Piraeus Visit on 1 July 2015

Just one day after my first visit to the port of Piraeus for 2015, I again went there with my father in order to collect the tickets that we had ordered online for a trip that would see us visiting Santorini. We were planning to head to the beautiful island of the Cyclades with on 7-8 July 2015 with the BLUE STAR PATMOS of Blue Star Ferries and then head back to Piraeus on 12 July 2015 with the CHAMPION JET 1 of Sea Jets. Since we were going to collect the tickets in the ferry company agencies located in the port, my father thought it was a chance for me to see the port's ships and take pictures of them. This post is dedicated to him, for making that day very special and for giving me the chance to enjoy the traffic in Piraeus during that day. We bought the tickets for the trip with the BLUE STAR PATMOS next to the E6 gate, where the ships of Blue Star Ferries usually depart in order to head the Cyclades. After exiting the agency, we went to see the ships located next to that area.

The first ship in sight was one that I had seen the previous day, namely the laid-up conventional ferry PANAGIA TINOU of Ventouris Sea Lines. Built in 1972 in France, she had previously been operating with much success in the Greek coastal service for more than 20 years, being formerly known as the great APOLLON EXPRESS 2 (also under Ventouris Sea Lines, during the first stint that she had with the latter), before becoming the PANAGIA EKATONTAPYLIANI (for Agapitos Lines and later for Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins, having also sailed as the EXPRESS ARTEMIS during her first season under the latter), and then as the AGIOS GEORGIOS (during her second stint under Ventouris Sea Lines). She was renamed PANAGIA TINOU in early 2015 in order to begin service on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line, but her company's financial difficulties led to her arrest in the E4 gate. During that time, she had been operating, on a temporary basis, on the Piraeus-Gytheion-Kythira-Antikythira-Kissamos line, where she had been operating instead of the ship usually operating there, namely the VITSENTZOS KORNAROS of LANE Sea Lines, which was undergoing her annual refit at the time.

Next to the PANAGIA TINOU was a ship that I saw for the first time since 2006, which was the year during which I traveled with her. My reunion with this ship, however, was under entirely different circumstances. Indeed, back when I traveled with her nine years ago, she was known as the great LEFKA ORI of ANEK Lines and she was operating on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Venice line on the Adriatic Sea. Nine years later, I spotted her as the BLUE GALAXY of Blue Star Ferries and in service on the Piraeus-Chania line, during her first season in Greece since having returned from her failed charter to the South Korean company Jeju Cruise Line in 2012. It was obviously a true excitement to see this ship again after such a long time.

Right in front of the BLUE GALAXY was the other ship of Blue Star Ferries operating in Crete, namely the BLUE HORIZON, which is deployed on the Piraeus-Heraklion line. Both ships have been built in Japan, where they also spent the first years of their careers before arriving in Greece in the late 1990s and serving the Adriatic Sea with much success during the 2000s. Both of them are now operating in Crete under the ANEK-Attica Group joint venture.

While looking further down towards the exit of the port, I saw the E3 gate, where I spotted the cruiseferry FESTOS PALACE of Minoan Lines, which also operates on the Piraeus-Heraklion line.

Once a legend, always a legend, despite being laid-up. The PANAGIA TINOU awaits her fate in Piraeus.

The two ships of Blue Star Ferries operating in Crete, namely the BLUE HORIZON and the BLUE GALAXY, seen docked together in Piraeus.

The BLUE GALAXY and the PANAGIA TINOU seen together in Piraeus. The former also happens to be 20 years younger than the latter. Indeed, she was built in the same year during which the PANAGIA TINOU first arrived in Greece, back in 1992. At the time, she had been bought by GA Ferries and she had started operations for them as the ROMILDA until 1993, when she began her first stint under Ventouris Sea Lines as the APOLLON EXPRESS 2.

The BLUE HORIZON and the BLUE GALAXY seen once again in Piraeus. They actually also used to be fleetmates back when they operated in Japan, as they were both owned by Higashi Nihon Ferry. During the 2000s, both ships were prominent competitors on the Adriatic Sea, until they began to experience some misfortunes in the early 2010s, due to their operators wanting to get rid of them. In 2012, both of them had a year to forget, as the BLUE HORIZON, which had been laid-up since 2011, remained off the plans of Blue Star Ferries by being laid-up in Syros, while the BLUE GALAXY (then known as the LEFKA ORI) was chartered by ANEK Lines to the South Korean company Jeju Cruise Line. This charter turned out to be very turbulent and she never entered service in South Korea, due to her charterers being unable to pay the shipyards that were supposed to convert the ship. Fortunately, in 2013, the BLUE HORIZON was reactivated by Blue Star Ferries on the Piraeus-Santorini-Kos-Rhodes line, while the LEFKA ORI returned to Greece in that same year, and she was transferred to Blue Star Ferries in late 2014. Having now reunited under Blue Star Ferries, both ships have now found a permanent role in the Greek coastal service once again, this time by connecting Piraeus with Crete.

