Piraeus Morning Visit on 14 August 2020

Following the amazing experience that I had back in 27 July 2019, when I went to Piraeus to witness the morning departures of numerous ships of the Greek coastal service, I decided to make this a tradition and to therefore go to Piraeus in the early morning at least once during each summer season. This event occurred on 14 August 2020, a day which eventually became very significant as I went on to spend a huge portion of it interacting with the Greek coastal service. Not only did I arrive in Piraeus at 06:30 in the morning and saw dozens of ships departing the port, but I also went on to travel to Salamina, visiting the latter's ports (Paloukia and Faneromeni), then traveled from Salamina to Megara and back, before heading from Salamina to Perama in order to then head home in Central Athens. Overall, I took more than 700 pictures of ships that day, which is without a doubt the most I have ever taken in my life so far. Thus, the next posts that will appear in the Blog will cover that unique day.

As it was the case last year, I managed to find a day where I was free to go to Piraeus in order to take as many pictures as possible. Indeed, and you saw in the previous post, the vast majority of the departures for areas such as the Cyclades and the Northeast Aegean Sea and the Saronic Gulf occur between 06:40 and 08:00, with ships leaving in the morning so that they can serve their respective destinations during the day and return to Piraeus during the evening. At the same time, there are ships from more distant destinations like Crete that arrive from the latter in order to be present in Athens in the early morning. For a shipping enthusiast like me, this an ideal scenery, as I can see a multitude of ships of different kinds leaving the port in order to bring passengers and/or vehicles to various islands across the Aegean Sea. Without further ado, let's have a look at the countless pictures I took that morning, which was the first part of an impressive and memorable day for me.

In 2019, I had witnessed the departures of the different ships from the E2 gate, which is the docking spot for ships operating on the Northeast Aegean Sea, as well as for the ship of Minoan Lines that operates on the Piraeus-Chania line. In 2020, in order to have a different view, and in order to be closer to the port's exit, I decided to take pictures from the E1 gate, which is the docking spot for ships that are primarily operating on the Dodecanese. At around 06:50, I saw the first ship departing Piraeus. It was the BLUE STAR NAXOS of Blue Star Ferries, which performs the very busy service which calls Paros, Naxos and the Lesser Cyclades.

The BLUE STAR NAXOS seen departing the port of Piraeus at dawn. She operates on the Piraeus-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Irakleia-Schoinousa-Koufonisi-Donousa-Amorgos-Santorini-Astypalaia line, on which she has been deployed since 2018.

Built in 2002, the BLUE STAR NAXOS is one of the most successful ships of the Greek coastal service. Together with her sister ship, the BLUE STAR PAROS, she has cemented her company's presence on the Cyclades, which is where she has spent her entire career so far (while also serving Astypalaia which is on the Dodecanese). She has been praised for her fast and reliable service, and generally for being an essential ship for residents of the Lesser Cyclades, as she is the only ship to connect all these islands with Piraeus on a daily basis. Her impressive and comfortable indoor areas, as well as her famous outdoor sun decks, have made her one of the most impressive ships in Greece, making her appear like a newly-built ship even though she is now 18 years old.

The BLUE STAR NAXOS seen departing the port of Piraeus in the morning. She connects Piraeus with the Lesser Cyclades on a daily basis through a very tight schedule leaving Piraeus at 06:45 every morning, and returning there the following day at 05:00. The crew only has one hour and thirty minutes to rest before her next departure there. This is why she is such an exceptional ship.

The BLUE STAR NAXOS seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus, in what was her nineteenth summer under Blue Star Ferries.

The BLUE STAR NAXOS about to exit the port of Piraeus. She has been connecting Piraeus with the Lesser Cyclades for many years, namely from 2002 to 2004, from 2007 to 2011, and since 2015. From 2015 to 2017 she operated on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Irakleia-Schoinousa-Koufonisi-Amorgos-Santorini line, while from 2012 to 2014 she notably operated on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos line, which is currently served by the BLUE STAR PAROS.

