Trip: 28 July 2019. From Perama to Salamina, with the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII of Panagia Glykofilousa NE.
The impressive double-ended ferry GLYKOFILOUSA VIII was built in 2019 in Greece. She was delivered to the Greek company Panagia Glykofilousa NE, becoming the eighth ship to have been ordered by them. Besides being as modern and comfortable as her other two fleetmates, namely the GLYKOFILOUSA IV and the GLYKOFILOUSA V (both built in 2017), her design and her amenities are among the most unique in the Greek coastal service. She operates under the 'Think Green' campaign, which makes her one of the most environmentally-friendly ferries in Greece. She possesses automated engines consuming low amounts of sulphur, interior and exterior furnishing made out of wood coming from the Agion Oros area, and also features dozens of plants and trees in both indoor and outdoor areas. She began service on the Perama-Salamina line, immediately making an impact there thanks to her ecologic advantages.
In order to explain to you how the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII was the eighth newbuilding of the company, as well as the seventh ship in the history of Panagia Glykofilousa NE to take the name 'GLYKOFILOUSA', I decided to introduce all the ferries the company has had since it was established in 2005. It has owned eight double-ended ferries, but only three of them operate for the company today. Panagia Glykofilousa NE is known for quickly selling their ferries to other companies (both Greek and foreign) just a few years after beginning to operate them. They however replace them immediately with newer ships. Thus, a cycle keeps repeating itself: Build, operate, sell, replace by another built ship, operate it, sell it, and so on. A similar policy is followed by companies like Tsokos Lines and Evia Ferries, to name a few. In order to avoid confusion and in order to provide you with a general overview of the fleet of Panagia Glykofilousa NE, here is an outline of all the ships that operate or that have operated for the company, and what their current status is as of March 2020:
-The GLYKOFILOUSA (2005-2008): Built in 2005 as the first ship of the company, she operated on the Perama-Salamina line before being sold in 2008 to the Croatian company Jadrolinija. She has since been operating as the BOL on the Brestova-Porozina line.
-The GLYKOFILOUSA II (2008-2015): Built in 2008 as the second ship of the company, she replaced the original GLYKOFILOUSA on the Perama-Salamina line, where she remained until 2015, when she was sold to the Russian company LLC Mortransservice. She was renamed MAJOR CHAPICHEV and she was deployed on the Kavkaz-Port Krym line. After the opening of the Kerch Strait Bridge in 2018, she was sold to the Turkish company İstanbul Lines (also known as Negmar Denizcilik) in 2019. She is now operating on the Eskihisar-Gebze line as the AZIZIYE.
-The GYKOFILOUSA III (2009-2014): Built in 2009 as a sister ship of the GLYKOFILOUSA II, she was inserted on the Perama-Salamina line. She was deployed on the Rion-Antirrion line in 2013, becoming the first ship in the history of the company to operate there. She returned to the Perama-Salamina line in 2014, but she was sold a few months later to the Russian company Aquamarine Developments. She was not renamed (but she was simply reflagged from Greece to Russia) and she operated on the Kavkaz-Port Krym line, connecting Russia with Ukraine through the Kerch Strait in the Crimean peninsula. After the opening of the Kerch Strait Bridge in 2018, she was laid-up in Kerch in early 2019. She is rumoured to have been sold to the Croatian company Jadrolinija.
-The FILOTHEOS (2011-2012): Built in 2011, she is so far the only ship in the history of the company to not have taken the 'GLYKOFILOUSA' name. She was deployed on the Perama-Salamina line, before being sold just a year later to the Greek company ANETH Ferries which is based in Thassos. She has since been operating on the Keramoti-Thassos line as the THASSOS II.
-The GLYKOFILOUSA (2015-2016): The second ship to be named GLYKOFILOUSA (with no number next to her name), she was built in 2015 in order to replace the GLYKOFILOUSA II. She was deployed on the Perama-Salamina line, before being sold the following year to the Russian company LLC Mortransservice. She was renamed ELENA and she was deployed on the Kavkaz-Port Krym line. After the opening of the Kerch Strait Bridge in 2018, she was sold to the Mexican company Ultramar in 2019. She is now operating on the Cancún-Isla Mujeres line as the ULTRACARGA IV.
