Trip: 28 July 2019. From Salamina to Perama, with the DIMITRIOS P of Dimitrios P NE.
The double-ended ferry DIMITRIOS P was built in 2000 in Greece, for the Salamina-based company Dimitrios P NE. She was delivered shortly after her sister ship and fleetmate, the TELAMON. She is the fifth double-ended ferry in the history of the Greek coastal service to be built. Indeed, she had been preceded by the conventional double-ended ferry POSIDON HELLAS of 2way Ferries and the SALAMINIA of Salaminia Ferries-K Star (currently the LIDO DI VENEZIA of Italian company ACT Ferries, since 2010), both built in 1998, and then by the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS III of Feidias NE (built in 1999, owned since 2009 by Agios Nikolaos Shipping and known as the AGIOS NIKOLAOS L) and the TELAMON (also built in 2000). She has spent her entire career on the Perama-Salamina line. In 2007 and 2008, she would occasionally make trips from Perama to Aegina while transporting additional cargo trucks to the latter island. Besides her and the TELAMON, Dimitrios P NE also owns the double-ended ferry PROKOPIOS M, which was delivered three years after the former two, in 2003. All three ships are part of the Salamina Ferries joint venture, which is one of the two main joint ventures of double-ended ferries primarily based on the Perama-Salamina line, the other being Agios Nikolaos Lines.
So this is a quick overview of the DIMITRIOS P, which has been on the Perama-Salamina line for about two decades, being one of the veterans of the line. She has notably been the ship with the most experience on the line, as the TELAMON, although built and deployed there before her, spent a season on the Rion-Antrrion line, back in 2015. Similarly, the AGIOS NIKOLAOS L had some stints on the Rion-Antirrion line, from 2000 to 2004 and in 2015. The DIMITRIOS P has therefore been the sole continuous presence on the Perama-Salamina line for the past 20 years.
After having spent the first part of 28 July 2019 in Spetses, having headed there with the FLYINGCAT 3 of Hellenic Seaways and then returned to Piraeus with her fleetmate, the FLYINGCAT 6, I then spent the late afternoon in Salamina in order to see and photograph various ships serving the island, with these primarily being the double-ended ferries that operate on the Perama-Salamina line. I headed there with the impressive GLYKOFILOUSA VIII of Panagia Glykofilousa NE. Therefore, after having arrived to Salamina with the newest ferry of the line at the time (as she was built in 2019), I was now, coincidentally, leaving the island with the most experienced double-ended ferry serving the line. As I did go to Salamina presumably by car back in 2000 (when I was just one year old), I do not remember whether I had traveled with a ferry operating on the Perama-Salamina line, although this could be a possibility. Therefore, my trip with the DIMITRIOS P was the second one with a ferry on the Perama-Salamina line that I happened to remember. It was also possibly my first-ever trip with a ship of Dimitrios P NE, although there could be a minimal possibility that I traveled with the DIMITRIOS P back in 2000, considering that this was her first summer of service on the line, but I doubt this was the case.
The all-white DIMITRIOS P seen in Salamina, shortly before embarking onboard her. That summer was her twentieth consecutive on the Perama-Salamina line, making her streak on the line the longest one carried-out by a double-ended ferry in the history of the Greek coastal service.
The DIMITRIOS P seen right after having embarked onboard her. Here is a view of the 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. Right above her garage area, one can see her name, written in Greek letters, and in an Ancient Greek font.
Another view of the ship's garage, which passes right underneath her accommodation superstructure.
Here is a view of the lower deck of the accommodation superstructure, which has the ship's indoor lounge area.
The ship's plain indoor lounge area, which features several blue lounges and some walls made out of glass decorating some sections of the room.
The ship's reception desk, seen at the corner of the indoor lounge area.
Here is the port side outdoor alley of the DIMITRIOS P, which leads passengers from one side of the ship to the other.
The middle deck of the ship's accommodation superstructure, which is known to feature the crew's cabins. The outdoor section of the deck features a few small wooden benches available for passengers.
The ship's garage seen from the middle deck of the accommodation superstructure, while also displaying her foremast (there is one at the other side of the ship, from which the ferry was loading passengers during that trip). It was already completely full as there were several passengers returning from Salamina to Athens as it was already 18:15.
From the port of Paloukia in Salamina, I saw the double-ended ferry SALAMINOMACHOS of Salaminomachos Lines, which was seen heading towards Perama.
Next to the DIMITRIOS P, I spotted her fleetmate and sister ship, the TELAMON, which was docked in Salamina.
And, under a matter of coincidence, her other fleetmate, the PROKOPIOS M, was docked at the other side. Therefore, all three Dimitrios P NE ferries were docked together, the one next to the other, in Salamina.
The TELAMON seen Salamina as the DIMITRIOS P has already departed for Perama. Built in 2000, just a few months before the DIMITRIOS P, she has been operating on the Perama-Salamina line for her entire career, except during the 2015 season when she was deployed on the Rion-Antirrion line. Furthermore, at the start of the 2016 season, she was also briefly used as a floating bridge connecting Epirus with Lefkada on the Ionian Sea, as the regular floating bridge (known as the AGIA MAVRA) was undergoing her refit.