Next to me was a ship that one usually does not find in the port of Piraeus. However, she went on to spend the entire summer season there as she was undergoing repairs. Indeed, this was the conventional ferry EKATERINI P of Fast Ferries, which was spending the summer of 2020 in Piraeus in order to continue the repair work on her engines, which had suffered a major engine failure right before the 2019 season, causing her to miss the latter.

The beautiful EKATERINI P seen at dawn in Piraeus. Built in 1990 in Japan, she began her career there, as the the ROKKŌ MARU of Kansai Kisen, before she was bought in 1999 by the Greek company Fast Ferries. After being converted and being renamed EKATERINI P, she began operations on the Igoumenitsa-Corfu line on the Ionian Sea, where she went on to have a successful service. However, her company had further ambitions for the ship, and in 2012 she moved to the Aegean Sea, in order to provide additional service on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line on the Cyclades, on which her fleetmate, the THEOLOGOS P, had become a successful ship since 2007. After a new conversion in Perama (during which her bow and her stern were considerably modified), she began serving the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line with much success. In 2016 she was deployed on the Rafina-Tinos-Mykonos-Naxos line, where she also had an outstanding service.

In front of me I saw two ships: one was docked, the other one was departing the port of Piraeus. Indeed, the ferry NISSOS SAMOS of Hellenic Seaways was resting in Piraeus, whereas the high speed ferry WORLDCHAMPION JET of Sea Jets was seen leaving the port.

The impressive WORLDCHAMPION JET seen leaving the port of Piraeus at dawn. This was her second summer in Greece and under Sea Jets. After having a massively successful debut season in 2019 on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos-Santorini line on the Cyclades, she had another successful service in 2020, which she spent on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line.

The NISSOS SAMOS docked in the port of Piraeus. This was her fifth summer under Hellenic Seaways. Indeed, after having been bought from Endeavor Lines in late 2015 (and also following a three-year-long lay-up in the port of Patras from 2012 to 2015), the ship was converted in Perama and began operations on the Aegean Sea in 2016. Her first season was on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene-Limnos-Thessaloniki line on the Northeast Aegean Sea, while in 2017 she had a very successful service on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Santorini line on the Cyclades. Since 2018 she has been again operating on the Northeast Aegean Sea, as she is deployed on the Piraeus-Psara-Oinousses-Chios-Mytilene line.

The WORLDCHAMPION JET seen leaving the port of Piraeus. She is the fastest passenger ship in Greece, and she further cemented her company's reputation on the Cyclades thanks to her impressive speed and her flawless service, with her so far not suffering any engine failures.

The WORLDCHAMPION JET seen leaving the port of Piraeus, during her second season under Sea Jets.

The WORLDCHAMPION JET seen leaving Piraeus. She has had a very impressive résumé. Indeed, she was the fastest passenger ship in the world when she was completed in Australia in 2000 in order to enter service for the Danish company Bornholmer Færgen (formerly known as Bornholms Traffiken) as the VILLUM CLAUSEN. She also held the world record for the fastest-ever crossing made by a ship of her kind until 2013, when it was surpassed by the then-newly-built high speed ferry FRANCISCO of the Argentinian company Buquebus. Furthermore, following her first season in Greece, she won the prestigious 'Ship of the Year' award given by Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards for 2019. She became the third Greek coastal service ship to win the much-coveted award, and the first one since 2007, back when the NISSOS CHIOS of Hellenic Seaways (now known as the BLUE STAR CHIOS of Blue Star Ferries since 2020) won it. The first Greek coastal service ship to have received the honour was the sister ship of the NISSOS CHIOS, the NISSOS MYKONOS of Hellenic Seaways (which is now the BLUE STAR MYCONOS of Blue Star Ferries, also since 2020).

A view of the WORLDCHAMPION JET as she is heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus.

The WORLDCHAMPION JET, one of the most important assets of Sea Jets, leaving Piraeus in order to head towards Syros, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini.

