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Hellenic Seaways [1] | |
Native name | ΧΕΛΛΕΝΙΚ ΣΗΓΟΥΕΪΣ ΜΟΝΟΠΡΟΣΩΠΗ ΑΝΩΝΥΜΗ ΝΑΥΤΙΛΙΑΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ [1] |
Formerly | |
Company type | Private |
Predecessor | Hellas Ferries |
Founded | February 6, 1984 [1] |
Headquarters | , Greece [1] |
Area served | Greece [5] |
Key people | Konstantinos Klironomos (Chairman) Antonios Agapitos (CEO) [6] |
Products | Shipping |
Services | Passenger transportation Freight transportation |
Revenue | ![]() |
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Total assets | ![]() |
Total equity | ![]() |
Number of employees | 1,008 (2015) |
Parent | Attica Group [8] |
Website | www.hellenicseaways.gr |
Hellenic Seaways is a Greece-based ferry company founded in 1984. [1] Hellenic Seaways is a subsidiary of Attica Group along with Blue Star Ferries and Superfast Ferries.
Ceres Hellenic Shipping Enterprises [2] owned by the Livanos family, a hydrofoils company active in the Argo-Saronic Gulf and the Sporades islands was established in 1984. [1] It was renamed Minoan Flying Dolphins (MFD) in 1999. [3] Pantelis Sfinias (Greek : Παντελής Σφηνιάς) had convinced many prominent Greek businessmen to purchase stakes in MFD. His plan was to use the raised capital for purchasing small traditional ferry companies and eventually consolidate the Greek ferry industry. [9] Within a few months, MFD grew rapidly through a barrage of vessel purchases from companies such as Agapitos, Agoudimos, Nomikos Lines, Ventouris Ferries, Goutos, etc. [10] Soon, MFD controlled a market share exceeding 90% in several routes. [11] In addition to its fleet of conventional vessels, MFD operated a number of high-speed craft ordered from Austal. [12]
However, plans of taking the company public collapsed after the Greek stock market crash in the fall of 1999 and the sinking of MFD's MS Express Samina on 26 September 2000, in which 82 people perished. Two months later, under strong pressure from the stockholders and the media, Sfinias committed suicide by throwing himself out of his sixth floor office window. [13]
MFD was renamed to Hellas Flying Dolphins in the summer of 2001 [14] and Hellenic Seaways in 2005, following the consolidation of its subsidiaries Hellas Ferries, Saronikos Ferries, and Sporades Ferries.[ citation needed ] Minoan Lines continued to own a large stake exceeding 30% in Hellenic Seaways until 2018, when it was sold to Attica Group. [15]
In August 2009, Hellenic Seaways purchased the single-ship, budget cruise line easyCruise from founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou. [16]
In 2011, it operated more than 35 vessels, servicing more than 35 ports in the Cyclades, North East Aegean, South East Aegean, Crete, Argosaronikos, and Sporades. [17]
In January 2011, Minoan Lines (Heraklion) cancelled the sale of its 33.35% stake in Hellenic Seaways to ANEK and tried to find a new buyer for it. [18]
In June 2018, Minoan Lines (Heraklion) sold its 48.53% stake in Hellenic Seaways to Attica Group for €78.5 million. [19]
Hellenic Seaways operate a large fleet of high-speed craft [20] [21] and conventional ferries. [22]
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Cars | Knots | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Artemis | ![]() | 1997 | 1,612 GT | 89.8 m | 14 m | 512 | 58 | 19.2 | |
Nissos Rodos | ![]() | 1987 | 29,733 GT | 192.5 m | 27 m | 2,210 | 748 | 22 | ![]() |
Nissos Samos | ![]() | 1988 | 30,435 GT | 192.9 m | 29.4 m | 2,202 | 656 | 20.5 | ![]() |
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Cars | Knots | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hellenic Highspeed | ![]() | 1997 | 4,463 GT | 100 m | 17 m | 724 | 165 | 35 | ![]() |
Highspeed 4 | ![]() | 2000 | 6,274 GT | 92 m | 24 m | 1,004 | 188 | 40.5 | ![]() |
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Knots | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AERO 1 Highspeed | ![]() | 2022 | 347 GT | 36 m | 9.7 m | 150 | 32.2 | |
AERO 2 Highspeed | ![]() | 2022 | 347 GT | 36 m | 9.7 m | 150 | 32.2 | |
AERO 3 Highspeed | ![]() | 2022 | 347 GT | 36 m | 9.7 m | 150 | 32.2 |
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Knots | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flyingcat 3 | ![]() | 1998 | 613 GT | 47.7 m | 11.8 m | 342 | 42 | ![]() |
Flyingcat 4 | ![]() | 1999 | 794 GT | 55.1 m | 13 m | 438 | 42 | ![]() |
Flyingcat 5 | ![]() | 1996 | 496 GT | 40 m | 10 m | 337 | 30 | ![]() |
Flyingcat 6 | ![]() | 1997 | 493 GT | 40 m | 10.1 m | 339 | 28 | ![]() |
Ship | Flag | Built | Gross tonnage | Length | Width | Passengers | Knots | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flying Dolphin XVII | ![]() | 1984 | 162 GT | 32 m | 6 m | 128 | 30 | ![]() |