While I was observing the BLUE GALAXY and the BLUE HORIZON, I saw another ship of Blue Star Ferries which had just entered the port and which was ready to dock. It was the youngest member of the fleet, namely the BLUE STAR PATMOS. This was a notable moment, as I managed to see her for the first time in my life after failing to do so from 2012 to 2014.

The great FESTOS PALACE resting in the E3 gate. Built in 2001 in Italy, she has spent her entire career on the Piraeus-Heraklion line. She has always been operating in tandem with her fleetmate and sister ship, namely the KNOSSOS PALACE, which had been delivered to the company in 2000.

The BLUE HORIZON seen resting in Piraeus, with the bow of BLUE GALAXY spotted as well. She moved to the Piraeus-Heraklion line in 2014, following her successful stint on the Piraeus-Santorini-Kos-Rhodes line in 2013.

The BLUE GALAXY and the PANAGIA TINOU seen once again in Piraeus.

The BLUE STAR PATMOS ready to pass by the FESTOS PALACE in order to dock in the E7 gate in Piraeus.

The incredible BLUE GALAXY spotted in Piraeus. It was nice to see her again after almost nine years, the last time having been, as I mentioned previously, back when I traveled with her from Patras to Venice in 2006. During her spell on the Adriatic Sea as the LEFKA ORI under ANEK Lines, she operated on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Trieste line from 2000 to 2004, and then on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Venice line from 2005 to 2011, always together with her sister ship, namely the SOPHOCLES V. The latter ship also headed to South Korea in 2012, where she remained laid-up (together with the LEFKA ORI) until her return to Greece in 2013. After spending the 2014 season on charter to the Italian company Go In Sardinia and to the Algerian company Algérie Ferries, she also underwent a major refit in order to be reactivated in the Greek coastal service. This resulted in her resuming service for ANEK Lines, being deployed as the KYDON on the Piraeus-Chania line (where she reunited with her sister ship, although the latter was now with Blue Star Ferries).

The BLUE STAR PATMOS seen as she heads towards her docking spot in Piraeus. Only six days after seeing her for the first time, I found myself traveling onboard her for what was my first-ever trip on the Cyclades. During the 2015 season, she operated on the Cyclades for the first time, as she was on the Piraeus-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Donousa-Amorgos-Ios-Santorini-Anafi-Astypalaia line. Before that, she had spent the first three seasons of her career on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line on the Northeast Aegean Sea.

The BLUE STAR PATMOS seen heading towards her docking spot in Piraeus.

A closer view of the front section of the BLUE STAR PATMOS, which is simply an extremely beautiful and very modern ship. She is seen here just before her maneuvering procedure in Piraeus, after having arrived from the Cyclades.

The BLUE STAR PATMOS seen entering the E7 gate, during her first summer while operating on the Cyclades along with her sister ship, namely the BLUE STAR DELOS (which has been operating there since she was built in 2011).

The BLUE STAR PATMOS preparing to undergo her maneuvering procedure in the E7 gate in Piraeus.

The BLUE HORIZON seen once again, as she is resting in Piraeus. Built in 1987 in Japan, she arrived in Greece in 1998, after having been acquired by Strintzis Lines. After undergoing a conversion in Perama, she was introduced on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Ancona-Venice line on the Adriatic Sea in 1999 as the SUPERFERRY HELLAS. In 2000, Strintzis Lines was acquired by Attica Group, and this led to the formation of Blue Star Ferries, after which the ship was renamed BLUE HORIZON. She operated on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Venice line from 2000 to 2003, after which she moved to the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Bari line, where she stayed until 2009. After spending the 2010 season on the Piraeus-Chania line, she was laid-up in Drapetsona in 2011, and then in Syros in 2012. She was reactivated in 2013 by being deployed on the Piraeus-Santorini-Kos-Rhodes line, and since 2014 she has been operating on the Piraeus-Heraklion line.

The FESTOS PALACE also seen resting in Piraeus. She was planned to leave for Heraklion during the late evening.

The BLUE HORIZON and the BLUE GALAXY spotted together in Piraeus.

Another view of the BLUE GALAXY and of the PANAGIA TINOU together in Piraeus.

While looking even further towards the exit of the port of Piraeus, I saw the cruiseferry ARIADNE of Hellenic Seaways, which was operating on the Piraeus-Samos-Chios-Mytilene-Limnos-Kavala line on the Northeast Aegean Sea.