The WORLDCHAMPION JET seen leaving Piraeus and beginning to sail at full-speed.

Behind the WORLDCHAMPION JET, the next ship that heading toward the exit of the port of Piraeus was one of her fleetmates, namely the small high speed catamaran SEA JET 2.

The SEA JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus in the morning. Just like the WORLDCHAMPION JET, she was operating on the Cyclades. She spent the 2020 season on the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos-Kimolos-Folegandros-Sikinos-Santorini-Amorgos-Koufonisi-Naxos-Paros-Mykonos line, which she served alongside her sister ship and fleetmate, the SUPER JET.

The SEA JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus. So far, the first three ships whose departures I witnessed that day (the BLUE STAR NAXOS, the WORLDCHAMPION JET and the SEA JET 2) had also been present when I did the morning visit in Piraeus back in 27 July 2019.

The SEA JET 2 seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus. She was built in 1998 in Norway for the Greek company Strintzis Lines, and began her career on the Saronic Gulf, on the Piraeus-Aegina-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porto Cheli line as the MIRAGE. After having an average spell there, she was renamed SEA JET 2 and began operations on the Cyclades, where she has since gone to spend the bulk of her career. After serving the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros line in 1999, her company was taken over by Attica Group, resulting in the creation of Blue Star Ferries. She and her sister ship, then known as the SEA JET 1, joined the Blue Star Jets division. The SEA JET 2 remained on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros line until 2006, when she was bought by Sea Jets (which had also acquired the SEA JET 1 back in 2004, and renamed her SUPER JET). She operated on the Rafina-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros line from 2006 to 2012. Since 2013 she has served the Western Cyclades and islands such as Santorini, Amorgos, Koufonisi, Naxos and Mykonos, while occasionally adding other islands along each summer season.

The reliable SEA JET 2 seen leaving the port of Piraeus. For more than two decades she has been a major contributor to the coastal service of the Cyclades.

The SEA JET 2 seen leaving Piraeus and heading towards the port's exit.

The next ship that departed the port of Piraeus was a familiar face. Indeed, it was the conventional ferry DIONISIOS SOLOMOS of Zante Ferries.

A view of the NISSOS SAMOS and of the DIONISIOS SOLOMOS. Both ships were built in Japan (with the NISSOS SAMOS being two years older than the DIONISIOS SOLOMOS) and began their careers there before being acquired by Greek companies. Moreover, both ships were previously serving the Ionian Sea. Indeed, the NISSOS SAMOS, back when she was operating for Endeavor Lines as the IONIAN QUEEN, would frequently stop by Kefalonia and Kerkyra (as well as Zakynthos in 2012) as part of her service on the Adriatic Sea, from Patras to Bari and Brindisi in Italy. As for the DIONISIOS SOLOMOS, she operated on the Ionian Sea from 1999 to 2016, mainly on the Kyllini-Zakynthos line but also on the Kyllini-Kefalonia line and on the Patras-Kefalonia-Ithaca line (in 2013 and in 2015). Therefore, both ships have had an experience on the Ionian Sea before they moved to the Aegean Sea in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

The DIONISIOS SOLOMOS seen leaving Piraeus. This was her fourth consecutive summer on the Aegean Sea. All of them have been spent on the Western Cyclades, where she was first introduced in 2017. After her successful spell on the Ionian Sea, and following the continuous excellent service provided by her fleetmate, the ADAMANTIOS KORAIS, on the Western Cyclades since 2009, Zante Ferries decided to deploy the DIONISIOS SOLOMOS there as well. She underwent a major conversion in Keratsini, with her bow being completely modified. In other words, she underwent a similar conversion to that of the EKATERINI P in 2012 (which also moved to the Aegean Sea after having previously operated on the Ionian Sea, in order to provide additional service to a line on the Cyclades which was being successfully served by one of her fleetmates). She began serving the Piraeus-Kythnos-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos-Kimolos-Folegandros-Sikinos-Ios line in 2017. Since 2019 she has been on the Piraeus-Kythnos-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos-Kimolos-Folegandros-Sikinos-Ios-Santorini line, which was also served by the ADAMANTIOS KORAIS.

