PAINTED NEWS

Let us sleeping!!!: Another chapter of the long saga between shipowners and Greek islanders: it seems that the major of Chios had protested against Nel Lines, whick links daily the island with Greek mainland on the ferry’s way from Piraeus to Mytilene, due to the early arrival at Chios, scheduled at 03.30 in the morning. The major is asking the company to postpone the arrival at almost six o’clock. But I can remember that at “Nissos Chios”’s times the ferry, which nowadays is laid up in a very sorry state at Ionio had the arrival in Chios at four o’clock in the morning. Should we resurrect her?

From the stars to the ground: The Thessaloniki – Crete ferry line was launched for the first time by Anek Lines with the hystoric “Kydon” and then left due to the low profitability; later Nomicos Lines introduced on that line the “Anemos” three days per-week, while on 1996 a second ship was put on Macedonia – Heraklion service, the “El Greco” of Minoan Lines, replaced in 2002 by the “Daedalus”; meanwhile Nomicos Lines abandoned that service for entering on Piraeus – Samos line, replaced by G.A. Ferries which employed on that service the “Dimitroula” and later the “Daliana” and “Milena” prior to leave the line. So nowadays the “Daedalus” is the only ferry on the long crossing between Heraklion and Thessaloniki, but it seems that the line is unprofitable and Minoan Lines is planning to stop the service at the end of summer season. For the “Daedalus”, instead, it seems that Adria Ferries, the company which links Ancona with Durres, is interested in buying her. I hope not.

SAVEd?: I’ve told many times about my worrying about the destiny of the good ex-Dane Sea Line vessels “Patmos” and “Rodos” which are confiscated and laid up at Keratsini, but also afflicted by some mechanical troubles. It seems that Saos Ferries is interested in this couple of ferries, probably planning to deploy them on a new Dodecanese service. Only rumours?

THE PIRATES OF THE AEGEAN: Two Corsare 8000, one 10000, one 11000 and one 14000; we’re lacking only the 12000, and considering the crisis which afflicts SNCM is also probabile that the “NGV Liamone” would reach us soon. We’re talking about the family of High-Speed Crafts built by Alstom, which includes the NEL ferries, the “Panagia Thalassini” and also the “Panagia Parou”, which is a sister of the “Panagia Thalassini” and also included on C-Link A.K. Ventouris fleet. We would find her soon sailing from Lavrion to Cyclades, probably calling also at Piraeus sometimes.

One leaves… one arrives?: After having publicized heavily the purchase of the “Alkmini A”, Gerasimos Agoudimos had thought to introduce her between… Denmark and Norway! But it isn’t G.A. Ferries which decided to operate out of the Mediterranean, the ferry was chartered to Kystlink. And what about the Dodecanese? No matter! However we’re hearing some rumours about a new purchase of the company: while the “shares” of the “Pride of Aquitaine” are falling down, those ones of the “Silesia” of Polferries, a ship which is probably more suitable to G.A. Ferries’s scopes. Who would charter her now? SNAV? Transeuropa? Blue Line? We’ll see…

A DOCTOR on BOARD: It seems that, after a long struggle, the Ministry of Mercantile Marine would impose a doctor on-board all the ferries on Greek Domestic Routes. The intention is right and the Government seems to be intentioned to allow the operators raising the economic class fares due to this new service, but we should remember to “our friends” politicians that for putting a Doctor on-board of a ferry is needed the existence of a ferry…

DIASPORA: It seems to have hit the ships ex-Anek Cargo, of which only the “Aegean Glory” seems to operate still under the Cretan colours. On the long voyages around Europe and Africa of these ferries the “Aegean Sun” reached a port of the Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus, causing many troubles to the Captain of the ship and great rumours from politics world. But if the Captain went there probably it was under the order of the shipowner, or probably had some troubles on board, or not?

A summer at sea: The 2005 summer season is starting, but how many ferries are laid up waiting an employment which would never arrive? Byblos, Egnatia III, Poseidonia, Rodos, Patmos, Express Adonis, Express Olympia, Express Poseidon… a great sadness which has no comments.

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