Flying Dolphin XIX | ![]() | 1983 | 161 GT | 35 m | 6 m | 128 | 40 | ![]() |
Flying Dolphin XXIX | ![]() | 1993 | 161 GT | 35 m | 6 m | 128 | 40 | |
Cyclades
North Aegean & Dodecanese
Crete
Argosaronikos
Hellenic Seaways covered itineraries to Chania in Crete island in the summer periods from 2004–2006 with the high-speed vessel Highspeed 4 in 4 hours and 30 minutes, and in summer 2007 with the passenger ferry Ariadne. The company also launched routes from Piraeus to Rethymno port, in Crete with Highspeed 5 in summer 2008. In the summer season of 2010, Hellenic Seaways launched for the first time itineraries from Piraeus to Dodecanese islands, Kos and Rhodes, (through Paros) with the passenger ferry Nissos Rodos, but after an unsuccessful period they were cancelled.
Until early summer 2018, Hellenic Seaways sailed from Heraklion in Crete to Mykonos with calls at the ports of Santorini, Ios and Paros with Highspeed 7 . Then, Hellenic Seaways withdrew from the route, due to Highspeed 7 being transferred to Minoan Lines as part of the deal for the sale of Minoan's stake in Hellenic Seaways to Attica Group. The vessel, however, remained in the route under the flag of its new owner and the new name Santorini Palace.
In late 2013, Hellenic Seaways formed a joint venture with Saronic Gulf rivals Nova Ferries and 2way Ferries. Created to offer better schedules and better prices for the consumers, the joint venture marketed as Saronic Ferries, using four vessels and covering a total of four destinations. [24] [25] After selling the ferries Posidon Hellas and Apollon Hellas to 2way Ferries in 2015 and 2016 respectively, Hellenic Seaways left the joint venture.
In 2007, Hellenic Seaways was awarded by Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards as "The Best Passenger Line of the Year 2007", and their then new-building vessel, Nissos Chios, was awarded with the prize of "The Best Ship of the Year 2007". [26] Her sister ship, the Nissos Mykonos, had also won the same award in 2006. In 2014, Hellenic Seaways was again awarded by Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards as "The Best Passenger Line of the Year 2014". [27]
The following list includes former vessels of the current company and of its predecessors and subsidiaries.
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The Aegean Sea is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It is located between the Balkans and Anatolia, and covers an area of some 215,000 km2 (83,000 sq mi). In the north, the Aegean is connected to the Marmara Sea, which in turn connects to the Black Sea, by the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, respectively. The Aegean Islands are located within the sea and some bound it on its southern periphery, including Crete and Rhodes. The sea reaches a maximum depth of 3,544 m (11,627 ft) to the east of Crete. The Thracian Sea and the Sea of Crete are main subdivisions of the Aegean Sea.
Heraklion or Herakleion, sometimes Iraklion, is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece with a municipal population of 179,302 (2021) and 211,370 in its wider metropolitan area, according to the 2011 census. The greater area of Heraklion has been continuously inhabited since at least 7000 BCE, making it one of the oldest inhabited regions in Europe. It is also home to the ancient Knossos Palace, a major center of the Minoan civilization dating back to approximately 2000-1350 BCE, often considered Europe's oldest city. The palace is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece, second only to the Parthenon in terms of visitor numbers.
Heraklion is one of the four regional units of Crete. The capital is the city of Heraklion.
Superfast Ferries is a Greece-based ferry company founded in 1993 by Pericles Panagopulos and Alexander Panagopulos. Superfast Ferries is a member of Attica Group and operates 5 car-passenger ferries, offering daily connections between Ancona and Bari in Italy, and Patras and Igoumenitsa in Greece. Together with Blue Star Ferries, Africa Morocco Link, ANEK Lines and Hellenic Seaways, it is a subsidiary company of Attica Group, which is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange.
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Minoan Lines is one of the largest passenger ferry companies in Europe, and one of the dominant passenger ferry companies in Greece, sailing between Piraeus and Crete and, in the Adriatic Sea, between Patras and various Italian ports. The company was founded in May 1972. Since 2008 Grimaldi's Compagnia di Navigazione SpA owns and controls 95.9 of the stock of Minoan Lines.
