F/B Express Athina

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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 Athina – Minoan Flying Dolphins / Hellas Ferries 2000-01 Express Athina – Hellas Flying Dolphins / Hellas Ferries 2002-05 Express Athina – Hellenic Seaways 2005-07 Chartered to Strintzis Ferries* 01/2007-02/07* Express Limnos – Saos 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.