IASON (ΙΑΣΩΝ)
-Ionian Sea Ferries
Built in 1988 (age 37). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: Zakynthos-Kefalonia
The small ferry IASON was built in 1988 in Germany, as the SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN for the German company Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei Föhr-Amrum GmbH, also known as WDR. She began service on the Dagebüll-Föhr-Amrum line, thus linking mainland Germany with the North Frisian Islands via the Wadden Sea. She stayed there for 23 years, and her service was extremely successful. In 2005 she collided with her fleetmate, namely the RUNGHOLT (today the NISSOS CHRISSI of the Greek company Blue Daily Cruises), in Dagebüll, and she suffered some damage, although she was quickly repaired. In 2011 she was sold to the Dutch company Rederij Eigen Veerdienst Terschelling and she was renamed SPATHOEK. She was due to be deployed on the Harlingen-Terschelling line on the Wadden Sea, but conflicts with the competitors performing on that same service prevented her from operating for one year, until she finally entered service in 2012. In 2014, her company was taken over by one of their competitors, namely Rederij Doeksen. She remained on the Harlingen-Terschelling line, but she was laid-up later in that same year in Lauwersoog. In 2016 she was sold to the Lebanese Delegation to the United Nations in order to operate as a transporter of Lebanese military supplies. She was renamed LISA I and she headed to Perama, whereupon she underwent a minor conversion. She was deployed on the Beirut-Naqoura line on the Levantine Sea. In 2017 her assignment was completed and she headed back to Greece, remaining laid-up in Salamina while waiting for a potential buyer. In late 2018 she was sold to the Greek company Ionian Sea Ferries and she was renamed IASON. She underwent a conversion in Salamina, and she was ready to operate in 2020, but she instead spent the season laid-up in Kefalonia. In 2021 she was finally activated and she was deployed on the Zakynthos-Kefalonia line on the Ionian Sea.
PHOTOS (2023):
The IASON seen docked in the port of Lixouri in Kefalonia, while undergoing her annual winter lay-up (12/2023).
The IASON seen docked in the port of Lixouri in Kefalonia, while undergoing her annual winter lay-up (12/2023).
The IASON seen docked in the port of Lixouri in Kefalonia, while undergoing her annual winter lay-up (12/2023).
The IASON seen in the port of Lixouri in Kefalonia, undergoing her annual winter lay-up after having spent another summer season on the Zakynthos-Kefalonia line (12/2023).
The IASON seen in the port of Lixouri in Kefalonia, undergoing her annual winter lay-up after having spent another summer season on the Zakynthos-Kefalonia line (12/2023).
The IASON seen in the port of Lixouri in Kefalonia, undergoing her annual winter lay-up after having spent another summer season on the Zakynthos-Kefalonia line (12/2023).
The IASON seen in the port of Lixouri in Kefalonia (12/2023).
The IASON seen in the port of Lixouri in Kefalonia (12/2023).