FLYINGCAT 1 (ΦΛΑΪΝΓΚ ΚΑΤ 1)
-Hellenic Seaways (2005-2016)
current İZNIK for Bursa Deniz Otobüsleri
Built in 1991 (age 33). Was registered in Piraeus. Current line: None in Greece, sold to Bursa Deniz Otobüsleri for service in Turkey
The high speed catamaran FLYINGCAT 1 was built in Norway for the Greek company Ceres Flying Dolphins. She was the first non-hydrofoil ship and the first catamaran of the company, and she was deployed on the Saronic Gulf, where she would go on to spend her entire Greek career. During her operations with Ceres Flying Dolphins, she operated on the Floisbos-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porto Cheli line. In 1999 she was transferred to Minoan Flying Dolphins, and was deployed on the Piraeus-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porot Cheli line. She remained in that same service even when Minoan Flying Dolphins was renamed Hellas Flying Dolphins in 2002, and then rebranded as Hellenic Seaways in 2005. After 25 successful years on the Saronic Gulf (while also being, at the time, the catamaran with the most experience in the Greek coastal service), Hellenic Seaways sold her to the Turkish company Bursa Deniz Otobüsleri in 2016. She was renamed İZNIK and was deployed on the İstanbul-Mudanya line on the Marmara Sea.
PHOTOS (2013, 2015):
The FLYINGCAT 1 in Piraeus (8/2013).
The FLYINGCAT 1 in Piraeus (7/2015).
The FLYINGCAT 1 in Piraeus (7/2015).
The FLYINGCAT 1 seen in Piraeus (7/2015).
The FLYINGCAT 1 resting in Piraeus during her last summer in Greece, prior to her sale to Bursa Deniz Otobüsleri (8/2015).