On the other side of the E7 gate was another ship of Hellenic Seaways, namely the high speed catamaran FLYINGCAT 3, which I had also seen the previous day.

From the E7 gate, we could also see the E9 gate, where ships operating on the Western Cyclades usually depart. There, we saw the conventional ferry ANDREAS KALVOS of Zante Ferries. She was also a ship that I had seen the previous day, and she was still docked due to the same problems concerning her company and the capital controls restrictions as a result of the Greek financial crisis.

The FLYINGCAT 3, which was also operating on the Western Cyclades, was preparing to depart in order to head to her first destination, namely Serifos.

The FLYINGCAT 3 seen from a closer view, with the emphasis on the Cosmote logo, present in all high speed craft of Hellenic Seaways as a part of a sponsorship deal, which began in 2013. Before that, they had been sponsored by the rival company Vodafone, with that partnership having existed back to when the company was known as Hellas Flying Dolphins (from 2002 to 2005).

A view of the bow of the FLYINGCAT 3 in Piraeus. In 2015 she was operating on the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Koufonisi line on the Cyclades. Moreover, in July and August, she made additional trips on the Saronic Gulf, namely on the Piraeus-Hydra-Spetses line, thereby providing extra services on this area for her company.

In case anyone was curious, here is what the bottom of the hull of a catamaran looks like, as seen with that of the FLYINGCAT 3.

After collecting the tickets for the trip with the BLUE STAR PATMOS, we then had to get those for the trip with the CHAMPION JET 1. This required us to head to the ticket agency of Sea Jets, which is located in the E9 gate. This meant that we had to walk through the E8 gate, which is the departure gate for the ships that operate on the Saronic Gulf. The first ship that I saw there was the conventional ferry IONIS of Tyrogalas Ferries (and operating under the Ionis Ferries brandname). This year marked her first season on the Saronic Gulf, whereupon she was deployed on the Piraeus-Aegina-Methana-Poros line. She became the first-ever ship that I saw in my life having operated on both islands I go to every summer, these being Zakynthos (where she had been operating from 1993 to 2015) and Aegina (since 2015).

The starboard side funnel of the IONIS, which features the well-known logo of Tyrogalas Ferries, which has owned the ship since 1993. The Ionis Ferries brandname was used for the first time in 2015, when the ship transferred from the Ionian Sea to the Saronic Gulf.

Another ferry operating on the Saronic Gulf, namely the double-ended ACHAEOS of 2way Ferries, seen during her second straight season on the Saronic Gulf. Built in 2006 in Greece, she has been operating on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri line since 2014. I had notably traveled with her twice during that year, heading from Piraeus to Aegina on 21 July 2014 and then from Aegina back to Piraeus on 2 August 2014.

Next to her was another ship that is well-known on the Saronic Gulf, namely the PHIVOS of Nova Ferries. I had also seen this ferry the previous day, and two days later I was onboard her in order to go to Aegina in order to prepare for my summer vacation.

Between the ACHAEOS and the PHIVOS, I saw the high speed ferry MASTER JET of Sea Jets, which had just returned to Piraeus and was ready to undergo her maneuvering procedure in the E9 gate. Incredibly, she became the first-ever ship of Sea Jets that I saw in my life.

Next to the PHIVOS, I spotted the small passenger ship ELENA F of Elena F Shipping. Built in 1998 in Greece, she operates on the Piraeus-Salamina line, where she has spent the majority of her career.

In the corner of the E8 gate is the departure point of the hydrofoils that operate on the Saronic Gulf. There, I saw the FLYING DOLPHIN XXIX and the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII (both owned by Hellenic Seaways), and the FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA of Aegean Flying Dolphins.

Another small passenger ship operating on the Piraeus-Salamina line, namely the GEORGIOS BROUFAS II of Broufas Vessels, seen docked next to the ELENA F. She was also built in 1998 in Greece, and she has spent her entire career on the Piraeus-Salamina line, operating alongside her fleetmate and sister ship, namely the GEORGIOS BROUFAS (which was built in 1997).

The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen departing Piraeus for Aegina. Built in 1984 in Georgia (then still part of the Soviet Union), she began her career on the Sporades under Ceres Flying Dolphins, and she spent 21 years there. After also operating there under Minoan Flying Dolphins and later under Hellas Flying Dolphins, she was deployed on the Saronic Gulf in 2005, being inserted on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porto Cheli line.

The FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA, which was the hydrofoil on which I traveled two days after taking this picture, on my return to Piraeus from Aegina. Owned by Aegean Flying Dolphins since 2010, she has been operating on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri line since 2011.

