SUPERFAST III (ΣΟΥΠΕΡΦΑΣΤ ΙΙΙ)
-Superfast Ferries
ex-OLYMPIC CHAMPION (ΟΛΥΜΠΙΚ ΤΣΑΜΠΙΟΝ) of ANEK Lines (2000-2024)
Built in 2000 (age 26). Registered in Chania. Current line: Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona
The cruiseferry SUPERFAST III was one of two sister ships originally ordered by ANEK Lines in 1998. They were initially named KRITI III and KRITI IV respectively, but their names were changed to OLYMPIC CHAMPION and OLYMPIC SPIRIT, respectively, prior to their launching. The former was completed in 2000 in Norway, and she became the new flagship of ANEK Lines, a role that she maintained until the arrival of the ELYROS in 2008. She was briefly deployed on the Piraeus-Chania line before transferring to the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Ancona line on the Adriatic Sea in 2001. There, she was joined by her sister ship, which by that time had been renamed HELLENIC SPIRIT. After 6 years there, the OLYMPIC CHAMPION was briefly sent back to the Piraeus-Chania line to compete with the ARIADNE of Hellenic Seaways following the 2007 summer season. She returned to the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Ancona line in 2008. In 2011 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Heraklion line, under the newly-established ANEK-Attica Group joint venture. She operated on the Piraeus-Chania line in 2014, and she returned to the Adriatic Sea in 2015, again on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Ancona line. In 2019, while departing Igoumenitsa, a fire that began from a lorry that was inside the garage started spreading over the ship, but it was safely extinguished by the crew and she was immediately repaired in Perama. In 2024, after ANEK Lines was taken over by Attica Group, the ship was transferred to Superfast Ferries and she was renamed SUPERFAST III following a lengthy refit in Perama. She therefore became the second ship in the history of the company to have that name (after the original SUPERFAST III, which is currently the SPIRIT OF TASMANIA II of the Australian company TT-Line Company Pty Ltd). She remained on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Ancona line. The HELLENIC SPIRIT joined her the following year, having been renamed SUPERFAST IV. In 2026 she underwent a refit in Elefsina, during which she was equipped with an exhaust gas cleaning system (also known as 'scrubbers').
PHOTOS (2012, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024):
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION in Piraeus at sunset (7/2012).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION having just arrived in Patras (8/2018).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION having just arrived in Ancona (8/2018).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen approaching the port of Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen approaching the port of Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen approaching the port of Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION about to arrive in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION about to arrive in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION about to arrive in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen arriving in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen arriving in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen arriving in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION arriving in the port of Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION arriving in the port of Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION arriving in the port of Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION heading towards her docking spot in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION heading towards her docking spot in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION heading towards her docking spot in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen heading towards her docking spot in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen heading towards her docking spot in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen heading towards her docking spot in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION on her way towards her docking spot in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION on her way towards her docking spot in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION on her way towards her docking spot in Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen as she is about to dock in the port of Patras (9/2021).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen resting in the port of Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen resting in the port of Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen resting in the port of Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen while docked in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen while docked in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen while docked in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen arriving in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen arriving in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen arriving in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen as she arrives in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen as she arrives in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION about to undergo her maneuvering procedure in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION about to undergo her maneuvering procedure in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION about to undergo her maneuvering procedure in Igoumenitsa (9/2022).
The OLYMPIC CHAMPION seen in the port of Patras, in what proved to be my final picture of the ship under the livery of ANEK Lines and under her name, as she was transferred in 2024 to Superfast Ferries in order to become the new SUPERFAST III, following 24 successful years with her original owners (10/2022).
My first picture of the ship as the SUPERFAST III, as she is seen having sailed from Perama in order to begin her first sea trials following her major refit under Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having sailed from Perama in order to begin her first sea trials following her major refit under Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having sailed from Perama in order to begin her first sea trials following her major refit under Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having sailed from Perama in order to begin her first sea trials following her major refit under Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having sailed from Perama in order to begin her first sea trials following her major refit, and in anticipation of her return to service under Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having sailed from Perama in order to begin her first sea trials following her major refit, and in anticipation of her return to service under Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having sailed from Perama in order to begin her first sea trials following her major refit, and in anticipation of her return to service under Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and now beginning to sail on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and now beginning to sail on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and now beginning to sail on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and now beginning to sail on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials, in anticipation of her new career on the Adriatic Sea under the livery of Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and now beginning to sail on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials, in anticipation of her new career on the Adriatic Sea under the livery of Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and now beginning to sail on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials, in anticipation of her new career on the Adriatic Sea under the livery of Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and sailing on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and sailing on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and sailing on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen having left Perama and sailing on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials for Superfast Ferries (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen sailing on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen sailing on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials (5/2024).
The SUPERFAST III seen sailing on the Saronic Gulf as part of her sea trials. She would later return to service on the Adriatic Sea for her debut season under Superfast Ferries (5/2024).