Superfast Ferries

Last updated
Superfast Ferries S.A.
Company type Wholly owned subsidiary
Industry Transport
Headquarters Athens, Greece
ProductsPassenger transportation, Freight transportation, Holidays, Business travel
Parent Attica Holdings
Website www.superfast.com
MS Superfast XI bound to Ancona passing Kefalonia island. Superfast XI.jpg
MS Superfast XI bound to Ancona passing Kefalonia island.
MS Blue Star 1 of the joint Superfast Ferries/Blue Star Ferries service from Rosyth to Zeebrugge in the Firth of Forth. Blue Star 1 Firth of Forth.JPG
MS Blue Star 1 of the joint Superfast Ferries/Blue Star Ferries service from Rosyth to Zeebrugge in the Firth of Forth.

Superfast Ferries is a Greece-based ferry company founded in 1993 by Pericles Panagopulos and Alexander Panagopulos. [1] 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.

Contents

Routes

In the past, Superfast Ferries has operated lines in several parts of Europe, in the Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, North Sea, and the Baltic sea. Currently, they are mainly active in the Adriatic sea, operating between Greece and Italy. Their routes are between the Italian ports of Ancona and Bari and the Greek ports of Igoumenitsa and Patras, as well as between Bari and Corfu.

Superfast operated the Rosyth – Zeebrugge ferry service between 2002 and 2008. On 29 May 2008, it was announced that Superfast Ferries would withdraw across the North Sea. The service was subsequently withdrawn on 13 September 2008. The North Sea service was mainland Scotland's only year round, direct, scheduled ferry service to and from Continental Europe. The vessel used was Blue Star 1, which replaced the larger Superfast X on the route. Blue Star 1 has been reallocated to Attica's Mediterranean services. Norfolkline restarted the route in May 2009. [2]

Superfast also operated between Piraeus and Heraklion until 2013. On 8 March 2013 it was announced that Superfast VI has been sold to Genting Group and Superfast XII, which was operating that route, was transferred to its position in Adriatic Sea.[ citation needed ]

Superfast had proposed and was the favourite to run a new ferry service between Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom and IJmuiden, Netherlands in 2004 at the new Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour development after a bidding process held in 2002. Superfast never went ahead with the route.

Vessel allocations

In late 2005, Superfast ferries removed one of the two ships operating the link between Zeebrugge and Rosyth, thus turning the daily link from Belgium to Scotland into one operated only every other day. Superfast IX joined the two ship operation between Hanko and Rostock to serve the growing demand in the FinlandGermany service.

In addition, Superfast introduced a new "roll-on/roll-off" (RO/RO) service between Uusikaupunki and Rostock in January 2005. Attica has since moved one of the RO/RO ships, RORO MARIN, to their Adriatic Sea routes.

In April 2006, Superfast and Attica once more took the market by surprise by agreeing to sell the Superfast VII, Superfast VIII, and Superfast IX ice-class ferries to Estonian operator Tallink for €310 million.

In August 2006, Attica entered into an agreement to sell to Veolia Transport its ice-class vessel Superfast X trading between Scotland and Belgium for €112 million. The delivery of Superfast X took place in January 2007.

In September 2007, Pericles Panagopulos, the former key shareholder of Attica and then Chairman, sold his family's participation for €5.50 per share to Marfin Investment Group. The move was seen as a "family transition" decision and was interpreted to be an exit for the then 72-year-old investor. Alexander Panagopulos, CEO of Attica, resigned prior to this sale and founded his shipping company by the name Arista Shipping S.A.

ANEK–Superfast

On 8 June 2011, Superfast Ferries and ANEK Lines created a joint venture in the name of ANEK–Superfast to operate Piraeus – Heraklion and Patras – Igoumenitsa – Ancona routes using two passenger RO/RO vessels in the former route (the ANEK-owned "Olympic Champion" and the Superfast-owned "Superfast XII") and three in the latter route (the ANEK-owned "Hellenic Spirit" and the Superfast-owned "Superfast VI" and "Superfast XI"). [3]

Controversy

On January 18, 2023, Lighthouse Reports, in collaboration with SRF, ARD, Al Jazeera, Il Domani and Solomon published a report claiming illegal pushbacks of asylum seekers from Italy to Greece using Superfast ferries. If those asylum seekers arrived to the ports of Venice, Ancona, Bari, and Brindisi, they were denied the opportunity to seek asylum and were pushed back using the Superfast ships. Immigrants were put into shower rooms and metal boxes with caged roofs, sometimes being handcuffed to metal shelves. [4]

Fleet

Current fleet

ShipFlagBuiltEntered Service Gross tonnage LengthWidthPassengersVehiclesKnotsPhotos
Superfast XI Flag of Greece.svg 2002200230.902  GT 199,9 m25 m1.82172129 20211103 108 saronikos.jpg
Superfast I Flag of Greece.svg 2008200825.757  GT 199,1 m26,6 m92878324,2 Superfast I.jpg
Superfast II Flag of Greece.svg 2009200925.518  GT 199,1 m26,6 m92878324,2 SuperfastII.png
Ariadne Flag of Greece.svg 1996202330.882  GT 195,6 m27 m2.04564024 Ariadne.png
Lefka Ori Flag of Greece.svg 1987202427.320  GT 187,1 m27 m1.48878023 Leuka Ori Piraeus.jpg