The MASTER JET seen docking in Piraeus. Built in 1991 in Australia, she began service with Sea Jets in 2012. When I took this picture, she was completing what was initially believed to be her last day in service on the Piraeus-Sifnos-Milos-Folegandros-Ios-Santorini line, as the following day she was replaced by the CHAMPION JET 1, while the latter was being replaced by the CHAMPION JET 2 on the Piraeus-Mykonos-Naxos-Santorini line in light of her first-ever day of service in the Greek coastal service. The MASTER JET would eventually return to the Piraeus-Sifnos-Milos-Folegandros-Ios-Santorini line after the CHAMPION JET 1 experienced some technical issues in August 2015.

The FLYINGCAT 3, in the meantime, was seen leaving Piraeus for the Western Cyclades (namely Serifos, Sifnos and Koufonisi, although the latter is part of the Lesser Cyclades).

The MASTER JET seen docking in the E9 gate. When she began service for Sea Jets in 2012, she was deployed on the Heraklion-Rethymnon-Santorini line, where she operated for two seasons. In 2014, she had operated successfully on the Piraeus-Tinos-Mykonos-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line, while in 2015 she was used across all the services of her company on the Cyclades, replacing any of her fleetmates that were still being prepared or that had technical issues during the summer.

The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen leaving Piraeus as well. She was heading towards Aegina.

The GEORGIOS BROUFAS II was also leaving for her sole destination, namely the island of Salamina (serving the ports of Kamatero and Paloukia).

A nice view of the traffic in Piraeus as seen from the E8 gate. It shows two ships leaving the port (namely the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII and the GEORGIOS BROUFAS II) and one about to dock (namely the MASTER JET), while the other three (namely the ANDREAS KALVOS, the FESTOS PALACE and the PHIVOS) are already docked.

The FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII seen departing the port of Piraeus, whereas the MASTER JET is seen docking in the E9 gate.

The MASTER JET is docking, while the GEORGIOS BROUFAS II and the FLYINGCAT 3 are leaving the port. The bow of the PHIVOS can also be seen, along with the ARIADNE and the FESTOS PALACE in the background.

While the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII was seen leaving Piraeus, her fleetmate and sister ship, namely the FLYING DOLPHIN XVII (which had just arrived from Aegina), was ready to dock in her place.

The great PHIVOS of Nova Ferries seen in Piraeus. Built in 1980 in Spain, she has been operating on the Saronic Gulf since 2005, and since 2014 she has been serving the Piraeus-Aegina-Methana-Poros line, after the Saronic Ferries joint venture (which includes Nova Ferries, 2way Ferries and Hellenic Seaways) was established.

The MASTER JET seen docking in Piraeus. After her service was taken over by the CHAMPION JET 1, she spent a month on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line, which was the line on which the newly-acquired PAROS JET was due to operate during the summer, but delays during her conversion meant that she was only ready to operate in August. Therefore, the MASTER JET spent a significant part of the summer season on that service.

The FLYING DOLPHIN XVII and her crew ready to undergo their docking procedure in Piraeus. Just like the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII, the FLYING DOLPHIN XVII was built in 1984 in Georgia (then still part of the Soviet Union), and she spent the first 25 years of her career under Ceres Flying Dolphins, before the latter was absorbed by Minoan Flying Dolphins in 1999. She would operate under the latter even after it became Hellas Flying Dolphins in 2002, before being rebranded as Hellenic Seaways in 2005. Since the retirement of the FLYING DOLPHIN XIX in 2012, both the FLYING DOLPHIN XVII and the FLYING DOLPHIN XVIII are the oldest active hydrofoils of Hellenic Seaways. The only other hydrofoil of the company, namely the FLYING DOLPHIN XXIX, is the youngest ship of her type in Greece, having been built in 1993.

One last picture of the FESTOS PALACE along with the PHIVOS, the ELENA F and the FLYING DOLPHIN XXIX, as they are all seen resting in Piraeus.

After taking all these pictures, my father and me managed to collect the tickets for our planned trip with the CHAMPION JET 1, after which we headed back to our home in Athens. Overall, seeing all these ships during that afternoon was a real treat, as I had now visited the port for the second day in a row. It was a nice experience, as I got to see several familiar faces, while also seeing the BLUE STAR PATMOS and the MASTER JET (and a ship of Sea Jets altogether) for the first time. I was also happy to have had the chance to spot the BLUE GALAXY for the first time since I had traveled with her back in 2006, back when she was operating under a different name, under a different company and on a different service. All in all, I was grateful to see all ships thanks to my father and his wish in letting me see my passion from a closer view.

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