On June 13, 2023, A-Ships Management’s GOLDEN BRIDGE departed from Greece with destination Spain.
The Ro-Pax is being chartered out to GNV since September 2021 and she will initially serve the Barcelona – Majorca – Ibiza line. Then she will be transferred on the Almeria – Nador long run for the rest of the summer period.
The ship arrived in Greece for repairs and dry docking in May.
Photo: A Ships Management
Another one high-speed craft vessel has seemingly been purchased by Seajets, who dominates the world of High-speed Craft vessels in Greece and worldwide. The new addition to the Seajet’s fleet is the Panellenic Lines, HSC SANTA IRINI (exHSC ALMUDAINA DOS), which was purchased in April 2022 from Acciona and chartered to the Cretan Transportation Services (CTRS) for daily excursions on the Heraklion – Santorini line.
The unexpected news came on June 13, 2023 and it seems that the new established ferry operator couldn’t stand the fierce competition on the specific area and halted services.
Seajets has grown into a “giant” that operates mainly high-speed craft vessels and became one of the largest ferry operators in Greece. It covers more than 250 port connections from Piraeus, Rafina and Crete to the Cyclades islands, while HSC SANTA IRINI will be their 16th high-speed vessel.
Seajets also operates four conventional ferries (SUPER STAR, AQUA BLUE, AQUA JEWEL, SPORADES STAR) on Greece’s domestic lines.
HSC SANTA IRINI (former ALMUDAINA DOS) of Panellenic Lines has officially joined the Hellenic Coastal Shipping and changed her flag from Cyprus to Greece. She is currently at Neos Molos (Piraeus) undergoing preparations to enter service this summer.
SANTA IRINI will sail on the Heraklion – Santorini line from 1 May to 30 October 2023. www.panellenic.com/en
Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos (Arxipelagos.gr)
On July 23, 2022, and after a 2-month intensive upgrading and dry docking at Neos Molos (Drapetsona) and Piraeus, HSC SANTA IRINI (former ALMUDAINA DOS) of Horizon Sea Lines arrived at the port of Heraklion.
The ship was purchased last May for daily cruises on the Heraklion (Crete) – Santorini run. For that purpose, she was chartered to Panellenic Lines.
Significant Greek businessmen, as well as the company CTRS – Cretan Transportation Services (Heraklion Bus Company) participate in Panellenic Lines.
Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos
On June 3, 2022, the new acquisition of the new established Horizon Sea Lines, HSC SANTA IRINI (former Acciona’s HSC ALMUDAINA DOS) arrived at Neos Molos Drapetsonas (port of Piraeus) from Almeria (Spain).
The ship is currently at Vassiliades dry dock (Piraeus Port) undergoing her dry docking and repairs until June 18. Then she will be chartered to the Cretan Transportation Services (CTRS) for daily excursions between Heraklion – Santorini. She flies the flag of Cyprus.
The former Acciona’s HSC ALMUDAINA DOS (1997) left Almeria on May 31 and set sail for the Port of Piraeus. The ship was purchased last April by the new established Horizon Sea Lines and renamed SANTA IRINI.
She is expected to arrive in Greece on June 3, where she will undergo a small refit. Then, she will be chartered to the Cretan Transportation Services (CTRS) for daily excursions on the Heraklion – Santorini line.