Future fleet

ShipFlagBuiltTo Enter Service Gross tonnage LengthWidthPassengersVehiclesKnotsPhotos
Superfast III Flag of Greece.svg 2000April 202432.694  GT 204 m25,8 m1.83367030 Peiraias Olympic Champion.jpg
Superfast IV Flag of Greece.svg 2001May 202432.694  GT 204 m25,8 m1.85067030 Hellenic Spirit (ANEK-Lines) 2011.jpg

Past fleet

ShipYears in serviceGross tonnageCurrent status
MS Superfast I 1995–200423,663  GT Since 2008 MS Skania for Unity Line
MS Superfast II 1995–200323,663  GT Since 2006 MS Mega Express Four for Corsica Ferries
MS Superfast III 1998–200229,067  GT Since 2002 MS Spirit of Tasmania II for TT-Line (Australia)
MS Superfast IV 1998–200229,067  GT Since 2002 MS Spirit of Tasmania I for TT-Line (Australia)
MS Superfast V 2001–201032,728  GT Since 2022 MS GNV Spirit for Grandi Navi Veloci
MS Superfast VI 2001–201332,728  GT Since 2021 MS Europa Palace for Grimaldi Group
MS Superfast VII 2001–200630,285  GT Since 2011 MS Stena Superfast VII for Stena Line
MS Superfast VIII 2001–200630,285  GT Since 2011 MS Stena Superfast VIII for Stena Line
MS Superfast IX 2002–200630,285  GT Since 2008 on charter as MV Atlantic Vision from Tallink to Marine Atlantic
MS Superfast X 2002–200729,800  GT Since 2020 on charter as MS A. Nepita from Stena RoRo to Corsica Linea
MS Superfast XII 2002–201830,902  GT Since 2018 MS Cruise Ausonia for Grimaldi Group
MS Asterion II 2022–202431,804  GT In 2024 it will soon operate for ANEK Lines

Routes

Related Research Articles

ANEK Lines was one of the largest passenger shipping companies in Greece. It was founded in 1967 by numerous shareholders who were inhabitants of Crete. It operated passenger ferries, mainly on Piraeus-Crete and Adriatic Sea lines.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attica Group</span> Greek ferry operator

Attica Holdings S.A. is an operator of international ferry services in Europe. Attica Group's operations include its subsidiaries Superfast Ferries, which began in 1995 with the launch of its first ships, Superfast I & Superfast II, and Blue Star Ferries which operates ferries in the Aegean Sea to the Greek islands. In June 2018 Attica Group increased its share in Hellenic Seaways to 98.83%. Hellenic Seaways is 100% controlled by the Attica Group following the acquisition of minority interest of 1.17% in July 2019. It also has a partnership in Africa Morocco Link which operates mainly in the Strait of Gibraltar. In December 2023 it absorbed 100% of ANEK Lines, rendering the operator number two in the number of passengers commuted in Europe.

MS <i>Mega Express Four</i> Fast roll-on/roll-off ferry

Mega Express Four is a fast roll-on/roll-off ferry owned by Corsica Ferries - Sardinia Ferries and operated on their routes from Nice and Toulon to Ile Rousse. She was built in 1995 by Schichau Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, Germany for Superfast Ferries as Superfast II. Between 2003 and 2006 she sailed for TT-Line as Spirit of Tasmania III.

MS <i>A. Nepita</i>

MS A Nepita is a fast ropax ferry for Corsica Linea. The ferry was refurbished in Gdańsk, Poland for her new service and was returned to her original design before her SeaFrance career and looks identical to her sisters Stena Superfast VII & VIII. Before November 2014 she operated between Dover and Calais for DFDS Seaways France and between 2008 and 2012 for SeaFrance.

MS <i>Spirit of Tasmania II</i> Bass Strait cargo ferry operated by TT-Line

MS Spirit of Tasmania II is a roll-on/roll-off ferry operated by TT-Line between Geelong and Devonport in Australia. Built in 1998 by Kvaerner Masa-Yards at Turku New Shipyard in Finland for Superfast Ferries as MS Superfast III, since 2002 she has sailed for TT-Line as MS Spirit of Tasmania II.

The Rosyth – Zeebrugge ferry service was a freight-only service operated by DFDS. The service replaced a passenger and freight service that was initially operated by Superfast Ferries between May 2002 and September 2008, and then by Norfolkline from 18 May 2009 until 15 December 2010. It was the only direct ferry route between Scotland and Continental Europe. On 20 August 2010 it was announced that the passenger service would end on 15 December 2010, although the freight-only service resumed shortly thereafter. The service was terminated in 2018 following a fire aboard one of the ships.

Hellenic Seaways is a Greece-based ferry company founded in 1984. Hellenic Seaways is a subsidiary of Attica Group along with Blue Star Ferries and Superfast Ferries.