The DIONISOS SOLOMOS seen leaving the port of Piraeus in order to begin her long journey along her lifeline. This year she was the only conventional ferry to operate on the Western Cyclades, as the ADAMANTIOS KORAIS moved to the Alexandroupolis-Samothraki-Limnos line, as she was chosen to cover the void left by the ships of Saos Ferries following the fiasco that Samothraki experienced during the summer of 2019. As a result of this, the DIONISIOS SOLOMOS was left with the difficult task of serving the line, its passengers and freight all by herself. Despite this, she had a very good season and she and her crew were widely praised for their reliability and hard work.

The DIONISIOS SOLOMOS seen leaving the port of Piraeus. When I went to witness the morning departure back in 27 July 2019, she and the ADAMANTIOS KORAIS were spotted while they were heading to the Western Cyclades. She was a notable part of my childhood, as I would frequently see her in Zakynthos, which is one of the two islands on which I go every summer. I also remember traveling with her multiple times. The last time was more than seven years ago, back on 9 July 2013, while heading from Kyllini to Zakynthos. A few days later she moved to the Patras-Kefalonia-Ithaca line for the rest of that year's summer season.

The DIONISIOS SOLOMOS seen leaving the port of Piraeus. She is named after the eponymous poet, who composed the Greek National Anthem, and who came from Zakynthos, the island where the ship's owners are based.

The DIONISIOS SOLOMOS seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus.

The DIONISIOS SOLOMOS on her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus.

Right behind her was a ship whose destinations were much closer to Piraeus. That ship was the hydrofoil FLYING DOLPHIN XXIX of Hellenic Seaways, which operates on the Saronic Gulf, on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-Porto Cheli line.

The FLYING DOLPHIN XXIX seen leaving the port of Piraeus, with her departure being the first one of the day for the ships serving the Saronic Gulf. Built in 1993, she has spent her entire career on the latter area, initially under the famed company Ceres Flying Dolphins, which was then taken over by Minoan Flying Dolphins in 1999. She continued to operate for that company, which was renamed Hellas Flying Dolphins in 2002 and was then rebranded as Hellenic Seaways in 2005.

The FLYING DOLPHIN XXIX is one of the last three remaining hydrofoils operating for Hellenic Seaways. She is also the youngest active hydrofoil in all of Greece.

Another view of the FLYING DOLPHIN XXIX, which was beginning to exit the port of Piraeus and sailing at full-speed in order to head towards Aegina.

One last view of the DIONISIOS SOLOMOS, right after she had exited the port of Piraeus. She was now heading towards Kythnos.

The next ship that followed was the much-appreciated BLUE STAR DELOS of Blue Star Ferries, which was beginning her usual morning and early afternoon service on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Santorini line.

The NISSOS SAMOS seen alongside the BLUE STAR DELOS, which was leaving the port of Piraeus.

The BLUE STAR DELOS seen leaving the port of Piraeus. She was built in 2011 in South Korea for Blue Star Ferries, and is currently the company's second youngest ship. Since the beginning of her career, she has operated on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line on the Cyclades (although she does not serve Ios during the summer), and her service has been hailed as one of the best in the history of the Greek coastal service.

The BLUE STAR DELOS seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus. So far, I have traveled with her 3 times. The first time was on 23 July 2018 from Piraeus to Naxos, the second time was on 14 July 2019 from Santorini to Piraeus, while the third time was on 8 September 2020 from Naxos to Piraeus.

The impressive BLUE STAR DELOS seen leaving the port of Piraeus in order to head towards the Cyclades. Since 2015, she has been serving her destinations by leaving from Piraeus during the morning and arriving back to the latter late at night. The ship that would be operating the same service by leaving Piraeus in the late afternoon has been her sister ship and fleetmate, the BLUE STAR PATMOS, which leaves the Cyclades in the morning after having arrived there from Piraeus at night.

