HIGHSPEED 4 Tribute and Moments of Trip
Updated: Aug 13
Trip: 29 July 2018. From Paros to Piraeus, with the HIGHSPEED 4 of Hellenic Seaways.
Among the best high speed craft and ships of the Greek coastal service, the HIGHSPEED 4 was built in 2000 in Australia, being the fourth high speed ferry to join the Greek company Minoan Flying Dolphins. The latter was formed in 1998 by the late Pantelis Sfinias as a subsidiary of Minoan Lines, and by late 1999 it had become the primary ferry operator on the Aegean Sea, having acquired almost all conventional ferries from traditional family-owned companies (such as Agapitos Express Ferries, Agapitos Lines, Lindos Lines, Nomicos Lines and more) and all the high speed craft (hydrofoils and passenger catamarans) of Ceres Flying Dolphins. Having become the company with the largest market share on the Cyclades, the Sporades, the Saronic Gulf as well as having a strong presence on the Dodecanese, Crete and the Northeast Aegean Sea, Minoan Flying Dolphins sought to strengthen its presence by introducing the 'Highspeed' brand, which consisted at the time of four high speed ferries that were to be deployed on the Cyclades. The first one, namely the HIGHSPEED 1, had already been built in 1996 in The Netherlands and had served under Minoan Lines from 1997 to 1999. The other three were all ordered for 2000 at the well-known Austal Shipyard. The HIGHSPEED 2 and the HIGHSPEED 3 were completed in early 2000 and entered service on the Cyclades. The larger and faster HIGHSPEED 4 followed them a few months later, and she began service on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos line, where she immediately earned much acclaim for her fast and comfortable service. She made such an impact that her success, being one of the few shining stars of Minoan Flying Dolphins just as the company saw its reputation being completely tarnished the tragic sinking of the ferry EXPRESS SAMINA on 26 September 2000. Despite the impact of this horrifying and the subsequent instability that it caused on both her owners and the Greek coastal service as a whole, the HIGHSPEED 4 was still able to uphold strong competition, notably against Blue Star Ferries which had also deployed newly-built ferries on the Cyclades. Minoan Flying Dolphins was renamed Hellas Flying Dolphins in 2002, and during that same year the ship was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos-Paros line. She was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos line in 2003.
In 2005 her company was rebranded as Hellenic Seaways, and she was deployed on the Piraeus-Chania line, where she would be making the trip between the two ports in just four-and-a-half hours! Despite this success, Hellenic Seaways preferred to operate a conventional ferry there, while having the 'Highspeed' brand focused primarily on the Cyclades. Thus, in 2006 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Chania line. In 2008 she was assigned on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos line. In 2009 she was on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line, and in 2010 she operated on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos line, where she would go on to form a spectacular duo with her fleetmate, namely the HIGHSPEED 5, during both seasons. She stayed there in 2011 and in 2012, before being deployed solely on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos line in 2013. In 2014 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line, where she was very successful. In 2015, following the fire suffered by the HIGHSPEED 5 (which later became the HIGHSPEED 7 and which is now the SANTORINI PALACE of Minoan Lines), the HIGHSPEED 4 replaced her on her usual service, namely on the Heraklion-Santorini-Ios-Paros-Mykonos line for the summer. She returned to the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line in 2016, where she has since been remaining.
Based on this detailed historical background, everyone can clearly see that, for almost two decades, the HIGHSPEED 4 has been among the most successful ships in the Greek coastal service and a major asset for her company on the Cyclades, which she has served in every year of her career except during the 2005 summer season (when she was operating on the Piraeus-Chania line). Her long presence in the area, combined with her extremely fast and comfortable service, has made her a favourite amongst Cyclades residents and tourists, and she has been praised for contributing to a faster connection between the islands and Athens. Rarely hit by engine troubles, she has also been able to efficiently cover any service left by her fleetmates when they would be having an incident, including during the summer. Due to her success, she has been one of the most appreciated ships of the Cyclades, and she is particularly acclaimed in Paros and in Naxos, which are the two islands that she has been serving for almost every season since she began her career in Greece. Furthermore, her deployment in Koufonisi and in Amorgos in the past few years has also played a key role in the continued growth of the tourist activity for both these up-and-coming islands of th Cyclades. Throughout her career, she has also done some popular overnight trips, notably in Paros (which she has been doing since 2016), as well as in Santorini, Syros and Mykonos.
