergoing her maneuvering procedure in the port of Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen while undergoing her maneuvering procedure in the port of Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen while undergoing her maneuvering procedure in the port of Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen having completed her maneuvering procedure and now starting to dock in the port of Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen having completed her maneuvering procedure and now starting to dock in the port of Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen having completed her maneuvering procedure and now starting to dock in the port of Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen while she docks in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen being supplied with bunkers while resting in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON spotted in Piraeus (4/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON docked in Piraeus (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in the port of Piraeus (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in the port of Piraeus (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in the port of Piraeus (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in Piraeus (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in Piraeus (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON resting in Piraeus (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON seen in Piraeus during the evening (7/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON spotted in Piraeus (8/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON spotted in Piraeus (8/2023).
The BLUE HORIZON spotted in Piraeus. This was eventually my final picture of the ship under her name and under the livery of Blue Star Ferries, as just one month later she was involved in a controversial accident in Piraeus which resulted in her being abruptly withdrawn from the Piraeus-Heraklion line. She was then transferred to ANEK Lines, being renamed LEFKA ORI (8/2023).
My first picture of the ship as the LEFKA ORI and under the livery of ANEK Lines, after she was transferred to the latter following 23 years as the BLUE HORIZON under Blue Star Ferries. She was seen continuing her annual winter refit in Piraeus, while awaiting her next employment (12/2023).
The LEFKA ORI, previously known as the BLUE HORIZON, seen docked in Piraeus, after having been transferred to ANEK Lines (12/2023).
A view of the LEFKA ORI in Piraeus. In addition to her change in livery, she also became the first ship of ANEK Lines to feature the updated logo of the company on both sides of her hull (12/2023).
The LEFKA ORI seen in Piraeus, during her first days under ANEK Lines, while awaiting her next deployment (12/2023).
The LEFKA ORI seen in Piraeus, during her first days under ANEK Lines, while awaiting her next deployment (12/2023).
The LEFKA ORI seen in Piraeus, during her first days under ANEK Lines, while awaiting her next deployment (12/2023).
The LEFKA ORI seen in Piraeus (12/2023).
The LEFKA ORI seen in Piraeus (12/2023).