-The GLYKOFILOUSA IV (2017-present): Built in 2017 in order to replace the GLYKOFILOUSA, she was deployed on the Perama-Salamina line.
-The GLYKOFILOUSA V (2017-present): Built in 2017 as a sister ship of the GLYKOFILOUSA IV, she was also deployed on the Perama-Salamina line.
-The GLYKOFILOUSA VIII (2019-present): Built in 2019 as the first ship of the 'Think Green' campaign, she was also deployed on the Perama-Salamina line.
So here you go, you have all the information about each ferry in the history of Panagia Glykofilousa NE (for the time being). It is also noteworthy to state that all ferries currently operating for the company are part of the Agios Nikolaos Lines joint venture, for which they are assigned on the Perama-Salamina line as well as on the Rion-Antirrion line in the past.
After having spent the first part of 28 July 2019 in Spetses, having headed there with the FLYINGCAT 3 of Hellenic Seaways and then returned to Piraeus with her fleetmate, namely the FLYINGCAT 6, I was now planning to spend the late afternoon in Salamina in order to see and photograph various ships serving the island, with these primarily being the double-ended ferries that operate on the Perama-Salamina line. The latter happens to be the busiest service in the entire Greek coastal service, as, due to its small distance, it has one departure every five minutes at peak times during the day. It is also the line that has the most ships serving it, with more than 25 double-ended ferries and nine small passenger boats being deployed there. As you had also seen it during my trip with the GEORGIOS BROUFAS II of Broufas Vessels back on 3 July 2018, the section between Perama and Salamina is notable for featuring a handful of ships of the Greek coastal service. Therefore, I decided that this was a good opportunity to go and take many pictures in Salamina that day by traveling with the double-ended ferries that link the latter with Perama.
With no small passenger ships operating directly from Piraeus as it was a Sunday, I headed from Piraeus to Perama by bus, and then headed to the latter's port. There I saw that the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII was the ship that was preparing to leave, and I decided to travel with her. As I did go to Salamina presumably by car back in 2000 (when I was just one year old), I do not remember whether I had traveled with a ferry operating on the Perama-Salamina line, although this could be a possibility. Therefore, my trip with the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII was the first one with a ferry on the Perama-Salamina line that I happen to remember. It was also my first-ever trip with a ship of Panagia Glykofilousa NE, and my first-ever trip with an environmentally-friendly ship matching her standards.
The GLYKOFILOUSA VIII docked in Perama, during her debut summer in Greece.
The GLYKOFILOUSA VIII shortly before embarking onboard her. Her hull features the 'Think Green' campaign promoted by her company. As a result of her status as a 'green ferry', she had a different livery compared to that of the GLYKOFILOUSA IV and of the GLYKOFILOUSA V. Indeed, in contrast to the latter two's black and yellow design, she instead bore a light green and cyan livery.
After boarding the ship, I could clearly see her wide open garage, which passes under her accommodation superstructure. She also has side ramps which allow the passengers to take the staircases that lead to the accommodation superstructure. Right above her garage area, one can see her name, written in Greek letters.
The first deck of the accommodation superstructure. Just like most Greek-built open-type double-ended ferries, it has an indoor area that includes most of the ship's seats. The outdoor area also has some elevated wooden chairs and tables, which consist of a group of four seats located around one larger table.
The middle deck of the accommodation superstructure, which has a wider outdoor area and the crew's cabins. But there was also a notable and innovative feature, namely that of multiple trees, bushes, plants and flowers decorating the entire outdoor area. Moreover, the wooden benches are said to have been made in the Agion Oros area.
Another view of the ship's outdoor area, featuring numerous wooden benches and more plants surrounding them.
A nice view of the ship's wooden benches, plants and flowers, making her look like she was a floating garden.
Several bushes and flowers seen in the ship's outdoor area, right next to the reserve pile containing the ferry's life-rafts.
