Blue Star Maritime S.A., operating under the brand name Blue Star Ferries, is a Greece-based company founded in 1993[1] which provides ferry services between the Greek mainland and the Aegean Islands.
Blue Star Ferries is the biggest ferry company in Greece, serving more than 20 destinations. Its fleet is composed of 12 modern ferries whose course speeds range from 23 to 30 knots.[2] Blue Star Ferries is a subsidiary of Attica Group along with Hellenic Seaways and Superfast Ferries.
History
Blue Star Ferries was founded in 1965 as Strintzis Lines by the Strintzis family from Lixouri, Kefalonia. The company was rebranded as Blue Ferries in 2000[3] following Attica Enterprises' acquisition of a 48% stake in the company.[4] Blue Star Ferries is a sister company of Superfast Ferries, as both are part of Attica Group and have had partnership in some routes, such as Rosyth–Zeebrugge and presently Piraeus–Heraklion.
In 2006, Blue Star Maritime S.A. purchased the Dodecanese ferry company DANE Sea Lines.
Blue Star Ferries ordered two ferry-type ships at Daewoo Shipyards in South Korea. The first ferry, named Blue Star Delos, was delivered in the first 10 days of October 2011, and the second, Blue Star Patmos, in July 2012. Blue Star Delos is currently on the route Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Ios–Thira, and Blue Star Patmos on the route Piraeus–Chios–Mytilini (Lesvos).[5]
Current fleet
Blue Star Ferries currently operates a fleet of 10 vessels.[6]
Ionian Island (1987–2000), scrapped as Merdif 1 in 2010 at Alang, India
Ionian Galaxy (1987–2000), scrapped as Merdif 2 in 2011 at Alang, India
Ionian Fantasy (1988–1991): while serving as Ionian Sea (1991–1993), caught fire while laid up under the name Leros at Elefsina, Greece; scrapped at Aliağa, Turkey in 2001
Ionian Harmony (1989–1990), scrapped as Caly in 2013 at Alang, India
Ezio (1986-2007), scrapped as Al Masam in AlangIndia 2009
One of Blue Star Ferries' boats took the role of Princess Myrto on the Greek TV showΘα Σε Δω Στο Πλοίο (literally translated: I'll See You on the Ferry) broadcast by Alpha TV, a Greek channel, from 2000 to 2002. The majority of the filming for this series was on the boat itself except for on-location filming of the characters on holiday or on leave. This is still being broadcast in certain Greek-speaking countries, including Cyprus.
Controversy
On September 5, 2023, a 36 year old passenger of Blue Horizon, owned by Blue Star Ferries, on his effort to catch the ship on time, fell overboard and drowned at the port of Piraeus. The company initially denied any responsibility claiming that the man slipped, but video footage that was released later showed clearly that he was pushed off the ship's hatch by crew members. At that time the ship was departing with her propellers full ahead and the man drowned due to heavy turbulence. The video showed that the ship continued her course and the crew neither offered help nor reported "man overboard" as should. After the video was released on social media the ship, who had continued her voyage to Crete, was ordered to return to the port where the captain and the responsible crew members were arrested by the port police.[7]
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