Another view of the PROKOPIOS M. She was built three years after the TELAMON and the DIMITRIOS P. Just like them, she has spent the bulk of her career on the Perama-Salamina line, operating there from 2003 to 2013 and from 2015 to 2019. She was deployed on the Rion-Antirrion line in 2014, and has returned there in order to serve it during the 2020 season.
Next to the TELAMON was the double-ended ferry ELENA A of Agios Fanourios Ferries. Built in 2009, she has also spent her entire career on the Perama-Salamina line.
The ELENA A docked in Salamina, in her eleventh season in a row on the Perama-Salamina line.
Besides the PROKOPIOS M, I spotted the two sister ships of Panagia Glykofilousa NE, both built in 2017: the GLYKOFILOUSA V and the GLYKOFILOUSA IV.
The impressive GLYKOFILOUSA V, which was operating on the Perama-Salamina line for the third season in a row.
And next to her was her sister ship and fleetmate, the GLYKOFILOUSA IV, which was also serving the Perama-Salamina line for the third straight season.
The two fleetmates of the DIMITRIOS P, the TELAMON and the PROKOPIOS M, seen together in Salamina.
While the DIMITRIOS P began to leave Salamina, the THEOLOGOS V II of Evia Ferries was seen arriving from Perama.
The THEOLOGOS V II seen heading from Perama to Salamina. She was built in 2018, a year after her sister ship and fleetmate, the PANAGIOTIS D.
Another view of the ELENA A.
Six double-ended ferries seen together in Salamina: the TELAMON and the PROKOPIOS M of Dimitrios P NE, the GLYKOFILOUSA V of Panagia Glykofilousa NE, the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV of Feidias NE, the GLYKOFILOUSA IV of Panagia Glykofilousa NE and the APOSTOLOS M of Athinais Lines.
The THEOLOGOS V II heading towards Salamina. She is the fourth ship in the history of the company to be named after one of its co-owners: Theologos Vassiliadis. The three previous ships were all named THEOLOGOS V, and operated under three different stints before being sold overseas. The first THEOLOGOS V was built in 2005 and operated from 2005 to 2008, before being sold to Croatian company Jadrolinija, where she still operates as the ILOVIK. The second THEOLOGOS V was built in 2009 and operated from 2009 to 2014, before being sold to Brazilian company Internacional Travessias, where she still operates as the ZUMBI DOS PALMARES. Finally, the third THEOLOGOS V was built in 2016 and operated for just one year before being sold in 2017 to Tunisian company Sonatrak, for whom she now operates as the HABIB ACHOUR. She was replaced a year later by the current THEOLOGOS V II.
In Salamina, next to the ELENA A, I managed to spot the IOANNIS SOPHIA K, which is owned by Karnesis-Lalousis NE. She was built in 2016, and has served the Perama-Salamina line and the Rion-Antirrion line (the latter only in 2018).
One last view of the THEOLOGOS V II as she is about to arrive in Salamina.
As the DIMITRIOS P began to head towards Perama, the small port of Kamatero in Salamina could now be clearly seen. There, I spotted, just like it was the case with my trip with the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII, the landing craft POSEIDONAS, formerly owned by Farmakoris-Villiotis NE. After her failed sale overseas in late 2018, she spent the entire 2019 season laid-up in Salamina. However, she is now due to return to service, as she was acquired by Saronic Ferries in order to be deployed on the Saronic Gulf as the ANTIGONE. She is currently undergoing her conversion in Perama.
The next ship that I got to see was a familiar face. Indeed, it was the ANNA MARIA of Gavanozis Shipping, which was operating on the Perama-Salamina line for the first time since 2017.
Built in 2009 as the second double-ended ferry in the history of Gavanozis Shipping, the ANNA MARIA was initially deployed on the Oropos-Eretria line on the South Evoian Gulf, where she remained from 2009 to 2014. In 2015 she was deployed on the Perama-Salamina line, but returned to the Oropos-Eretria line in 2016, before heading back to the Perama-Salamina line the following year. In 2018, she once again returned to the Oropos-Eretria line, before heading once more to the Perama-Salamina line 2019. She is now back on the Oropos-Eretria line.
Crossing the ANNA MARIA as she heads from Perama to Salamina. I notably traveled onboard her on 21 July 2018, hence exactly one year and one week before my trip with the DIMITRIOS P, while heading from Oropos to Eretria for the first time in my life.
The ANNA MARIA seen heading towards Salamina, in what was her third season on the Perama-Salamina line, having also been there in 2015 and in 2017.
The impressive ANNA MARIA en route towards Salamina.
One last view of the ANNA MARIA as she is seen heading from Perama to Salamina. She is now back on the Oropos-Eretria line, having returned there for the first time since 2018.
While the DIMITRIOS P was seen approaching the port of Perama towards 18:25, the SALAMINOMACHOS, which had left a few minutes earlier, was about to dock in the port.