Over the years, the Greek economic crisis and bad decisions made by her company have led to a decline of the 'Highspeed' brandname, with Hellenic Seaways selling the HIGHSPEED 2 and the HIGHSPEED 3 to the now-defunct Moroccan company Comarit in 2010, the HIGHSPEED 1 to the South Korean company Jang Heung Ferry in 2011, the HIGHSPEED 6 to the Spanish company Naviera Armas in 2017, and the HIGHSPEED 5/HIGHSPEED 7 to Minoan Lines in 2018. Currently, only the HIGHSPEED 4 and the HELLENIC HIGHSPEED (previously known as the HELLENIC WIND, and which has been owned by Hellenic Seaways since 2009, but she only actually began operations for them from 2016 onwards) are the two remaining high speed ferries of their type that still operate for the company. The HIGHSPEED 4 is notably the only ship of the 'Highspeed' brandname to have operated in every single summer season of Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins/Hellenic Seaways throughout their whole existence. Now that Hellenic Seaways has been acquired by Attica Group since early 2018, her future is uncertain as the latter is not particularly fond of high speed craft. Nevertheless, she is set to operate this season and to continue her excellent service under Hellenic Seaways, always on the Cyclades.
The HIGHSPEED 4 seen in the port of Paroikia in Paros, three days before my trip with her.
Now it is finally the time to speak about my trip with this much-acclaimed ship. Indeed, as you now know it based on my previous posts, I had spent some time in Paros with my family during the summer of 2018. Indeed, we stayed there between 26 July and 29 July, while having also spent most of 27 July in the neighbouring island Antiparos. It was obviously my first-ever trip with this ship, and, as I had already traveled with the HELLENIC HIGHSPEED back in 14 July 2017 from Ios to Piraeus, this meant that I had now traveled with both the current Hellenic Seaways ships that are part of the 'Highsped' brandname. It was also my first-ever trip with an Austal-built high speed craft, and overall my fifth trip with a Greek high speed ferry (with all trips involving ships operating on the Cyclades). It was also my second-ever trip with a ship of Hellenic Seaways outside of the Saronic Gulf, after my aforementioned trip with the HELLENIC HIGHSPEED during the summer of 2017.
We arrived in the port of Paroikia in Paros 30 minutes before the ship's planned arrival and immediate departure. She was arriving from Naxos, as part of her return trip from the Cyclades to Piraeus during the day. As she was operating on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos line, Paros was obviously the last island in which she would stop during her return leg to Piraeus. Therefore, this trip did not include any stops in any islands (therefore making it my first-ever trip with a Greek high speed ferry without making any intermediate stops between my embarkation port and my disembarkation port). She was due to arrive at 14:10 and leave at 14:20, which she performed as planned.
Before the HIGHSPEED 4 arrived, I witnessed an unexpected but exciting arrival, namely that of the legendary conventional ferry SUPERFERRY II of Golden Star Ferries, which was arriving from Mykonos.
Built in 1974 in Belgium and present in Greece since 1992, the SUPERFERRY II has spent her entire career on the Greek coastal service serving the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line, with additional islands being added over the years. Surely the best-ever ship to have operated on this specific service, she is regarded by many as the greatest day ferry, and possibly the greatest Greek coastal service ship, of all time. Her longevity, large capacity, speed, comfortable amenities and exciting outdoor areas have been all hailed for more than 25 years. Her conversion is also considered to be one of the best amongst second-hand ships delivered to Greek ferry operators.
The iconic SUPERFERRY II seen approaching Paros. In 2018, she had her debut season on a new service introduced by her owners, which linked Rafina with the Cyclades and Crete for the first time ever, namely on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Ios-Santorini-Heraklion line. She was deployed there together with her fleetmate, namely the SUPERFERRY.
The SUPERFERRY II heading towards the port of Paroikia Paros. Despite her now being one of the oldest ferries operating on the Cyclades, her service is still appreciated and acclaimed by passengers. Her indoor areas were notably refurbished in 2017, making them more modern and comfortable, and therefore allowing her to continue to provide excellent service onboard for many more years to come.
The SUPEFERRY II seen in Paros. She was bought by the now-defunct Greek company Strintzis Lines in 1992. Initially renamed IONIAN EXPRESS and planned to be deployed on the Patras-Kefalonia-Ithaca line on the Ionian Sea, it was decided during her conversion that she would take over the service of her fleetmate, namely the SUPERFERRY (the 'original' one, which still operates today, as the MAHABBAH of Egyptian-Saudi Arabian company Namma Lines, on the Safaga-Jeddah line, which connects Egypt and Saudi Arabia via the Red Sea), which was deemed too large to operate on the Cyclades, while also lacking the necessary garage (despite her tremendously successful indoor amenities). Having been renamed SUPERFERRY II, she was introduced on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Syros-Astypalaia-Kalymnos-Kos-Nisyros-Tilos-Rhodes line in 1993, before operating solely on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Syros line beginning in 1994. From the moment she began service on the Cyclades, she immediately earned great acclaim. The ship then joined Blue Star Ferries in 2000, which had been established after Strintzis Lines were taken over by Attica Group, and she remained on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line. After the 2010 season, she was sold to the newly-established Greek company Golden Star Ferries, which refurbished her and redeployed her on the Rafina-Cyclades service. Her success inspired the company to purchase more ships in the following years, with their fleet now reaching six ships as of April 2019.
