BLUE STAR CHIOS (ΜΠΛΟΥ ΣΤΑΡ ΧΙΟΣ)
-Blue Star Ferries
ex-NISSOS CHIOS (ΝΗΣΟΣ ΧΙΟΣ) for Hellenic Seaways (2007-2020)
Built in 2007 (age 17). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: Piraeus-Milos-Santorini-Anafi-Heraklion-Siteia-Kasos-Karpathos-Chalki-Rhodes
Considered to be among the best ships in the Greek coastal service, if not the best in Greece, the amazing and acclaimed cruiseferry BLUE STAR CHIOS was originally ordered by Strintzis Lines in 1999, due to be named SUPERFERRY MYKONOS and to operate on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Ikaria-Samos line. Alongside her was ordered a sister ship, due to be named SUPERFERRY CHIOS (now the BLUE STAR MYCONOS). Both ships were to be built in Greece (they are the first-ever cruiseferries to be built in the country). In 2000, as Strintzis Lines was transferred to Attica Group and was renamed Blue Star Ferries, the ships were therefore due to be delivered as the BLUE STAR MYKONOS and as the BLUE STAR CHIOS, respectively. However, in 2002, as the construction stages were very slow, the order was canceled by Blue Star Ferries. The keel of the BLUE STAR MYKONOS remained laid-up in Salamina until 2004, when the two newbuildings were sold to Hellas Flying Dolphins for completion. The BLUE STAR MYKONOS therefore became the NISSOS CHIOS and the BLUE STAR CHIOS became the NISSOS MYKONOS. The NISSOS MYKONOS was completed in 2005 in Greece and was delivered to her company, which at the time had changed its name to Hellenic Seaways. The NISSOS CHIOS was completed in 2007, and entered service on the Piraeus-Chania line, making an instant impact in the Greek coastal service. In 2007, she won the prestigious award 'Ship of the Year' given by Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards. After her new fleetmate, the ARIADNE, completed her conversion in late 2007, she was transferred to the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line on the Northeast Aegean Sea, where she also was extremely successful, and eventually stayed on the line on a permanent basis. In 2008 her itinerary was changed to the Piraeus-Tinos-Chios-Mytilene line. In 2009 she was on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Chios-Mytilene line. In 2010 she was again on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene only. In 2012 she collided with the port pier of Tinos, and she missed a large part of the summer season. She was subsequently repaired in Syros and returned to service a month after the incident. In 2013 she spent a part of the summer on the Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Ikaria-Samos line in order to replace the NISSOS MYKONOS, which had suffered minor damages from a fire incident. She then returned again on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line. In 2014 she sadly left Greece, being chartered to the Spanish company Baleària. She was initially deployed on the Algeciras-Ceuta-Tangier Med line. In 2015 she was deployed on the Dénia-Palma-Ibiza line, while in 2016 she was inserted on the Valencia-Mostaganem line. In 2017 she was deployed on the Almería-Málaga-Melilla line. After four extremely successful seasons in Spain, she returned to Hellenic Seaways and, fortunately, back to Greece. After a refit, she was first deployed in 2018 on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Santorini line. However, due to the takeover of Hellenic Seaways by Attica Group, her itinerary was reshuffled and she was instead deployed on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Ikaria-Fournoi-Astypalaia-Patmos-Leipsoi-Leros-Kalymnos-Kos-Nisyros-Tilos-Symi-Rhodes-Karpathos-Castellorizon line, as well as on the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene line. In 2019 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Ikaria-Fournoi-Astypalaia-Patmos-Leipsoi-Leros-Kalymnos-Kos-Nisyros-Tilos-Symi-Rhodes-Kasos-Karpathos-Castellorizon line, as well as on the Piraeus-Chios-Sigri line. In 2020 she was transferred back to Blue Star Ferries and was renamed BLUE STAR CHIOS. She was deployed on the Piraeus-Ikaria-Fournoi-Astypalaia-Patmos-Leipsoi-Leros-Kalymnos-Kos-Nisyros-Tilos-Symi-Rhodes-Kasos-Karpathos-Castellorizon line and on the Piraeus-Mykonos-Chios-Sigri line. In 2023 she was inserted on the Piraeus-Santorini-Anafi-Heralion-Siteia-Kasos-Karpathos-Chalki-Rhodes line.
PHOTOS (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021):
The NISSOS CHIOS seen departing Naxos (6/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS seen departing Naxos (6/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS leaving Naxos (6/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS leaving Naxos (6/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS resting in Piraeus (6/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS resting in Piraeus (6/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS resting in Piraeus (6/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS resting in Piraeus (6/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS seen resting in Piraeus (6/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS docked in Piraeus (7/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS docked in Piraeus (7/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS docked in Piraeus (7/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS resting in Piraeus (7/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS resting in Piraeus (7/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS resting in Piraeus (7/2018).
The great NISSOS CHIOS in Piraeus (7/2017).
The NISSOS CHIOS in Piraeus, in her first summer in Greece with Hellenic Seaways since 2013 (7/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS in Piraeus (7/2018).
The NISSOS CHIOS seen in Piraeus (7/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS seen in Piraeus (7/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS seen in Piraeus (7/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS docked in the port of Piraeus (7/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS docked in the port of Piraeus (7/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS docked in the port of Piraeus (7/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS seen resting in Piraeus (7/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS seen resting in Piraeus (7/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS seen resting in Piraeus (7/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS in Piraeus (8/2019).
The NISSOS CHIOS in Piraeus. This was ultimately her last picture of the ship under Hellenic Seaways, as she was sold in 2020 to Blue Star Ferries and was renamed BLUE STAR CHIOS (8/2019).
My first-ever picture of the BLUE STAR CHIOS, as she is seen heading towards the port of Piraeus (9/2020).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen heading towards Piraeus (9/2020).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen heading towards Piraeus (9/2020).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen heading towards Piraeus (9/2020).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS on her way towards Piraeus, during her first season under Blue Star Ferries (9/2020).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen docked in Piraeus (8/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen docked in Piraeus (8/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen docked in Piraeus (8/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS resting in Piraeus (8/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS resting in Piraeus (8/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS resting in Piraeus (8/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS spotted in Piraeus while receiving bunkers (8/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS spotted in Piraeus while receiving bunkers (8/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS spotted in Piraeus while receiving bunkers (8/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen departing the port of Piraeus (9/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen departing the port of Piraeus (9/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen departing the port of Piraeus (9/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS having departed the port of Piraeus (9/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen leaving Piraeus (9/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen leaving Piraeus (9/2021).
The BLUE STAR CHIOS seen leaving Piraeus (9/2021).