The BLUE STAR DELOS leaving the port of Piraeus, in what was the tenth season of her young and successful career.

The BLUE STAR DELOS about to exit the port of Piraeus. Just a few days ago she began a conversion in Perama, during which she will be equipped with the exhaust gas cleaning system (also known as 'scrubbers'), in order to comply with the sulphur limits imposed by the IMO. She will be the second ship of Blue Star Ferries to undergo this conversion, the first one having been the BLUE STAR PATMOS right before the start of the 2020 summer season. She is also the second ship of the Greek coastal service to undergo this conversion in Greece, with the first one having been her Attica Group collaborator, the SUPERFAST XI of Superfast Ferries, which also received scrubbers before the start of the 2020 summer season.

The BLUE STAR DELOS seen leaving the port of Piraeus. She is due to complete her conversion by late January 2021, if everything goes as planned.

The BLUE STAR DELOS seen leaving Piraeus during the morning, in order to head towards Paros, Naxos and Santorini.

The BLUE STAR DELOS seen exiting the port of Piraeus.

The BLUE STAR DELOS having just exited the port of Piraeus.

After having seen only departures, now it was the time to see a ship arriving in the port of Piraeus. Just like last year, the first ship to arrive in the port was the hydrofoil FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA of Aegean Flying Dolphins.

The FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA having just entered the port of Piraeus, after having arrived from Aegina. Built in 1991, she was been owned by Aegean Flying Dolphins since 2010.

In the meantime, I saw the first conventional ferry of the Saronic Gulf that was departing the port of Piraeus for the day. It was the POSIDON HELLAS of 2way Ferries, which was heading to Aegina.

The POSIDON HELLAS seen leaving the port of Piraeus. She was built in 1998 in Greece, as the second-ever double-ended ferry in the history of the Greek coastal service. She has spent her entire career so far on the Saronic Gulf.

The FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA having arrived in the port of Piraeus. In her debut season under Aegean Flying Dolphins in 2010, she operated on the Piraeus-Hydra-Spetses-Porto Cheli line. After just one summer there, she was deployed on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri line in 2011, and she has since remained on that service.

Right behind the POSIDON HELLAS was the high speed ferry SPEEDRUNNER III of Aegean Speed Lines, which was also leaving the port of Piraeus in order to begin her daily service on the Wester Cyclades.

The POSIDON HELLAS seen during her twenty-third season on the Saronic Gulf. She initially began service in 1998 for Poseidon Consortium Shipping, before the latter was taken over by Minoan Flying Dolphins in 1999. The ship thus joined that company's division based on the Saronic Gulf, which was known as Saronikos Ferries. She continued to operate for the company, which was renamed Hellas Flying Dolphins before being rebranded as Hellenic Seaways in 2005. After 10 more years with the latter, the POSIDON HELLAS was sold to 2way Ferries in 2015, with that company coincidentally being owned by the Papaïoannidis family which used to own Poseidon Consortium Shipping, her first-ever owners.

The FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA having just entered the port of Piraeus, in what was her tenth consecutive season on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri line.

The POSIDON HELLAS and the FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA, two Saronic Gulf veterans, seen together in the port of Piraeus.

The POSIDON HELLAS seen leaving the port of Piraeus. She operates on the Piraeus-Aegina-Agistri-Methana-Poros line.

The POSIDON HELLAS seen leaving the port of Piraeus. Since she was bought by 2way Ferries, I have traveled with her five times. The first time was on 16 August 2016 (thus this picture was taken two days shy of the fourth anniversary of that trip) from Aegina to Piraeus, the second and third time was on 21 July 2017 while going from Piraeus to Aegina and back, the fourth time was on 27 July 2019 from Agistri to Piraeus (with this being the first time that I had ever traveled with a ferry from Agistri), and the fifth time was four days after taking this picture, while heading from Piraeus to Aegina, on 18 August 2020.