The SUPERFERRY II seen making her way towards the port of Paros. Since operating for Golden Star Ferries, she has made extensions to Naxos in 2011 and 2012, as well as in both Naxos and Paros in 2016. During her twenty-sixth season in Greece, she was now performing a long trip from Rafina to Heraklion, via six islands of the Cyclades.
The SUPERFERRY II seen about to begin her maneuvering procedure in Paros.
The impressive SUPERFERRY II, with her famous front-section balconies (which were added during her conversion in 1992-1993), preparing to maneuver in Paros.
The SUPERFERRY II seen about to maneuver in Paros. She is the last ship among those built in Belgium between the 1950s and the 1970s which went on to have successful spells in Greece (mostly on the Cyclades), after having first operated under the iconic Belgian company Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT). This group of ships is known as the 'Gentle Belgians', and it included legendary ships, such as the late AIGAION of Agapitos Lines (1976-1992) and later of Agapitos Express Ferries (1992-1996); the late GEORGIOS EXPRESS, perhaps the best ferry in the history of the Greek coastal service, of Ventouris Ferries (1980-1983), Ventouris Sea Lines (1983-1996) and later Agios Georgios Ferries (1996-2009, although the company had ceased operations in 2001); the latter's sister ship, namely the BARI EXPRESS, of Ventouris Ferries (1983-1997), and later the EXPRESS HERMES of Agapitos Express Ferries (1997-1999) and then a fleetmate of the HIGHSPEED 4 under Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins (1999-2003); the late LYDIA of the now-defunct Greek company Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (1985-1995); and lastly the sister ship of the SUPERFERRY II, namely the PANAGIA TINOU 2 of Ventouris Sea Lines (1993-1997), later the EXPRESS ATHINA of Agapitos Express Ferries (1997-1999), then being a fleetmate of the HIGHSPEED 4 under Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins (1999-2005) and Hellenic Seaways (2005-2007), before ending her career as the EXPRESS LIMNOS of Saos Ferries (2007-2011). The SUPERFERRY II is the only ship from that group that is still in existence and still operating in Greece to date.
A view of the well-known funnel of the SUPERFERRY II. Its shape has remained intact since the start of her career on the Channel. It now features her current owners' logo, which is that of a star painted in both gold and white. If you can see the funnel more precisely, you can notice the marks of the old logo of RMT, which is still visible despite having been painted over evert since the ship left Belgium in 1992.
The SUPERFERRY II seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Paros.
The SUPERFERRY II, which is the true definition of a legendary ferry, is seen undergoing her maneuvering procedure in Paros. She would then head towards Ios, Santorini and Heraklion, arriving at the Cretan port towards the evening.
The SUPERFERRY II having finished her maneuvering procedure and beginning to head in Paros. I know that this post should be focusing on the HIGHSPEED 4. However, after having seen the SUPERFERRY II before my planned trip, I could not avoid posting all the photos I took of that legendary ship.
The SUPERFERRY II having finished her maneuvering procedure and now about to dock in Paros.
The SUPERFERRY seen having almost docked in Paros. I had the chance to perform a trip along a large portion of her new service on 14 June 2018, when I traveled from Rafina to Ios (via Andros, Tinos, Mykonos and Paros) with her fleetmate, namely the SUPERFERRY.
The SUPERFERRY II seen docking in Paros.
Several minutes after the SUPERFERRY II had arrived and docked in Paros, the HIGHSPEED 4 had finally arrived in Paros, and she began to unload several passengers and vehicles immediately. The ones that were about to board immediately quickly started to approach the vessel. Like all high speed craft of Hellenic Seaways, she carries a livery promoting the Greek telephone service company Cosmote, whose logo is visible on both sides of her hull and in her aft section (next to the garage entrance). The HIGHSPEED 4 was previously promoting the rival operator Vodafone even back in her Hellas Flying Dolphins days, when the two companies agreed to paint all high speed craft (except hydrofoils) with Vodafone's red colours in 2003. This lasted until 2013, when Hellenic Seaways opted to switch from Vodafone to Cosmote. All high speed craft (this time including the hydrofoils) were painted in lawn green (which was Cosmote's main colour at the time). After Cosmote changed its logo in the fall of 2015, all ships were repainted ahead of the 2016 season in different shades of blue around their aft section, in white in the middle section of their hull, and in different shades of green around their bow.
