2006

NorTHERN Adriatic SEA

As it was the former year, on 2005 we find again the ANEK – Minoan challenge at Venice. Anek Lines, as the former year, alternates on winter services “Sophocles V.”, “Lefka Ori” and “Kriti II”. From February till the end of October the company offered till six weekly departures, even if on peak seasons only the “Lefka Ori” and “Sophocles V.” were serving the line, respectively sailing from Venice Tuesday at 19.00 and Saturday at 12.00, Wednesday at 19.00 and Sunday at 12.00, coming back from Patras on late night of Thurday and Sunday, Friday and Monday. The answer from Minoan Lines is the well-known timetable of six weekly sailings operated by the “Pasiphae Palace”, “Ikarus Palace” and “Ariadne Palace”, increased to daily frequency from July to September. Anyway a breakdown changed the plans and “Ariadne Palace” was switched with the “Europa Palace”, which on Venice line managed a speed lower than the one of Fosen sisters. From Porto Marghera, finally, the cargo services increased a lot; after the “Nave Trailer” and “Cielo Trailer” of Hellenic Seaways Cargo we found also the “Filippos” of Halkydon Shipping, on Corinth – Porto Marghera line, and the “Acacia” of Anek Cargo, probably to fill the gap left by the chartered ferry.

ANCONA

We can see some changes also at Ancona, even if very small ones. The only operator who confirmed the timetable of the previous year without any changes is Anek Lines, still deployiong the “Olympic Champion” and the “Hellenic Spirit”. Minoan Lines, after “having ironed” the crossing time of half an hour, in order to lower the consumption of bunker, had another trouble: a breakdown occurred to the “Europa Palace”, which wadn’t able anymore to reach the average speed required to perform the Ancona timetable. At the half of June then the ferry was replaced by the “Ariadne Palace”, sailing in tandem with the “Olympia Palace”. Superfast Ferries instead confirmed more or less its 2005 timetable, with “Superfast XI” and “Superfast XII” engaged on afternoon departures via Igoumenitsa, and “Superfast V” and “Superfast VI” on evening departures, which required on the direct link 20,5 hours, with an average speed lower than many other “less-rated” ferries and crossing times longer than those required by “Superfast I” and “Superfast II”, the sisters who launched the Ancona – Patras link of Superfast in 1995.

BARI

Bari still shows the challenge between Agoudimos Lines – Endeavor Lines and Superfast Ferries. The pair Agoudimos Lines – Endeavor Lines still employs the fantastic twins “Ionian King” and “Ionian Queen”, while on summer were calling also at Cephalonia on Bari – Igoumenitsa – Patras line; Blue Star Ferries on the other side answers with “Blue Star 1” and “Blue Horizon” on Bari – Corfu – Igoumenitsa – Patras line. The “Cinderella” of the route is Ventouris Ferries with the “Siren” and the “Polaris”.

BRINDISI

Brindisi is now the periphery of Adriatic ferry scene. Starring in this periphery is the “Erotokritos”, the only ferry bearing the livery of Maritime Way after the end of “Elli T.” charter. Anyway on summer she’s supported by the G.A. Ferries sisters “Milena” and “Daliana”; the first one serving the Patras line, often calling also at Cephalonia and Zakinthos, the second on Brindisi – Corfu – Igoumenitsa line. On Patras service we find also the “Elli T.”, this year with Endeavor Lines livery, on Brindisi – Igoumenitsa – Cephalonia – Patras line. Unfortunately the Endeavor livery, very impressing on “Ionian Queen”, has not the same effect on this ferry. Speaking of Endeavor, we should not forget their “cousins” of Agoudimos Lines, still serving Brindisi – Corfu – Igoumenitsa line with the “Ionian Sky”; on the same line, with an opposite timetable, the “Ouranos” of Fragline.

Le foto in questa pagina sono gentile concessione di Matteo Fasce, Pieter Inpijn, Fleet File Rotterdam, Kurth Warth, Emilio Barenghi, Michele Lulurgas, Stefanos Antoniadis, oltre a cartoline e fotografie ufficiali.

ß2005 HISTORy

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