F/B Naias Express

F/B NAIAS EXPRESS

Photo © George Giannakis, 16/09/95 #6153

Ship	Naias Express (1995) ΝΑΙΑΣ ΕΞΠΡΕΣ	Building Spec.	Cantieri Navali Breda, Venice, Italy, 1971 – N° 272
Call Sign	SVRO	IMO Number	7038739
GRT	3.909	DWT	1.067
Dimensions	115,54 x 17,38 x 4	Engines	2 Crossley – Pielstick 16PC2V, 9.885 kW
Speed	19,5 knots	Passengers	1.600
Beds	140 in 41 cabins	Cars	52
Lane Metres		Sister ships
Registry Port	Piraeus	Flag	Greek
Former Names/Own.	Ailsa Princess – Sealink British Railways 1971-84 Ailsa Princess – Sealink British Ferries 1984-85 Earl Harold – Sealink British Ferries 1985-89 Chartered to B+I Line* 1989* Dimitra – G.A. Ferries 1989-95
New Names/Owners	Express Adonis – Minoan Flying Dolphins / Hellas Ferries 2000-01 Express Adonis – Hellas Flying Dolphins / Hellas Ferries 2001-04 Express Adonis – Hellenic Seaways 2005 New Caribbean Princess – American Interests 2006à
Line

The ferry was delivered in 1971 to Sealink British Rail as their “Ailsa Princess”; the aspect which immediately matches the attention is the builder, Breda yardsa of Venice, Italy, instead French or British yards, which were the main ferry suppliers for the British State-Owned company. After thirteen years of service, was bought by Seacontainers, as long as her fleet mates, forming the new Sealink British Ferries and being renamed “Earl Harold”; under that name was also chartered to B+I Line in 1989, just before her sale to G.A. Ferries, which brought her to Greece as the “Dimitra”. The ferry was put on sales market in 1995, and a buyer was found in Agapitos Lines, which intended to expand themselves after the divorce with Agapitos Express Ferries, which gained from this divorce the lucrative Piraeus – Paros – Naxos – Ios – Santorini line. The company asked and gained the permission to operate the ferry on this route, starting in 1995 and leaving Piraeus on early morning. Agapitos Lines continued its growth on “Paronaxia” line by adding other tonnage, the “Super Naias”, in 1996, but the “Naias Express” was taken out from this line at the end of 1996, being replaced by the “Panagia Ekatontapiliani” and rerouted to Piraeus – Syros – Tinos – Mykonos – Paros – Naxos – Heraklia – Schinoussa – Koufonissia line. The “Naias Express” was then sold to Minoan Flying Dolphins group on 2000, wearing Hellas Ferries’s livery for six years, including 2005 season, when she was laid up awaiting a buyer at Piraeus without being repainted in the new colours of the company y, which changed its name to Hellenic Seaways. Was finally sold abroad at the end of 2005 and renamed “New Caribbean Princess”, but she left Piraeus after refit works only on July 2006.