The ship's garage seen from the first deck of the accommodation superstructure.
The ship's garage seen from the middle deck of the accommodation superstructure, while also displaying her foremast (there is one at the other side of the ship, from which the ferry was loading passengers during that trip).
After taking pictures of the ship's magnificent outdoor areas, it was now the time to have a quick look at her indoor area, located in the first deck of the accommodation superstructure. It featured a nice lounge area with several dark blue and olive green lounges. The indoor area also featured some plants, just like it was the case for the outdoor areas.
Inside the lounge area, I also spotted an interesting poster hanging on the wall. It depicted the map of the world, with the continents made out of wood (presumably coming from the Agion Oros area), and the oceans and the seas being shown in a green artificial turf background.
Next to the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII, I spotted the high speed trimaran SUPERSPEED of Golden Star Ferries, which was moored in Perama after her season was ended prematurely following a major engine failure that she suffered while docked in Naxos.
The SUPERSPEED seen in Perama. She was bought by Golden Star Ferries in late 2017, becoming the company's second high speed craft and the first-ever passenger trimaran in the Greek coastal service. She was converted in Perama and in Salamina before entering service on the Sporades, namely on the Thessaloniki-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos line in 2018. The following year, she was deployed on the Cyclades, on the Rafina-Syros-Mykonos-Paros-Naxos-Koufonisi-Amorgos. However, her service there was not very successful and was marred by engine troubles, which ultimately ended her season earlier than scheduled. She is currently under repair in order to return to service for the 2020 season.
The SUPERSPEED seen in Perama, following the completion of her second summer in Greece under Golden Star Ferries.
The SUPERSPEED seen in Perama. She is one of the four high speed craft of Golden Star Ferries, with two of them being passenger-only ships, herself included. The other one is the small high speed catamaran SUPERCAT, which was acquired in 2018 and entered service in 2019 on the Piraeus-Milos-Folegandros-Santorini-Ios-Naxos-Mykonos line.
The SUPERSPEED seen in Perama as the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII begins to leave the port.
On the starboard side of the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII, there were two other double-ended ferries operating on the Perama-Salamina line docked in Perama. One of them was the FANEROMENI of Panagia Faneromeni.
The other one was the larger PROTOPOROS X of Tsokos Lines, which was built in 2017 and which has been operating on the Perama-Salamina line since then.
The PROTOPOROS X and the FANEROMENI seen together in Perama. Coincidentally, both ships have operated for Tsokos Lines, as the FANEROMENI was the latter's first-ever ferry. Indeed, she was built in 2004 for them, as the PROTOPOROS, and was deployed initially on the Oropos-Eretria line on the South Evoian Gulf. She remained with them until 2010, when she was sold to Panagia Faneromeni. She has since been on the Perama-Salamina line (2010-2011, and since late 2014), while having also served the Megara-Salamina line from 2012 to 2014.
One last view of the SUPERSPEED as the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII departs Perama at around 17:20.
The PROTOPOROS X and the FANEROMENI seen docked in the port of Perama.
Another view of the PROTOPOROS X, the FANEROMENI and the SUPERSPEED, all docked in Perama.
The trip from Perama to Salamina is vey short, as it lasts just ten minutes. Salamina can already be seen as the ship departs Perama. From there, I saw the Ambelakia Shipyard, where the Ro-Pax ferry IONIAN SKY of Agoudimos Lines (and lastly operated by NEL Lines) had been laid-up since 2013.
