Trip: 8 September 2021. From Antirrion to Rion, with the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV of Feidias NE.
The double-ended ferry AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV was built in 2002 in Greece, for the Salamina-based company Feidias NE. She became the fourth ship to have been built for her company, as well as the second double-ended ferry. Indeed, the first ship of such type to join Feidias NE was the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS III, which was built in 1999 and was sold in 2008 to the Turkish company Şehir Hatları, but she never entered service for them and instead returned to Greece in 2009, having since been known as the AGIOS NIKOLAOS L of Agios Nikolaos Shipping. The AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV began service on the Rion-Antirrion line, where she remained until 2004, following the significant exodus of ferries from the line following the completion of the construction of the Rion-Antirrion Bridge. She then transferred to the Perama-Salamina line, becoming one of the many ferries to operate on the line. In 2017 she was deployed on the North Evoian Gulf, as she was inserted on the Arkitsa-Aidipsos line. She returned to the Perama-Salamina line the following year, and remained there until 2020. In 2021 she returned to the Rion-Antirrion line, before returning to the Perama-Salamina line for a third time in 2022. She operates under the Salamina Ferries joint venture.
The AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV has been one of the many double-ended ferries that have operated across many short-distance services of the Greek coastal service, and she has notably been a well-known ship in Salamina, which she has served for most of her career. She has been operating under a small family-owned company which has been in the Greek ferry business for 60 years, having deployed two landing craft and two double-ended ferries throughout its history. The two landing craft, the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS (built in 1962 and sold in 1997, eventually sank in Perama in 2009 and was ultimately demolished in 2014) and the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS II (built in 1965 and sold in 2001, eventually sank as the MARIE GALANTE 1 in Guadeloupe) both spent 35 years on the Perama-Salamina line and helped the company in remaining stable in the Greek coastal service. After both landing craft had to be retired as a result of the mandatory age cap that existed for such ships at the time, Feidias NE was eventually able to modernise its fleet through two double-ended ferries, with the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV continuing to provide reliable service even to date.
After having traveled on the Rion Strait for the first time in my life on 8 September 2021, whereupon I sailed onboard the ORION III of Farmakoris-Villiotis NE from Rion to Antirrion, it was now time for me to make the return trip to the Peloponnese, as I then planned to go to Patras in order to see the ships that were docked there. As seen in the previous post, the other double-ended ferry that happened to be in the port of Antirrion was the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV, on which I proceeded to embark onboard. My trip with her my second-ever trip across the Rion Strait (after having completed my first one just minutes prior to my embarkation), my first-ever trip from Western mainland Greece to the Peloponnese, and the first-ever trip with a ship of Feidias NE. Information regarding the history of the Rion-Antirrion line was already provided in the previous post, therefore I will immediately proceed to showing you the pictures that I took during my trip with the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV.
A view of the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV in Antirrion. This was her first season on the Rion-Antirrion line since 2004, back when her company moved her to the Perama-Salamina following the opening of the Rion-Antirrion Bridge. Her second stint on the Rion-Antirrion line proved to be short, as she once again returned to the Perama-Salamina line in 2022.
The AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV seen right before I proceeded to embark onboard her.
A view of the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV right upon embarkation. Like most double-ended ferries, she has a wide open garage, which passes under her accommodation superstructure. She also has side ramps which allow the passengers to take the staircases that lead to the accommodation superstructure. Moreover, just like most Greek-built double-ended ferries, her accommodation superstructure has three decks. The lower one features the indoor lounge area for passengers, the middle one has the crew cabins and outdoor areas for passengers, while the upper one has the ship's bridge. Over the ship's garage, one can spot the flag of the European Union, which is a recognisable feature onboard the ship.
A view of the port side alley in the lower deck of the ship's accommodation superstructure. Right next to it is the indoor lounge area.
A view of the indoor lounge area found in the lower deck of the ship's accommodation superstructure. Unlike that of the ORION III which was more modern, this one features old-school dark blue lounge seats, with several wooden tables attached to the floor.
Another view of the ship's indoor lounge area, which also has a small white cabin that serves as the ship's reception desk.
