New Catamaran

A new arrival in Greece this summer, this cat has restored the much missed link between Thessalonika and the Sporades islands She is currently running out of Volos to Skiathos and Skopelos, before heading north to Thessalonika on Tuesdays and Saturdays, making the the return trip the following day.

'New' Ferry is an Old Boat with a Poor Safety Inspection Record

NEL Lines have recently revamped an elderly ferry that has been highlighted in the past in several ferry safety reports.The 1975-built C/F Mirtidiotissa has thus reappeared as the C/F Aqua Maria - even though some of us had long hoped that she was on a one-way trip to the scrapyard. Presumably significant modifications are being made by the new owners, but given this boat's age there can't be much incentive to spend serious money on her. Her new routing reflects this state of affairs - she is running a thrice weekly lifeline service between mainland Lavrio and Kavala (calling at the islands of Agios Efstratios and Limnos)..

New Ferry

A new Korean-built ferry, the C/F Blue Star Delos is set to be the biggest ferry on the Cyclades Central line this year. She was initially due to start operating in May, but this date has slipped and she is now slated to start operating in mid September. She will almost certainly replace either the C/F Blue Star Naxos or C/F Blue Star Paros on this route. In appearance she looks very similar to both these boats, but with a passenger capacity of 2,400 to their 1,500 she is in fact much bigger. The only downside is her probable long turn-around times at island ports given the numbers disembarking and boarding.

New Ferry

One to watch out for in 2012, the C/F Blue Star Patmos is a sister boat to the new C/F Blue Star Delos. Currently being completed in Korea, she won't be around this summer, but you could well come across advertising for her as she will be running in tandem with her sister in the future.

Odd-ball Route

This elderly ferry has resurfaced again this year, running a daily service out of the mainland port of Agios Konstantinos to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos. However, it is worth noting that her Skopelos stop is to the south coast port of Agnontas (otherwise only used by ferries in poor weather conditions). If you disembark here you will have to take a bus on to Skopelos Town.

New Passenger Boat

A new small ferry is running daily between the remote island of Gavdos and Plakias on the south coast of Crete. Departures from Crete are at 09.30, return from Gavdos at 16.00.

Ferry Sold

Blue Star sold the1974-built C/F Superferry II - though she remains on the route, now sailing under the Golden Star Ferries banner (this enables her to retain much of her existing livery). Her new owners are clearly trying to maximize revenues from what is now an elderly boat, with a number of her traditional runs down the Cyclades North line now extended to include a cross line service between Mykonos and Naxos.