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F/B Express Athina

Photo from Alessandro Bertolini’s collection

 

Ship

Express Athina (1997)

ΕΞΠΡΕΣ ΑΘΗΝΑ

Building Spec.

Boelwerf Vlandereen Yard,

Tamise, Belgium, 1973 – N° 1476

Call Sign

SVFR

IMO Number

7305514

GRT

5.643

DWT

1.194

Dimensions

118,01 x 19,82 x 4,25

Engines

2 Atlantique - Pielstick 18PC2-2V400 13.240 kW

Speed

21 knots

Passengers

2.000

Beds

148

Cars

240

Lane Metres

216

Sister ships

Superferry II

Registry Port

Piraeus

Flag

Greek

Former Names/Own.

Prins Philippe – R.M.T. Regie voor Maritiem Transport / Sealink 1973-86

Chartered to Sealink British Ferries 05/1985-10/85

Moby Love – Nav.Ar.Ma. Navigazione Arcipelago Maddalenino 1986-93

Panagia Tinou 2 – Ventouris Sea Lines 1993-97

New Names/Owners

Express AthinaMinoan Flying Dolphins / Hellas Ferries 2000-01

Express AthinaHellas Flying Dolphins / Hellas Ferries 2002-05

Express AthinaHellenic Seaways 2005-07

Chartered to  Strintzis Ferries 01/2007-02/07

Express LimnosSaos Ferries 2007à

Line

 

 

Delivered to R.M.T. of Belgium in 1973 as the “Prins Philippe”, was immediately put on Oostende – Dover line, a service which lasted until the sale to Navarma company, belonging to the Italian shipowner Achille Onorato. After being renamed “Moby Love”, she started linking Bastia with Italian ports of Leghorn and La Spezia until 1994, when she was sold to Ventouris Sea Lines. Bought by the Greek owner to replace the aged “Panagia Tinou”, even if she was renamed “Panagia Tinou 2”, she sailed to all Cyclades routes and not only to Syros, Tinos, Mykonos. After Ventouris Sea Lines’s bankruptcy was bought by Agapitos Express Ferries; due to the contemporary acquisition of the “Bari Express” of Ventouris Ferries and her operating licence was renamed as the “Express Athina” and deployed on Rafina – Andros – Tinos – Mykonos, finding as a competitor the “Superferry II” of Strintzis Lines, her sister and once-time fleet mate during the Belgian days. In 2000 was bought by Minoan Flying Dolphins and enters the Hellas Ferries fleet, where she remained until her transfer to Hellenic Seaways of 2005. In 2007 was chartered by Strintzis Ferries for two months to replace their ferries on Winter refits and then she became the protagonist of a bizarre fact: after the announcement of her sale to Agoudimos Lines, was instead bought by Saos Ferries, which operates her since May 2007 on North Aegean routes as the “Express Limnos”. Since December 2008 the ferry is arrested in Lavrion due to the economical problems afflicting Saos Ferries.

 

R.M.T. SEALINK F/B Prins Philippe – Photo by courtesy of EFOPLISTIS magazine

 

NAVARMA / MOBY LINES F/B Moby Love – Photo from Peter Asklander’s collection by courtesy of Micke Asklander

 

MOBY LINES F/B Moby Love – Photo © Matteo Fasce, Capraia Island sea, 1992

 

VENTOURIS SEA LINES F/B Panagia Tinou 2 - F/B Apollo Express 1 Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Piraeus, 25/06/96 #1255

 

VENTOURIS SEA LINES F/B Panagia Tinou 2 photo © Gunnar Menzer

 

VENTOURIS SEA LINES F/B Panagia Tinou 2 - Photo from Alessandro Bertolini’s collection

 

Photo © Gunnar Menzer

 

Photo © Emilio Barenghi, Piraeus, 1998

 

HELLAS FERRIES F/B Express Athina – Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Keratsini, 06/10/00

 

HELLAS FERRIES F/B Express Athina – Photo © Dominik Wagner

 

HELLENIC SEAWAYS F/B Express Athina – Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Rafina, 17/08/05 #2450

 

HELLENIC SEAWAYS F/B Express Athina – Photo © George Giannakis, Rafina, 20/09/05 #3321

 

SAOS FERRIES F/B Express Limnos – Photo © Apostolos Kaknis, Mytilene, 04/07/07 #7898

 

SAOS FERRIES F/B Express Limnos – Photo © Apostolos Kaknis, Mytilene, 04/07/07 #7899

 

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