The dark blue lounge seats of the indoor lounge area seen once again.
I then headed to the middle deck of the shop's accommodation superstructure. There, I saw the outdoor area of the deck, which has several grey wooden benches attached to the floor and facing each other.
Another view of the benches found in the middle deck of the ship's accommodation superstructure.
A view of the upper deck of the ship's accommodation superstructure, which has the ship's bridge.
Right next to the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV was the ORION III of Farmakoris-Villiotis NE, which was spending the first season of her career on the Rion-Antirrion line. Built in 2018 in Greece, she spent her first season on the Perama-Salamina line. She moved to the Megara-Salamina line in 2019, while in 2020 she once again returned to the Perama-Salamina, before being deployed on the Rion-Antirrion line in 2021.
At about 13:25, I ended my very short stay in Antirrion, as the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV left the port in order to head to Rion. Here is another view of the ORION III, on which I happened to be onboard just five minutes before taking this picture, as I traveled with her from Rion to Antirrion.
The ORION III seen resting in the port of Antirrion.
The ORION III seen in the port of Antirrion. Just like the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV, she returned to the Perama-Salamina line following the completion of the 2021 season.
The ORION III was seen in Antirrion alongside the landing craft NIKOLAOS A of Anatoliotakis NE, which is one of the two landing craft that served the Rion-Antirrion line during the 2021 season.
The NIKOLAOS A seen alongside the ORION III in the port of Antirrion. While the latter was spending the first season of her career on the Rion-Antirrion line, the former was completing her twentieth consecutive season on that same service. Indeed, she has been operating there since 2002. Before that, she had spent the first 23 years of her career on the Preveza-Aktion line on the Ambracian Gulf. However, after the completion of the Preveza-Aktion Undersea Tunnel in 2002, the ship moved to the Rion-Antirrion line. As of today, she is the last landing craft to operate there, with the remaining ships being double-ended ferries.
While the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV was sailing towards Rion, the double-ended ferry MICHAIL N of Nikolaïdis NE was heading towards the opposite direction.
The MICHAIL N seen heading towards Antirrion, after having left the port of Rion. Built in 2018 in Greece, she was also spending her debut season on the Rion-Antirrion line.
A view of the Rion-Antirrion Bridge, officially known as the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge, dominating the Rion Strait. As also stated in the previous post, it opened in 2004, and has played a vital role in the connection of the regional units of Achaïa (in the Peloponnese) and Aetolia-Acarnania (in Western mainland Greece). Underneath it, one can spot the double-ended ferry KONSTANTINOS K of Salaminia Ferries-K Star, which was docked in Rion.
Another view of the Rion-Antirrion Bridge, with the port of Rion also clearly visible.
The MICHAIL N seen sailing on the Rion Strait, while heading from Rion to Antirrion. She spent the first three seasons of her career on the Perama-Salamina line, before moving to the Rion-Antirrion line in 2021.
The MICHAIL N seen making her way towards Antirrion. She was initially ordered in 2017 by the Salamina-based company Sofras NE as the EVANGELOS S. Shortly before her construction began, her rights were sold to the Salamina-based company Nikolaïdis NE, and she was renamed MICHAIL N. She is the second ship in the history of the company to bear that name, with the first one having been a double-ended ferry that operated for Nikolaïdis NE from 2002 until 2016. That year, that ship was sold to the Turkish company Şehir Hatları, for whom she has been operating as the ŞH ERGUVAN on the İstinye-Çubuklu line on the Bosporus Strait since 2017.
A view of the MICHAIL N, as she is seen sailing from Rion to Antirrion.
The impressive MICHAIL N seen heading towards Antirrion. She is one of the two double-ended ferries that operate for Nikolaïdis NE, with the other one being the STAVROS N. That ship was built in 2017 and serves the Perama-Salamina line.
Crossing the MICHAIL N as she makes her way to the port of Antirrion.
The MICHAIL N spotted on the Rion Strait, while heading from Rion to Antirrion.
Crossing the MICHAIL N on the Rion Strait, during her first season on the Rion-Antirrion line, and during the fourth season of career.
