PENELOPE A (ΠΗΝΕΛΟΠΗ Α)

-Agoudimos Lines

Built in 1972 (age 52). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: None (laid-up in the Elefsina Bay)

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Considered by many as one of the most historic ferries of the Greek coastal service, as well as one of the greatest ships to have ever operated on the Rafina-Cyclades service, the legendary PENELOPE A was built in 1972 in France, as the HORSA for the British conglomerate Sealink, in order to operate on the Channel. She was deployed on the Boulogne-Folkestone line, but she also operated on the Ostend-Folkestone line, on the Calais-Folkestone line and on the Boulogne-Dover line during winters, where she would be replacing her fleetmates that were undergoing their annual refits. In 1984 her company was privatised and was rebranded as Sealink British Ferries. In 1990 she was deployed on the Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire line on the Irish Sea. In 1991 her company was transferred to the Swedish giants Stena Line, which resulted in the formation of a new company called Sealink Stena Line. The ship was renamed STENA HORSA and returned for service on the Boulogne-Folkestone line, until the latter was discontinued in 1992. During that same year she was sold to the Greek company Agoudimos Lines. She was renamed PENELOPE A and she underwent a conversion in Perama, during which her aft section was significantly upgraded. She began service during the 1992 season, being deployed on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Irakleia-Schoinousa-Koufonisi-Amorgos line on the Cyclades. Her entry to service proved to be a massive success, and she quickly established herself as one of the best ferries of the Aegean Sea, while also forming a historic rivalry with the iconic SUPERFERRY II of Strintzis Lines (later owned by Blue Star Ferries and then by Golden Star Ferries, and today the SUPERSTAR of Sea Jets). Her operations in Rafina proved key to the success of Agoudimos Lines, and she became a reference point on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line, which she went on to serve solely from 1993. In 1999 she was acquired by Minoan Flying Dolphins. She was renamed EXPRESS PENELOPE and she remained on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line, under the Hellas Ferries division. Her company was renamed Hellas Flying Dolphins in 2002. In 2004 she was bought back by Agoudimos Lines and she was once again renamed PENELOPE A. She remained in her usual service, always on the Rafina-Andros-Tinos-Mykonos line. During that same year she collided with the ferry EVIA STAR of Geraistos NE in Rafina. Despite her continuous success, the Greek financial crisis heavily impacted Agoudimos Lines during the early 2010s, and she was the only ship of the company that remained in service until they ceased operations following the completion of the 2013 season. She was arrested in Rafina, where she remained until 2014, when she was towed to the Elefsina Bay for further lay-up. Her future remains uncertain, as she remains languishing with little to no hope of returning to service.

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