AQUA JEWEL (ΑΚΟΥΑ ΤΖΙΟΥΕΛ)

-Sea Jets Ferries

Built in 2003 (age 21). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: Piraeus-Gytheion-Kythira-Antikythira-Kissamos

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The conventional ferry AQUA JEWEL was ordered in 1986, initially as a multi-purpose megayacht available for daily cruises under the company Perosea Shipping Company. She was due to be completed under the name NISSILIOS, but her construction was delayed and ultimately abandoned in Elefsina. Her unfinished hull was bought in 2001 by the newly-established Greek company Alpha Ferries, owned by the shipowner Perogiannakis, and she was instead built as a ferry under the name AQUA JEWEL. She was completed in 2003 in Greece, and was deployed on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros line on the Cyclades. Her service was very promising, but she was deemed too small to operate on such a demanding line. Thus, in 2005, she underwent a significant conversion in Elefsina, whereupon she was lengthened and saw a new outdoor sun deck and improved common areas onboard. She resumed service on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos line, where she continued to provide a very reliable service despite strong competition from Blue Star Ferries, Agoudimos Lines, Hellenic Seaways, Sea Jets and later Fast Ferries. In 2007 she collided with the EVIA STAR of Geraistos NE in Rafina, but suffered little damage and returned to service shortly thereafter. In 2010 she was sent on a long-term charter to NEL Lines, which deployed her on their inter-Cyclades services. She was therefore inserted on the Lavrion-Kea-Kythnos-Andros-Syros-Tinos-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Sikinos-Folegandros-Kimolos-Milos-Sifnos-Serifos lifeline. While she began her new service successfully, her last two years were plagued by numerous engine failures, one of which permanently ended her service in 2014. This, combined with the financial difficulties experienced by NEL Lines, saw her being arrested by her crew in Lavrion and then in Drapetsona. She was then moved to Perama in 2015, and returned under the care of Alpha Ferries. She was repaired in 2016 and attempted to make a comeback to service on the Piraeus-Aegina-Methana-Poros line on the Saronic Gulf, but was unsuccessful. Following that, while she was due to enter service on the Sporades in 2017, she was sold to Sea Jets in order to replace her departing fleetmate (and former NEL Lines fleetmate), the AQUA SPIRIT, which was sold to the Canadian company BC Ferries. She thus joined the Sea Jets Ferries division and resumed service on the inter-Cyclades operations, as she was deployed on the Lavrion-Kea-Kythnos-Andros-Tinos-Syros-Paros-Naxos-Donousa-Amorgos-Koufonisi-Schoinousa-Irakleia-Folegandros-Sikinos-Ios-Thirassia-Santorini-Anafi lifeline. In 2018 she was chartered to the Portuguese company Atlântico Line for service on the Azores Archipelago, on the Vila Do Porto-Ponta Delgada-Praia Da Vitória-Velas-Pico-Horta lifeline, which she also served in 2019. In 2020 she returned to Sea Jets and was inserted on the Piraeus-Gytheion-Kythira-Antikythira-Kissamos lifeline. She ran aground in Kythira in 2024.

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PHOTOS (2020, 2021, 2022):

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