In the meantime, as the SALAMINOMACHOS was approaching the port of Perama, the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII of Panagia Glykofilousa NE was seen departing the port in order to head towards Salamina.
The environmentally-friendly GLYKOFILOUSA VIII seen heading towards Salamina, during the first summer of her career. I had traveled with her while heading from Perama to Salamina just a few hours before my trip with the DIMITRIOS P.
The GLYKOFILOUSA VIII on her way towards Salamina, in the first season of her career.
The impressive GLYKOFILOUSA VIII, whose amenities include automated engines consuming low amounts of sulphur, interior and exterior furnishing made out of wood coming from the Agion Oros area, and also dozens of plants and trees in both indoor and outdoor areas.
The GLYKOFILOUSA VIII seen right after having left Perama. Her ecological amenities are part of the 'Think Green' campaign, whose logo she has on both sides of her hull.
The GLYKOFILOUSA VIII on her way towards Salamina.
As the DIMITRIOS P began to approach the port of Perama, I noticed three double-ended ferries: the PROTOPOROS X of Tsokos Lines, the SALAMINOMACHOS and the FANEROMENI of Panagia Faneromeni, as well as the high speed trimaran SUPERSPEED of Golden Star Ferries, which was laid-up following her engine failure which cut her 2019 summer season short.
The impressive PROTOPOROS X was built in 2017, and has spent her entire career on the Perama-Salamina line so far.
Another view of the PROTOPOROS X, in the exact same spot where I had seen her a few hours earlier, when I departed the port of Perama to head towards Salamina with the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII.
The FANEROMENI seen in Perama. Coincidentally, she was also a former ferry of Tsokos Lines, as she was the latter's first-ever ferry. Indeed, she was built in 2004 for them, as the PROTOPOROS, and was deployed initially on the Oropos-Eretria line on the South Evoian Gulf. She remained under them until 2010, when she was sold to Panagia Faneromeni. She has since been on the Perama-Salamina line (2010-2011, and since late 2014), while having also served the Megara-Salamina line from 2012 to 2014.
The PROTOPOROS X and the SALAMINOMACHOS seen together in Perama.
Another view of the PROTOPOROS X, with the SALAMINOMACHOS seen right next to her.
The SALAMINOMACHOS seen as the DIMITRIOS P is about to dock in Perama. She is now also on the Rion-Antirrion line ahead of the 2020 season.
Just as the DIMITRIOS P was docking in Perama, the FANEROMENI departed the port in order to head towards Salamina.
Right after the DIMITRIOS P had docked in Perama, I disembarked, thus ending my trip with her. Just a few seconds after her arrival, I immediately noticed a famed Greek coastal service veteran. Indeed, it was the landing craft EIRINI K of Kipreos Cargo Lines, which operates as a Ro-Ro carrier across the Aegean Sea. She was built in 1966, and has had an adventurous career across the Greek waters.
The EIRINI K was seen heading towards Elefsina, after having returned from the Aegean Sea ports that she serves. Indeed, she operates on the Elefsina-Lavrion-Marmari-Karystos-Kea-Mykonos-Naxos-Santorini line since she underwent her latest conversion in Perama in 2018. Before that, she spent the early part of her career as the AGIOS NIKOLAOS of Hermes Shipping Company on the Rafina-Marmari-Karystos line (1966-1980) and then on the Rion-Antirrion line (1980-2001). She was then sold to Kelessidis-Koukianakis Shipping in 2001. She was deployed as Ro-Ro carrier on the Saronic Gulf in 2002, serving the Elefsina-Aegina-Agistri-Poros-Hydra line together with the fellow landing craft AGIOS KONSTANTINOS (known as the IGOR of Guinean company Manoir Shipping Limited since 2007). In 2004 she operated solely on the Elefsina-Aegina line, and was withdrawn from service in late 2005. She was laid-up in Elefsina, remaining there for the next four years, until 2009, when she was sold to the Kalymnos-based company Kipreos Cargo Lines, and she was renamed EIRINI K. Since then, she has been operating as a Ro-Ro carrier across the Aegean Sea, being inserted on the Elefsina-Kea-Santorini-Ikaria-Fournoi-Samos-Chios-Kalymnos-Kos-Nisyros-Tilos-Rhodes-Heraklion-Rethymnon line from 2010 to 2014, then on the Elefsina-Lavrion-Agios Georgios line from 2015 to 2016, on the Elefsina-Lavion-Marmari line in 2017, and in her current service since 2018.
One last view of the EIRINI K as she is seen heading towards Elefsina.
And this therefore marked the end of my trip with the veteran double-ended ferry DIMITRIOS P. After having traveled with the youngest and most environmentally-friendly ship of the Perama-Salamina line, I had then made my return trip to Perama with the ferry which had the most experience on the service. It was really nice to have this short yet pleasant trip with this classic double-ended ferry, which continues to offer reliable service for over two decades. I had now finished my long day of taking pictures of countless ships on the Saronic Gulf, after having made four trips and visited two islands, Spetses and Salamina. This trip with the DIMITRIOS P was the best way to end that memorable day which I will hardly ever forget.
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