Another view of the MICHAIL N while she sails from Rion to Antirrion. Since her company began operations in 1991, she has been the fifth double-ended ferry to join it. Besides the original MICHAIL N and the STAVROS N, the company also operated the AGIOS LAVRENTIOS (built in 2010, sold in 2015) and the AGIOS LAVRENTIOS II (built in 2015, sold in 2016) during the first part of the 2010s. The ex-AGIOS LAVRENTIOS joined the Russian company Oboronlogistics LLC, and operated on the Kavkaz-Port Krym line on the Kerch Strait as the LAVRENTIY until she was laid-up in Kerch in 2018, following the opening of the Crimean Bridge. The ex-AGIOS LAVRENTIOS II, on the contrary, has headed to the other side of the world, as she operates for the Chilean company Naviera Austral as the AGIOS on the Puerto Montt-Ayacara-Chaitén-Castro line on the Corcovado Gulf.
The MICHAIL N seen once more, on her way towards Antirrion.
Another view of the MICHAIL N, which has been praised as one of the best double-ended ferries of the Greek coastal service.
A final view of the MICHAIL N, while she heads towards the port of Antirrion.
After 10 minutes of sailing, I had a better view of the Western terminal of the port of Rion. There, I saw three ships, namely the landing craft KAPTAN STAVROS of Kaptan Stavros NE, the double-ended ferry PROTOPOROS XIV of Tsokos Lines and the double-ended ferry PROKOPIOS M of Dimitiros P NE.
A view of the KAPTAN STVAROS, a veteran landing craft, alongside the much modern double-ended ferries PROTOPOROS XIV and PROKOPIOS M.
The KAPTAN STAVROS, the PROTOPOROS XIV and the PROKOPIOS M seen docked together in Rion.
The KAPTAN STAVROS, the PROTOPOROS XIV and the PROKOPIOS M seen resting in Rion.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen docked in Rion. She was built in 1979 in Greece, and was one of the two landing craft serving the Rion-Antirrion line during the 2021 season, with the other one being the NIKOLAOS A.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen in Rion next to the much younger and much larger PROTOPOROS XIV, which was built in 2018.
A view of the impressive PROTOPOROS XIV in the port of Rion. She has so far spent her entire career on the Rion-Antirrion line, ever since she was inserted there in 2018.
The PROTOPOROS XIV seen resting in the port of Rion, with the PROKOPIOS M right beside her. Contrary to what her name suggests, she was actually the thirteenth ship to join Tsokos Lines, as the PROTOPOROS XI was only delivered in 2019, hence a year after the PROTOPOROS XIV.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen in Rion, during her twelfth consecutive season on the Rion-Antirrion line. Before that, she had operated on the North Evoian Gulf for three decades, serving the Arkitsa-Aidipsos line from 1979 to 2007 and then the Glyfa-Agiokampos line from 2007 to 2009.
Another view of the PROTOPOROS XIV, which is one of the four ferries that are part of the current fleet of Tsokos Lines.
The PROTOPOROS XIV seen docked in Rion. When she entered service on the Rion-Antirrion line in 2018, she succeeded the PROTOPOROS VIII (built in 2016), which had been deployed there during the 2017 season. However, after that season ended, the ship was sold to Thassian Sea Lines, for whom she has been operating on the Keramoti-Thassos line as the DIMITRIOS CH.
The PROTOPOROS XIV seen docked in the port of Rion.
The KAPTAN STVAROS seen in Rion, just before her departure for Antirrion.
Another view of the veteran ferry KAPTAN STAVROS. Since 2022, she has been deployed on the Megara-Salamina, hence becoming the fourth ship to be deployed there.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen in the port of Rion, which she has served for more than a decade. After the NIKOLAOS A, she was the ship with the most experience on the Rion-Antirrion line.
Another view of the impressive PROTOPOROS XIV, as we are about to dock in the port of Rion.
The PROTOPOROS XIV seen docked in the port of Rion. Since 2022, the PROTOPOROS XI has joined her on the Rion-Antirrion line. Therefore, two ships of Tsokos Lines are expected to operate there this year.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen departing the port of Rion, right as the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV is about to dock.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in order to leave the port of Rion.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen as she completes her maneuvering procedure in order to leave Rion.
