AGIOS GEORGIOS (ΑΓΙΟΣ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ)

-Creta Cargo Lines

ex-OLYMPUS (ΟΛΥΜΠΟΥΣ) for Sea Speed Ferries (2018-2023)

Built in 1976 (age 48). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: Piraeus-Santorini-Heraklion-Chania

 

The veteran Ro-Pax ferry AGIOS GEORGIOS was built in 1976 in Japan, as the OKUDOGO 3 for the Japanese company Ehime-Hanshin Ferry. She was introduced on the Kobe-Imabari line, where she went on to operate for 22 years as a cruiseferry. She was sold in 1998 to the Greek company Med Link Lines, was converted into a Ro-Pax ferry in Perama, and was renamed MARIA G. She was inserted on the Patras-Brindisi line on the Adriatic Sea. In 1999 she operated on the Brindisi-Patras-Çeşme line, while in 2000 she was deployed on the Patras-Kefalonia-Igoumenitsa-Brindisi line. Following the closure of Med Link Lines in 2004, the MARIA G was sold to the newly-established company Endeavor Lines. She was renamed ELLI T, and, before entering service for her new owners, she was chartered to her former competitors, the Italian-Greek company Maritime Way, continuing her operations on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Brindisi line. In 2006, after Maritime Way also ceased operations, she returned under the management of Endeavor Lines, was registered in Piraeus (after having previously been registered in Valletta). She underwent a small conversion in Turkey, and entered service again on the Patras-Kefalonia-Igoumenitsa-Brindisi line. In 2008 she was moved to the Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Brindisi line, where she also remained in 2009. In 2010 she operated on the Patras-Kefalonia-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Brindisi line. In 2011, following the sale of her former fleetmate, the EROTOKRITOS T, she once again returned to service on the Patras-Kefalonia-Igoumenitsa-Brindisi line, after having also been reflagged to Cyprus and registered in Limassol. Ahead of the 2012 season, which was eventually the last for her company which later shut down operations, she was sold to the newly-established Rethymnon-based company Cretan Lines. After a delayed refit, she operated on the Aegean Sea for the first time in her career, as she was deployed on the Piraeus-Rethymnon line, becoming the first ship to operate on that line since 2007. However, after just two months of service, she suffered a major engine failure, which kept her out of service in Drapetsona. Cretan Lines were unable to afford her repairs, and, as a result left their service abandoned and ceased operations. The ELLIT T was then moved to Salamina in 2013, where she remained laid-up for five years. In 2019 she was sold to the newly-established company Sea Speed Ferries, was repaired in Salamina and then in Drapetsona, and was renamed OLYMPUS. She was deployed on the Piraeus-Milos-Santorini-Rethymnon line. On her very first day of service, however, she grounded off in Aspronisi while heading towards Santorini, but managed to dock in the latter island. She was then towed to Syros, where she was repaired, and she resumed service at the end of the year. Following her return, she was often at the center of much criticism, due to various engine failures, delayed and canceled services. In 2021 she was inserted on the Piraeus-Sifnos-Milos-Thirassia-Santorini-Anafi line. In 2022 she was supposed to take over the Kasos-Karpathos lifeline and operate on the Piraeus-Milos-Santorini-Anafi-Heraklion-Siteia-Kasos-Karpathos-Chalki-Rhodes line, but she was not ready in time and as a result her company was stripped of the service. As a result she was laid-up in Piraeus. Sea Speed Ferries eventually ceased operations and looked to sell the ship. She was ultimately bought in auction by Creta Cargo Lines in 2023. She was renamed AGIOS GEORGIOS, underwent a refit in Salamina, and began freight services on the Piraeus-Santorini-Heraklion line.

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PHOTOS (2020, 2021):