NISSOS SAMOS (ΝΗΣΟΣ ΣΑΜΟΣ)

-Hellenic Seaways

Built in 1988 (age 37). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: Piraeus-Psara-Oinousses-Chios-Mytilene-Limnos-Kavala

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Among the best ferries in the Greek coastal service, the cruiseferry NISSOS SAMOS was built in 1988 in Japan, as the NEW AKASHIA for the Japanese company Shin Nihonkai Ferry. She was deployed on the Maizuru-Otaru line, where she stayed until 2004, when she was replaced by the newly-built ferries HAMANASU and AKASHIA. She and her sister ship, namely the FERRY LAVENDER, were therefore both sold to Greek companies. The former was sold to the newly-established company Endeavor Lines, while the latter was sold to the established operator Agoudimos Lines (with both companies collaborating on the Adriatic Sea). The two ships arrived in Greece in late 2004, as the IONIAN GLORY and the IONIAN KING, respectively, and they underwent a major conversion in Perama, being transformed into very luxurious Ro-Pax ferries. During her conversion, the IONIAN GLORY was renamed IONIAN QUEEN. She entered service with Endeavor Lines in 2005, being deployed on the Patras-Kefalonia-Igoumenitsa-Bari line on the Adriatic Sea, while also being the company's flagship. In 2008, she was deployed on the Patras-Kefalonia-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Brindisi line as the cooperation between Endeavor Lines and Agoudimos Lines ended. She stayed there until 2011. Following that year's summer season, the company began to experience very serious financial problems. Nevertheless, in 2012, despite a few arrests in Igoumenitsa and in Brindisi, she resumed service on the Patras-Zakynthos-Kefalonia-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Brindisi line, thus being the only ferry of Endeavor Lines to operate for the company that year. However, the enduring financial difficulties the company eventually resulted in the end of its operations in late 2012. As a result of this, the IONIAN QUEEN was laid-up in Patras, where she remained for the next three years. After several failed auctions and rumours that the ship would be sold for scrap, she was finally acquired in late 2015 by Hellenic Seaways. She was renamed NISSOS SAMOS and she was towed to Perama, where she underwent a major conversion once again. She was deployed on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene-Limnos-Thessaloniki line on the Northeast Aegean Sea during the 2016 season. In 2017, she was deployed on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Santorini line on the Cyclades, where she operated successfully. In 2018, she returned to the Northeast Aegean Sea, being inserted on the Piraeus-Psara-Oinousses-Chios-Mytilene line. In 2025 she was operating on the Piraeus-Psara-Oinousses-Chios-Mytilene-Limnos-Kavala line.

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PHOTOS (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023):