Another view of the PROTOPOROS XIV while she is resting in the port of Rion.
The PROTOPOROS XIV seen resting in Rion. She is the second largest ferry of Tsokos Lines, as she is slightly smaller than the PROTOPOROS X. The latter is the flagship of the company.
Another view of the PROTOPOROS XIV, which also happens to be the largest ferry to serve the Rion-Antirrion line.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen having almost completed her maneuvering procedure in order to head to Antirrion.
The KAPTAN STAVROS having finished her maneuvering and procedure, and now heading from Rion to Antirrion.
Another view of the PROTOPOROS XIV while she is moored in the port of Rion.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen making her way towards the port of Antirrion, after having left Rion.
Another view of the KAPTAN STAVROS while she is seen sailing from Rion to Antirrion.
The KAPTAN STAVROS, known for her all-white livery which reminds many of the landing craft that operated throughout the second half of the 20th century in Greece, seen leaving Rion.
Towards 13:45, we went on to dock in the port of Rion, next to the PROTOPOROS XIV.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen once more, as she sails on the Rion Strait in order to reach the port of Antirrrion.
The KAPTAN STAVROS seen after having left the port of Rion, during her final days on the Rion-Antirrion line, as she is now operating on the Megara-Salamina line.
One last view of the KAPTAN STAVROS, as she sails towards Antirrion.
I proceeded to disembark from the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV after I had arrived in Rion. Here is another picture of the impressive PROTOPOROS XIV.
One last view of the PROTOPOROS XIV in the port of Rion.
Here is the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV right after she had arrived in Rion, hence marking the end of my trip.
The AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV seen in the port of Rion, right after finishing her trip from Antirrion.
A view of the PROKOPIOS M, which has spending her second season on the Rion-Antirrion line. She had also operated there in 2014. Besides these three seasons, she has spent her entire career on the Perama-Salamina line.
A final view of the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV in Rion. She has since resumed service on the Perama-Salamina line, after her lone season on the Rion-Antirrion line.
This therefore concludes my post regarding the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV, along with my coverage of the visit that I had on the Rion Strait on 8 September 2021. It was a great experience for me, as I traveled along an important service of the Greek coastal service, and I also had the chance to see some well-known Greek ferries for the first time in my life, and I also had the opportunity to spot double-ended ferries that I had seen multiple times in Salamina in another setting. Having the opportunity to sail alongside the impressive Rion-Antirrion Bridge is truly a unique experience, and I was happy to make the return trip with the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV. Despite her simplicity and having typical amenities for a double-ended ferry, she performed her duty very well, just like she has done so while operating on the Perama-Salamina line. After leaving Rion, I headed back to Patras, where I saw the Ro-Pax ferry SUPERFAST I of Superfast Ferries and the cruiseferry OLYMPIC CHAMPION of ANEK Lines, which operate on the Adriatic Sea. This therefore ended a very special day for me, as I was able to take pictures in three ports that I rarely visit during my summer stays in Greece. But now, I know that I will return there over the next summer, if my schedule allows it.
Bonus picture: the SUPERFAST I of Superfast Ferries seen docked in the port of Patras. Built in 2008, she has spent her entire career so far on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Bari line on the Adriatic Sea.
Another bonus picture: the OLYMPIC CHAMPION of ANEK Lines is seen arriving in the port of Patras after having sailed from Igoumenitsa. Built in 2000, she is one of the best ships of ANEK Lines, as she is noted for her speed, her very modern and comfortable amenities and the amazing service provided by her crew. She operated on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Ancona line from 2000 to 2010, and has resumed service there since 2015. She also operated on the Piraeus-Heraklion line between 2011 and 2013, while also being deployed on the Piraeus-Chania line in 2014. I have traveled with her on four different occasions, with the most recent one being on 25-26 August 2018, while heading from Patras to Ancona.
These were two bonus pictures featuring two incredible ships that I got to see in the port of Patras shortly after finishing my trip with the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV. You can see more pictures of these two ferries in their respective pages in the Gallery. With that, I had yet another memorable day in terms of shipspotting in Greece.
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