F/B Penelope A - Piraeus

F/B PENELOPE A

Photo © George Giannakis, Rafina, 20/09/05 #3328

Ship	Penelope A (1992/2004) ΠΗΝΕΛΟΠΗ A	Building Spec.	1972 at Arsenal National de la Marine, Brest, France, N°2
Call Sign	SZNZ	IMO Number	7205075
GRT	5.590	DWT	1.014
Dimensions	117,5 x 19,8 x 4	Engines	2 De Bretagne - Pielstick, 9.885 kW
Speed	19,5 knots	Passengers	1.400
Beds	118	Cars	256
Lane Metres	450	Sister Ships	Agios Georgios Express Apollon
Registry Port	Piraeus	Flag	Greek
Former Owners	Sealink U.K. 1972-84 Sealink British Ferries 1984-90 Sealink Stena Line 1990-92 Agoudimos Lines 1992-99 Hellas Ferries 2000-03	Former Names	Horsa 1972-90 Stena Horsa 1990-92 Penelope A 1992-99 Express Penelope 2000-03
New Owners		New Names
Line	Rafina – Andros – Tinos – Mykonos - Syros

Second one of three sister ships, she started her career in 1972 as “Horsa” for Sealink. Mainly serving the Dover - Calais line, in 1984 entered the Sealink British Ferries fleet, founded by the joint venture between Sealink and Seacontainers, on the service from Folkestone to Boulougne together with the “Hengist”. In 1990 Sealink merged with Stena Line and this ship took the name “Stena Horsa”. At the end of 1991 the company decided to cease this service and selling the “Stena Horsa”. About the purchase of this ferry I saw a tale on the book “Greek Ferries” by John May: Agoudimos Lines was searching for a bigger ship to replace “Kapetan Alexandros” on Rafina line: Mr Agoudimos was a guest on final voyage of New Year’s eve 1991 and was so well impressed by this ship to decide her purchase. Not many refitted, the ship remained in Agoudimos ownership till November 1999, when purchased by Minoan Flying Dolphins and renamed “Express Penelope” to run on the same line: Rafina - Andros - Tinos - Myconos - Paros - Naxos. After four years of service, the board of Hellas Flying Dolphins decided to sell some old ships, so Agoudimos bought back this ferry and gave her another time the name of “Penelope A”, maintaining the same line performed in the last 12 years. The decision of the sale by H.F.D. was very good…for Agoudimos! In fact, the “Penelope A” on 2004 summer was the most successful vessel leaving from Rafina, both for her cheapness comparing their fares with those of the ferries leaving from Piraeus and also for her very good internal spaces and her exterior which, thanking God, lacks of these massive and awful superstructures which frequently are added on her once-time Sealink fleet mates after their arrival in Greece.