It was now time for us to board the ship. The entrance can be accessed through both sides of the aft section thanks to the side ramps (which are used by passengers only, while the main central ramp is used by vehicles). They each lead to an alley which takes passengers to the upper decks, where the indoor lounge areas are located. Above the entrance to this alley, one can see the logo of Hellenic Seaways. Underneath it, there are welcome signs written in Greek (top) and English (bottom), as well as the company's website and telephone number.
After arriving at the first accommodation deck thanks to the staircase, one can spot the company's reception desk near the starboard side. The small reception desk features a glass poster featuring the logo of Hellenic Seaways, hanging in the background.
Next to the reception desk, I spotted a large banner featuring the company's logo (known for its famous three dolphins). Above it, the company states, in Greek, 'For 18 years, the Aegean Sea has been our destination'. Hence, the poster was to commemorate the company's 18 years in service (although the company was founded in 1999, their first summer was during the 2000 season). Thus, despite being known under that name since 2005, Hellenic Seaways still considers their predecessors, namely Minoan Flying Dolphins/Hellas Flying Dolphins, as part of the company's history.
Next to the reception desk, the indoor lounge area of the lower deck could be already seen. As it is common with high speed craft, most of the seats are aircraft-style seats aligned throughout the length of the of the area.
The aircraft-style seats on the starboard side of the ship on the lower deck, which features the Economy Class. The seats used for the VIP Class section is located on the upper deck.
A view of the indoor lounge area on the ship's lower deck, which features very comfortable aircraft-style seats, some of which are placed around tables, while the ones next to the windows are usually aligned in triples one behind the other.
A view of the indoor lounge area of the lower deck towards the middle section of the ship. Between the open alleys, there are some aircraft-style seats with a blue cover, with all of them having a table in front of them.
Not far from the reception desk, the ship has a large bar, which is operated by the Greek coffee chain Everest. The modern bar has a wide range of products for passengers, namely coffee, water, juices, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, fruits, sandwiches, snacks and biscuits.
The ship's onboard retail store, called Shopping Island, which sells various products such as clothes, bags, jewelry, toys, books, gadgets and more.
The front section of the Economy Class lounge area in the lower deck, which also features aligned aircraft-style seats placed around wooden tables. At the back of the room are the ship's well-known front-section windows.
At the corner of the starboard side towards the front section of the indoor lounge area in the lower deck, one can see a small alley leading to a staircase which heads towards the front section of the ship's garage.
A quick view of the ship's garage, which is only accessible to cars, motorcycles and small vans. In total, she can carry up to 190 such vehicles onboard.
Towards the middle section of the Economy Class lounge area covering the lower deck is the ship's well-known atrium area, which leads to the upper deck featuring the VIP Class lounge area. The glass underneath the rails was decorated with stickers advertising Coca-Cola beverages on the Cyclades.
The small outdoor area of the HIGHSPEED 4, located on the aft section the lower deck. It is only accessible to passengers when the ship is in a port and hence at low speed. You can also see the ship's Greek flag proudly flying from the upper deck.
While I was exploring the HIGHSPEED 4's outdoor areas, I noticed that the SUPERFERRY II had already departed for Ios. And I instead saw another ship having arrived in Paros. Indeed, it was the high speed ferry ANDROS JET of Sea Jets, which operates on one of the two main subsidised inter-Cyclades lifelines together with the fleetmate of the HIGHSPEED 4, namely the conventional ferry ARTEMIS.
The ANDROS JET seen in Paros. This was her first summer under Sea Jets, after having been bought shortly after the completion of the 2017 season. During her first year, she operated on one of the two main inter-Cyclades lifelines, namely the Lavrion-Kea-Kythnos-Andros-Tinos-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Donousa-Amorgos-Koufonisi-Schoinousa-Irakleia-Folegandros-Sikinos-Ios-Thirassia-Santorini-Anafi line.
The ANDROS JET seen departing Paros. Her first season under Sea Jets was quite turbulent, as she had several engine failures, which caused her to experience significant delays. This was problematic, especially when considering the long and demanding line on which she was operating. However, when she was operating normally, she would perform the service much faster than the ship that she was replacing and which was present there during the 2017, namely the conventional ferry AQUA JEWEL (also owned by Sea Jets), which had been sent on charter to the Portuguese company Atlântico Line in order to operate on the Azores Archipelago for the summer.