The SPEEDRUNNER III seen leaving the port of Piraeus. This was her fourth consecutive season operating on the Western Cyclades, and her second summer in a row on the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos line.

The SPEEDRUNNER III and the FLYING DOLPHIN ATHINA meeting each other in Piraeus. Both high speed craft have companies that are named after the Aegean Sea.

The POSIDON HELLAS seen heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus.

The SPEEDRUNNER III seen leaving Piraeus. She is the only ship that is currently owned by her company.

A nice view of the Piraeus morning traffic on 14 August 2020. The NISSOS SAMOS is docked, while the BLUE STAR PAROS of Blue Star Ferries is following the SPEEDRUNNER III as they head towards the exit of the port of Piraeus. In between in the cruise ship CELESTYAL OLYMPIA of the Greek-Cypriot company Celestyal Cruises (formerly known as Louis Cruises).

The POSIDON HELLAS seen as she is about to exit the port of Piraeus.

The SPEEDRUNNER III seen following the POSIDON HELLAS. Built in 1999, she joined Aegean Speed Lines in 2009. She spent her debut season on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos line, while in 2010 her service was extended to the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos line. She then spent the 2012 season under lay-up due to her company experiencing financial problems as a result of the Greek government debt crisis, but she returned to service in 2013 by being deployed on the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos line, which is her company's core area of service. In 2015 she was chartered to the Moroccan company Navline for service on the Algeciras-Tangier Med line, while the following year she was chartered to Levante Ferries, operating on the Patras-Kefalonia-Ithaca line on the Ionian Sea. After her sister ship, the SPEEDRUNNER IV, was sold to Golden Star Ferries (for whom she operates as the SUPERRUNNER), the SPEEDRUNNER III was re-introduced by Aegean Speed Lines, being inserted on the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos-Kimolos-Folegandros-Sikinos line. In 2018 her service was restricted to the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos-Kimolos line, while in 2019 it was further restricted to the Piraeus-Serifos-Sifnos-Milos line.

The SPEEDRUNNER III seen leaving the port of Piraeus in order to head towards Serifos, Sifnos and Milos.

Behind her was the sister ship and fleetmate of the BLUE STAR NAXOS, namely the BLUE STAR PAROS. Her departure was always after that of her sister ship. In 2020 she was operating on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos line.

Another view of the POSIDON HELLAS while she exits the port of Piraeus, right after the BLUE STAR DELOS had already done so.

The SPEEDRUNNER III leaving the port of Piraeus. I also traveled with her, back when I headed from Sifnos to Piraeus on 29 July 2017. This was during her first season back with Aegean Speed Lines, after she had spent the summers of 2015 and 2016 on charter to other companies.

The SPEEDRUNNER III heading towards the exit of the port of Piraeus.

The BLUE STAR PAROS seen leaving the port of Piraeus in the morning. Just like the BLUE STAR NAXOS, she has been an acclaimed ship on the Cyclades, and her service continues to be praised despite her now being 18 years old. While she has mainly served the Cyclades, she has also operated on the Dodecanese lifeline (in 2016 and in 2017), as well as the Northeast Aegean Sea. Notably, during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, she was on the Piraeus-Syros-Tinos-Mykonos-Ikaria-Fournoi-Samos line.

The BLUE STAR PAROS on her way towards the exit of the port of Piraeus. I have also traveled with her, back when I headed from Mykonos to Piraeus on 20 June 2018. She was the second ship of Blue Star Ferries on which I had traveled, after the BLUE STAR PATMOS.

The BLUE STAR PAROS leaving Piraeus in order to head to Syros, Tinos and Mykonos.

While the SPEEDRUNNER III was leaving the port of Piraeus, I noticed that the small passenger boat GEORGIOS BROUFAS II of Broufas Vessels had entered the port, after having arrived from Salamina.

The GEORGIOS BROUFAS II having just entered the port of Piraeus. Built in 1998, she had spent her entire career up until the end of the 2020 season on the Piraeus-Salamina line.