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Gareth Alun Owens is a British-Greek academic, currently serving as Associate Director and «Erasmus/Socrates» Manager/Tutor of the International Relations Office of the Hellenic Mediterranean University and as Associate Professor of Hellenic Culture -- History, Language and Civilization. He is notable for his contributions to Linear B studies and for his attempts to coordinate the efforts of academics to decipher Linear A.
The climate in Greece is predominantly Mediterranean. However, due to the country's geography, Greece has a wide range of micro-climates and local variations. The Greek mainland is extremely mountainous, making Greece one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. To the west of the Pindus mountain range, the climate is generally wetter and has some maritime features. The east of the Pindus mountain range is generally drier and windier in summer. The highest peak is Mount Olympus, 2,918 metres (9,573 ft). The northern areas of Greece have a transitional climate between the continental, the Mediterranean and the humid subtropical climate. There are mountainous areas that have an alpine climate. Also, various areas of Greece have semi-arid climates.
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Blue Star Maritime S.A., operating under the brand name Blue Star Ferries, is a Greece-based company founded in 1993 which provides ferry services between the Greek mainland and the Aegean Islands.
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Blue Star Mykonos is a ferry owned by Blue Star Ferries that currently operates most commonly on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Samos-Chios-Mytilene-Kavala route. It is driven by four Wartsila 12V38 main diesel engines and has an operating speed of 25 knots, making it faster than all other big ferries currently serving the Cyclades Islands and North Aegean. The ferry is a sister ship to Blue Star Chios.
MS Kydon Palace is a Greek Ro-Pax high speed ferry, built in 2001 at the Sestri Ponente shipyards by Fincantieri as Festos Palace for Minoan Lines' overnight services between Piraeus and Crete. Initially she ran to Heraklion. In 2020 she was transferred to the Piraeus–Chania route and renamed Kydon Palace She is a sister ship of Knossos Palace. She can reach speeds up to 30 knots. The ship's facilities include restaurants, bars and cabins.
The MV Al Salmy 4 was a former train ferry, converted to RO-RO/Passenger ferry.
The HSC Highspeed 4 is a 92,5m high speed catamaran operated by Hellenic Seaways.
The HSC Olympic Champion Jet , built as Highspeed 5, later Highspeed 7, for Hellenic Seaways, is an 85m high speed catamaran owned by Minoan Lines. In January 2024 she was chartered to Seajets. It has been renamed Olympic Champion Jet.
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The HSF Cruise Bonaria is a Ro-Pax high speed ferry, built in 2000 at the Sestri Ponente shipyards by Fincantieri and owned by Grimaldi Lines previously owned by Minoan Lines as Knossos Palace. It can accommodate up to 2,500 passengers and 700 cars, and has 758 beds plus 742 airseats for passengers. The vessel is powered by four 4x Wärtsilä 16V46C diesel engines with a combined power of 67,517 kW, which give her a top 'speed of 31,6 knots. In November 2020 Minoan Lines announced that Knossos Palace exchanged with her former ship Cruise Bonaria previously named Olympia Palace. The first sold to Grimaldi Lines and renamed it Cruise Bonaria and the other one renamed Knossos Palace. The former Knossos Palace was under the Minoan Lines 20 years. For 20 years did the Piraeus-Heraklion route. The ship left Greece forever on 24 November and arrived in Napoli, Italy after two days. In there will change signals and name.
Η προηγούμενη ονομασία της εταιρίας ήταν «ΕΛΛΑΣ ΦΛΑΪΝΓΚ ΝΤΟΛΦΙΝΣ A.N.E.» και η προηγούμενη αυτής ήταν «ΜΙΝΩΑΝ ΦΛΑΪΝΓΚ ΝΤΟΛΦΙΝΣ Α.Ν.Ε.». Η HSW προήλθε από τη μετονομασία, την αλλαγή σκοπού και αντικειμένου δραστηριότητας της εταιρίας «ΣΕΡΕΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑΙ ΝΑΥΤΙΛΙΑΚΑΙ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΣΕΙΣ Α.Ε.» (ΦΕΚ 1118/26.2.1999 τεύχος Α.Ε. και Ε.Π.Ε.).
ΜΙΝΩΑΝ ΦΛΑΪΝΓΚ ΝΤΟΛΦΙΝΣ Α.Ν.Ε. (μετονομασθείσα ΕΛΛΑΣ ΦΛΑΪΝΓΚ ΝΤΟΛΦΙΝΣ Α.Ν.Ε., από 5.7.2001)