F/B Express Olympia

Photo © George Giannakis, Piraeus, 15/11/95 #6152

Ship	Express Olympia (1992) ΕΞΠΡΕΣ ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑ	Building Spec.	Jos L. Meyer Werft, Papenburg Ems, Germany, 1973 – N°570
Call Sign	SXMU	IMO Number	7310258
GRT	4.477	DWT	1.982
Dimensions	109,15 x 17,25 x 4,7	Engines	2 Crossley – Pielstick 12PC2VMK5, 8.531 kW
Speed	19,5 knots	Passengers	1.500
Beds	298 in 70 cabins	Cars	300
Lane Metres	414	Sister ships	Ajman 1 (scrapped in 2004) Apollo Boughaz Fagr (scrapped in 2002) Ionian Spirit Jamaa II Puerto Vallarta Sinaloa Star (scrapped in 2008)
Registry Port	Piraeus	Flag	Greek
Former Names/Own.	Viking 4 – Rederi AB Sally (Viking Line) 1973-80 Earl Granville – William & Glynn Industrial Leasing Ltd 1980-84 Chartered to Sealink* UK 1980-84* Earl Granville – Sealink British Ferries 1984-90 Express Olympia – Agapitos Bros 1990-92
New Names/Owners	Express Olympia – Minoan Flying Dolphins / Hellas Ferries 2000-01 Express Olympia – Hellas Flying Dolphins / Hellas Ferries 2001-05 Express Olympia – Hellenic Seaways 2005 Scrapped at Alang (India) in 2005 as “Express O”
Line

One of the few ex-Viking Line ships in service in Greek Seas, the only one of her family until the end of August 2007, when the “Roslagen” is expected to came in Greece for ANMEZ. Delivered to Viking Line on 16 June 1973 for the service Stockholm - Mariehamn (Aland) - Turku, was later moved to Kapellskar - Mariehamn - Nadendal line. In 1980 was sold to Sealink, who owned her until 1990, when she was bought by Agapitos for the line Piraeus - Syros - Paros - Naxos - Ios - Santorini - Anafi. When bought by Agapitos the stern superstructure was increased. Taken over by Agapitos Express Ferries in 1993, was the ship who forced the Greek Ministry of Mercantile Marine to introduce in Greece the computerized-system for reservations: after an inspection of Piraeus’s port police, the ship, which had a certificate for 1.200 persons, discharged at the arrival 2.200 passengers!!! Apart of this fact, the ferry is remembered under Agapitos Express Ferries’s colours for her reliable Piraeus – Paros – Naxos – Ios – Santorini departure of 22.00 hours, and, personally, also for her good food! I travelled aboard her on 27/06/96 from Paros to Piraeus. Certainly she was not a “cruise ferry”, however she had very spacious lounges with a lot of seats. On November 1999 was acquired by Minoan Flying Dolphins, which put her on Piraeus - Paros - Naxos - Ikaria - Fourni - Samos line; was laid up and put on sales market on September 2004, and spent also few months under Hellenic Seaways ownership before being sold for scrap in June 2005. Despite of her Baltic origins the “Meltemi” wind was very hard for “Express Olympia”…..