MS <i>Skania</i>

MS Skania is a fast ropax ferry operated by Unity Line on their Świnoujście-Ystad route. She was built in 1995 by Schichau Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, Germany for Superfast Ferries as MS Superfast I. Between 2004 and 2008 she sailed for Grimaldi Lines as MS Eurostar Roma.

GNV Spirit is a cruiseferry owned by GNV and operated by GNV between Tyrrhenian Sea & Spain. She was acquired in 2022 by Grandi Navi Veloci from Brittany Ferries for an undisclosed amount.

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.

MS <i>Cruise Ausonia</i>

MS Cruise Ausonia is a fast Ro-Pax jumbo ferry owned by the Grimaldi Lines and sails on the Livorno-Palermo route. She was built in 2002 for Superfast Ferries as MS Superfast XII by a shipyard in Lübeck, Germany, and is the last vessel of 12. She is a sister ship of Superfast XI.

<i>Blue Carrier 1</i> Ship built in 2000

MS Blue Carrier 1 is a ro-ro ferry built in 2000 for Norfolkline BV and now operates in the Aegean Sea for Blue Star Ferries.

MS <i>Europa Palace</i>

MS Europa Palace is a fast ropax ferry owned by Grimaldi Lines and operated by Minoan Grimaldi Lines. The ship previously named Cruise Olbia and did the Civitavecchia-Olbia route. Built in 2001 as Superfast VI by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, Germany for Attica Group's subsidiary Superfast Ferries, she was sold to the Genting Group in 2013, Renamed Bimini Superfast for the Bimini-Miami route. In 2016 she was sold to her current owners.

MS <i>Superfast XI</i>

MS Superfast XI is a fast jumbo ropax ferry currently operating between Patras-Igoumenitsa and Ancona under Superfast Ferries. She was built in 2002 by the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) at Kiel, Germany for Attica Group's wholly owned subsidiary Superfast Ferries.

Asterion II

The MS Asterion II is a Greek ferry and is currently operated by Superfast Ferries.

<i>El. Venizelos</i> (ship) Greek ferry

The MS El. Venizelos is a Greek ferry, and 2nd oldest ship in the ANEK Lines fleet. It is a motor Ro-Ro/Passenger ferryboat, built in 1984 at Stocznia im. Komuny Paryskiej, Gdynia, Poland as Stena Polonica and completed in 1992 in Perama, Piraeus, Greece as El Venizelos. It is one of 4 sister ships, Stena Vision and Stena Spirit, both owned by Stena Lines, and the unfinished Lelakis' Regent Sky. It can hold a total of 2300 passenger and 850 cars and has 1606 beds for passengers. It has four Zgoda-Sulzer 16ZV 40/48 diesel engines, with combined power of 34,130 kW and can reach a speed of 22 knots.It also has WiFi Internet, two restaurants. two bars, an amusement arcade, a casino, a church, a duty-free shop, a playground, a hospital, escalators, elevators, air-conditioning and a swimming pool and its cabins can be either "lux", 2-bed, 4-bed or for the Disabled. It is named after Eleftherios Venizelos, a Greek politician who served as Prime Minister of Greece and has Cretan origins. On 30 March El Venizelos laid-up since three days in Piraeus Anchorage had cases with the COVID-19. On 2 April at nine pm El Venizelos moored at the Piraeus Port. From 25 April 2020 to 13 April 2023 she was laid up at Perama.

<i>Blue Star 1</i> Greek ferry

Blue Star 1 is a Greek ferry, which is owned by Blue Star Ferries. She is a motor Ro-Ro/Passenger ferryboat, built in 2000 by Van der Giessen de Noord shipward in Krimpen aan den IJssel, Netherlands. She is a sistership to Blue Star 2. She holds a total of 1600 passengers and 640 vehicles and has 430 beds in 161 cabins for passengers. She has four MAN B&W 8L58 / 64 diesel engines, with combined power of 44,480 kW and reaches speeds of up to 27 knots.

AF Mia Italian ferry

The AF Mia is a RO/PAX ferry operated and owned by Adria Ferries. The ship was built as Ikarus in Fosen Mek Verksteder A/S, Norway for Minoan Lines in 1997, and later renamed Ikarus Palace. She has a sister ship Jean Nicoli now with Corsica Linea.

<i>MS Kriti I</i> Greek ship

The MS Kriti I is a RO/PAX ship owned and operated by ANEK Lines. Along with El. Venizelos (ship) and her sister ship Kriti II she is the oldest ship in the fleet of ANEK Lines. The ship was built in 1979 at Koyo Dockyard, Japan and her original name was New Suzuran.

References

  1. E.Tsiliopoulos. "Greek shipping patriarch Pericles Panagopoulos, 83 passes". New Greek TV. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  2. "Norfolkline Will Continue Rosyth-Zeebrugge Service in Spring 2009". www.norfolkline.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008.
  3. "Home". anek-superfast.gr.
  4. "Detained below deck". Lighthouse Reports. Retrieved 2023-01-31.

Further reading