FLYING DOLPHIN XIX (ΦΛΑΪΝΓΚ ΝΤΟΛΦΙΝ XIΧ)
-Hellenic Seaways
Built in 1983 (age 41). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: None (under drydock in Perama)
The hydrofoil FLYING DOLPHIN XIX was built in Georgia (then part of the Soviet Union) in 1983, as the the COLCHIS 1 for the Soviet company Black Sea Shipping Company-Noroflot. She was the lead ship of the prominent Kolkhida-class, and she began service on the Odessa-Yalta line on the Black Sea. In 1986 she was sold to the Greek hydrofoil company Ceres Flying Dolphins, and she was renamed FLYING DOLPHIN XIX. She was deployed on the Sporades and on the Northeast Aegean Sea, as she was introduced on the Agios Konstantinos-Oreoi-Volos-Trikeri-Pefki-Platanias-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos-Skyros-Porto Karras-Marmaras-Nea Moudania line. In 1999 Ceres Flying Dolphins was transferred to Minoan Flying Dolphins, with the FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seeing her service limited to the Agios Konstantinos-Volos-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos line. Her company was renamed Hellas Flying Dolphins in 2002 and then was renamed Hellenic Seaways in 2005. In 2004 she moved from the Sporades to the Saronic Gulf, as she was deployed on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porto Cheli line. Her service there abruptly ended in 2012, as she ran aground in the small islet of Metopi, while sailing between Aegina and Agistri. She was refloated and towed to Perama, where she was declared a constructive total loss and was laid-up, being taken out of the plans of Hellenic Seaways. She remained laid-up for the next seven years, until her fleetmate and sister ship, the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII, was completely damaged by a fire while she was undergoing her refit in Perama. As a result of this, Hellenic Seaways decided to reactivate and to repair the FLYING DOLPHIN XIX, which underwent a significant renovation and was fully restored for service. She made her return to the Saronic Gulf in 2020, being reinserted on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porto Cheli line.
PHOTOS (2020, 2021):
My first-ever picture of the FLYING DOLPHIN XIX since she resumed service eight years after her accident, as she is resting in Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX approaching the port of Aegina (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX approaching the port of Aegina (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX approaching the port of Aegina (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX docking in Aegina (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX having just docked in Aegina (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Aegina during the evening (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Aegina during the evening (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Piraeus, as she is operating on the Saronic Gulf for the first time since 2012 (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving the port of Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving the port of Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving the port of Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen on the Saronic Gulf, heading from Aegina to Piraeus (8/2020).
A view of the FLYING DOLPHIN XIX from the highest hill of Aegina, as she is seen on the Saronic Gulf and heading towards Poros (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX docked in Piraeus (8/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Piraeus (9/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Piraeus (9/2020).
Crossing the FLYING DOLPHIN XIX on the Saronic Gulf, shortly after she exited the port of Piraeus (9/2020).
Crossing the FLYING DOLPHIN XIX on the Saronic Gulf, shortly after she exited the port of Piraeus (9/2020).
Crossing the FLYING DOLPHIN XIX on the Saronic Gulf, shortly after she exited the port of Piraeus (9/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Piraeus (9/2020).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Piraeus (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX resting in Piraeus (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX resting in Piraeus (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX resting in Piraeus (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Aegina (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Aegina (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen heading towards the port of Aegina (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen heading towards the port of Aegina (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen heading towards the port of Aegina (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen resting in the port of Piraeus (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen resting in the port of Piraeus (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen resting in the port of Piraeus (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX in Piraeus (7/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Piraeus in the morning (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Piraeus in the morning (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Piraeus in the morning (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving Piraeus in the morning (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving Piraeus in the morning (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving Piraeus in the morning (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX on her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX on her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX spotted in Piraeus (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Piraeus, shortly before her departure (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Piraeus, shortly before her departure (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Piraeus, shortly before her departure (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing Piraeus in order to head to Aegina (8/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen in Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen departing the port of Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX leaving the port of Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX leaving the port of Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX leaving the port of Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving the port of Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX seen leaving the port of Poros (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX having returned in Piraeus (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX having returned in Piraeus (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX having returned in Piraeus (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX heading towards her docking spot in Piraeus (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX heading towards her docking spot in Piraeus (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX heading towards her docking spot in Piraeus (9/2021).
The FLYING DOLPHIN XIX on her way towards her docking spot in Piraeus (9/2021).