Saronic Ferries’ YABUSA Arrives in Greece from China

By | 2025 Newsletter week 10 | No Comments

On 4 March 2025, the latest addition to Saronic Ferries fleet, YABUSA (ex-HAYABUSA NO.3), arrived in Greece after a 66-day voyage from China. The vessel departed from the Port of Shanghai on 29 December 2024 and docked at Neos Molos Drapetsonas, where she will undergo final conversion into a car/passenger ferry.

YABUSA is the sixth vessel in the Saronic Ferries fleet and will operate on the Piraeus-Aegina-Poros route. Built in Japan in 2000, she was purchased from Seikan Ferry in 2024 and underwent part of her conversion at the COSCO Shipyard in Shanghai.

Saronic Ferries is a consortium operating a fleet of five modern ships in the Saronic Gulf. The company connects Piraeus with Aegina, Agistri, Methana, and Poros year-round, providing reliable service 365 days a year.

Photo: Kostas Papadopoulos

Saronic Ferries: A New Identity for a New Era

By | 2025 Newsletter week 09 | No Comments

Saronic Ferries is refreshing its corporate identity with new colours and a redesigned logo, inspired by the landscapes of the Saronic Islands. The update, created by G Design Studio, reflects the company’s focus on innovation and sustainability.

In 2025, Saronic Ferries will introduce its sixth car-passenger ferry and is also planning Greece’s first fully electric ship.

The company operates five modern vessels, connecting Piraeus with Aegina, Agistri, Methana, and Poros year-round. With 60 years of experience, it continues to invest in fleet and service improvements to enhance the passenger experience.

Photo: Saronic Ferries

Saronic Ferries purchased Seikan Ferries’ HAYABUSA N°3

By | 2024 Newsletter week 03 | No Comments

On January 16, 2024, it was revealed that the Greek Joint-Service Saronic Ferries (Lefakis-Papaioannides) appears to be the buyer of the Japanese Seikan Ferries’ (Kyoei Unyu) RoRo vessel, Hayabusa No. 3.

The ship will cease operations on the traditional Aomori – Hakodate line after 23 years of service and will be replaced by the larger Hayabusa III on January 24, 2024.

She was originally constructed in Japan in 2000 at the Hakodate dock, with a carrying capacity of 105 passengers and 26 trucks (12m). Her service speed is 18.7 knots

Photo: Marinetraffic T.K.S.

Saronic Ferries: Leading the transition to green shipping

By | 2023 Newsletter week 49 | No Comments

As part of its commitment to fully transition to zero-emission shipping by 2040, Saronic Ferries participated in a training mission to Norway with the aim of further familiarising itself with electric propulsion technologies in coastal shipping.

The 3-day visit, organised by the Embassy of Norway in Greece, took place in Norway (3-6 December) with the goal of understanding and adopting environmentally friendly technologies for short sea vessels in the Greek market.

The educational visit of the company’s representatives to Norway offered a unique opportunity to explore the latest trends and practices in the electrification and hybridisation of passenger ships. Norway’s progress in this area is not only a model for business efficiency but also a beacon for environmental management in maritime industries.

Saronic Ferries, as already announced in the past, has been preparing since 2020 the study of a purely electric ferry for the transport of passengers and vehicles on the Saronic lines, which it already serves with a fleet of 5 conventional ships.

The study has already been implemented with the Dutch office C-Job and secured approval for the initial study (AiP) from the Norwegian Surveyor DNV, starting in the summer of 2023.

Photo: Saronic Ferries

C-Job Naval Architects designed a ship for Saronic Ferries

By | 2022 Newsletter week 28 | No Comments

The Dutch company delivered an initial design, following an extensive sustainable fuel feasibility study.

The zero-emission ropax has a capacity of 800 passengers and will feature a variety of sustainable aspects, including fully electric propulsion.

The ferry will recharge in the port of Piraeus.

The vessel is expected to join the fleet in 2026, sailing between Piraeus and the islands of Aegina and Agistri, provided the infrastructure required in the port of Piraeus is in place.

Saronic Ferries signed MOU with DNV for the development of a fully electric ferry

By | 2022 Newsletter week 23 | No Comments

On June 7, 2022, Saronic Ferries signed a memorandum of cooperation with DNV, for the approval of the initial conception of the first, fully electric, passenger car ferry in Greece, which is designed for the Saronic lines.

The specific agreement took place within the framework of the International Shipping Exhibition POSIDONIA 2022 that is held in Greece every 2 years. According to the company executives, Saronic Ferries begins its journey to zero emissions, taking the first step towards a new, more environmentally friendly, model of transportation in the Saronic Gulf.

Saronic Ferries’ modernized ANTIGONI entered service on 22 April 2022

By | 2022 Newsletter week 17 | No Comments

On 22 April 2022, the fully modernized ferry ANTIGONI of Saronic Ferries was introduced on the Piraeus – Souvala (Aegina) line. The vessel underwent an extensive conversion into a passenger ferry from 2019. Her conversion was delayed due to the pandemic. She was initially built as a landing ferry in 2010 and served the Rio – Antirio and Arkitsa – Edipsos lines as the POSIDONAS. On 30 July 2019, she was sold to Saronic Ferries for service in the Saronic Gulf and transformed into a modern passenger ferry.

VIDEO

By | 2020 Newsletter week 46 | No Comments

ANTIGONI (Re-)Launched

On November 3, 2020, the Greek Elthom shipyard launched the fully upgraded ferry ANTIGONI of the Saronic Ferries consortium (Nova Ferries – 2Way ferries). The ship underwent extensive conversion, in order to be transformed into a closed type ferry and is expected to be introduced in the Saronic Gulf.

She was purchased in July 2020 from Edipsos Ferries and operated on the Edipsos-Arkitsa line as the POSEIDONAS. The ship was built in 2010 in Perama (Atsalaki shipyard), she is 735gt, 77,10 meters long and 17 meters wide. Her carrying capacity is for 590 passengers and 120 cars.

In the background is also seen the German-build NISSOS CHRISSI (ex-RUNGHOLT) of the Cretan Blue Cruises, which is also converted at the same shipyard.