A view of the small funnel of the ANDROS JET, which features the logo of Sea Jets under a navy blue background.
The ANDROS JET seen departing Paros. Coincidentally, she was built in the exact same shipyard as the HIGHSPEED 4, namely at the Austal Shipyard in Australia. She was built three years before the latter, having been ordered by the Turkish company İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri, under the name CEZAYIRLI HASAN PAŞA 1. She operated on the Yalova-Pendik line for exactly twenty years, until she was sold to her current owners, namely Sea Jets, in 2017.
The ANDROS JET seen leaving Paros. Although she was built in the same shipyard as the HIGHSPEED 4, she is much smaller in length and beam, in addition to having far lower passenger and vehicle capacity levels.
The ANDROS JET seen having departed Paros.
The ANDROS JET now sailing at full-speed after having left Paros.
While the ANDROS JET was leaving the port of Paros (followed by our own eventual departure), I also spotted her fleetmate, namely the high speed ferry CHAMPION JET 2, which heading towards the port after having arrived from Naxos.
The CHAMPION JET 2 seen approaching Paros. Owned by Sea Jets since 2015, she was operating on the Heraklion-Rethymnon-Santorini-Ios-Naxos-Paros-Mykonos line, which she served for the second season in a row.
The ANDROS JET seen leaving Paros, while the CHAMPION JET 2 heads towards the latter.
The ANDROS JET seen leaving Paros in order to head towards Naxos.
The CHAMPION JET 2 seen making her way towards Paros, while we are departing the port.
Passing by the CHAMPION JET 2 in Paros. She was built in 1996, also in Australia. However, she was not built in Austal, but rather in the rival shipyard, namely the Incat Shipyard. Most high speed craft currently owned by Sea Jets were built there during the 1990s. Hellenic Seaways only had one Incat-built ship, namely the HIGHSPEED 6, which was built there in 2000 (the same year as the HIGHSPEED 4). She joined Hellenic Seaways in 2010, and she was sold by the company to the Spanish company Naviera Armas in 2017. She now operates in Spain as the VOLCÁN DE TENO, having spent the 2018 season on the Las Palmas-Santa Cruz de Tenerife line on the Canary Islands Archipelago.
The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the port of Paros. She was previously operating on the Channel as the CONDOR EXPRESS of the French company Condor Ferries, connecting France and Great Britain with the British Channel islands of Guernsey and Jersey. She was sold in 2015, alongside her younger sister ship, namely the CONDOR VITESSE, to Sea Jets. She was renamed CHAMPION JET 2, while the CONDOR VITESSE was renamed CHAMPION JET 1.
The CHAMPION JET 2 seen heading towards the port of Paros, during what was her fourth season under Sea Jets on the Cyclades. She spent her first two seasons on the Piraeus-Mykonos-Naxos-Santorini line, before moving to her current service in 2017.
The speedy CHAMPION JET 2 seen about to begin her maneuvering procedure in Paros.
The CHAMPION JET 2 beginning to undergo her maneuvering procedure in Paros, as we have already departed the port.
Another view of the ANDROS JET as she is making her way towards Naxos.
The CHAMPION JET 2 seen having finished her maneuvering procedure in Paros and beginning to dock in the port.
As the HIGHSPEED 4 begins to depart, I was able to take a picture of her starboard side water jet, which is the main source behind her speed. It located right underneath the passenger ramp. I unfortunately had to head inside the ship's indoor area as no passenger is allowed to remain outdoors while the high speed craft is sailing (a policy found on all Hellenic Seaways high speed ships).
After barely three hours, we had reached Piraeus at 17:30. As access to outdoor areas was still restricted while the ship was heading towards her docking spot in the E7 gate, I had no choice but to head to the garage alongside my family. As the garage was at full capacity, we had to wait for a long time before making it out, thus ending our trip.
While this trip with the HIGHSPEED 4 was short and lacked intermediate stops, I was still happy to have finally been able to travel with her, as she is a ship that is considered to be one of the most beloved ships of the Cyclades. Her service is extremely fast, but also very comfortable. In fact, I barely had the time to sit and read a shipping magazine and I had already felt like we were near our destination. Her indoor areas are very impressive and still give the impression that she is a newly-built ship, even though she will be turning 20 next year. While the 'Highspeed' brandname is unfortunately on a considerable decline, luckily she is still operating in Greece, showing how she has been one of the best high speed craft of her company, and of the Greek coastal service as a whole, for so many years. It is not surprising to hear that she is one of the favourite ships of the Cyclades residents and tourists. This trip further made me understand the reasons behind their statements.
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