Built in 1974, the IONIAN SKY was finally sold for scrap to Turkey about two months ago, after having been laid-up since 2013, when she suffered a major engine failure while operating for NEL Lines. She operated in Japan from 1974 to 1998, before she was bought and converted in Perama by Strintzis Lines that same year. She was introduced on the Adriatic Sea as the IONIAN VICTORY, and she spent two seasons there under Strintzis Lines before the latter was acquired by Attica Group, resulting in the establishment of Blue Star Ferries, in 2000. The IONIAN VICTORY was transferred to the latter and she continued to operate on the Adriatic Sea as the BLUE SKY under the Blue Ferries, before she was sold to Agoudimos Lines in 2004. She was renamed IONIAN SKY and she was primarily deployed on the Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Brindisi line, except in 2008 when she was inserted on the Patras-Kefalonia-Igoumenitsa-Bari line. Following her company's continuing economic difficulties in the early 2010s, her service was reduced, and she was arrested in Igoumenitsa in late 2012. She was then chartered to NEL Lines in 2013 for service on the Northeast Aegean Sea, but her spell under the troubled company was marred by engine failures, delays and canceled trips, and eventually her charter ended prematurely. She was laid-up in Salamina, as Agoudimos Lines had completely ceased operations. She remained there until heading for demolition in early 2020.
The IONIAN SKY seen in Salamina, in what turned out to be her last summer in Greece, and my last-ever picture of the ship, as she was sold for scrap and left Salamina about two months ago. This concluded a 22-year-long career in Greece and a 46-year-long life overall.
After passing by the IONIAN SKY, the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII was now heading for the port of Paloukia in Salamina, which is where the double-ended ferries and the small passenger ships dock. While sailing towards the latter, we passed by the SALAMINOMACHOS of Salaminomachos Lines, which was on her way towards Perama.
The SALAMINOMACHOS seen heading from Salamina towards Perama. She was built in 2008, four years after the sale of her predecessor, which was a landing craft also named SALAMINOMACHOS. She has spent her entire career on the Perama-Salamina line, except in 2013 and since 2020, as in both occasions she was deployed on the Rion-Antirrion line.
Crossing the SALAMINOMACHOS as she heads towards Perama, during her sixth consecutive season operating on the Perama-Salamina line (and eleventh overall). It turned out to be her last one, as she was sent to operate on the Rion-Antirrion line in 2020.
The SALAMINOMACHOS seen heading towards Perama, after having departed from Salamina.
One last view of the SALAMINOMACHOS as she heads towards the port of Perama.
A view of the Spanopoulos Drydock, alongside the Skaramangkas Drydock which is normally based in Elefsina, together in Ambelakia in Salamina.
Next to the drydocks, one could see the infamous product tanker AGIA ZONI II of Fos Petroleum, which controversially sank on 10 September 2017 in the middle of the Saronic Gulf, causing a major oil spill in the area. She was refloated a month later and towed to Spanopoulos Shipyard, where she remains to date.
The next double-ended ferry that I got to see was the DIMITRIOS P of Dimitrios P NE, which was also heading towards Perama after having left Salamina.
The DIMITRIOS P heading towards Perama, in what was her twentieth consecutive summer on the Perama-Salamina line. Built in 2000, she was delivered shortly after her sister ship and fleetmate, namely the TELAMON. She is the fifth double-ended ferry built in the history of the Greek coastal service. She has spent her entire career on the Perama-Salamina line so far.
The DIMITRIOS P seen heading towards Perama.
The veteran double-ended ferry on her way towards Perama.
The DIMITRIOS P seen en route towards Perama.
As the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII began to approach Salamina, the small port of Kamatero could be seen. There, I spotted the landing craft POSEIDONAS of Farmakoris-Villiotis NE, which was spending the entire summer of 2019 there.
One last view of the DIMITRIOS P, on which I went on to travel for the first time just a few hours after my trip with the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII.
The POSEIDONAS seen laid-up in the small port of Kamatero in Salamina. Built in 2010, she operated on the Arkitsa-Aidipsos line on the North Evoian Gulf that summer as well as from 2012 to 2018, while she spent the 2011 season on the Rion-Antirrion line. After being replaced by her newly-built fleetmate, namely the ALKYON, she was taken out of service and she was reportedly sold overseas. This however did not happen, with the ship remaining in the small port of Kamatero in 2019.
The POSEIDONAS docked in the port of Kamatero in Salamina. Around the same period of time as I had my trip with the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII, I learned that the ship had been sold for further service to the Saronic Ferries joint venture (which consists of Nova Ferries and 2way Ferries), and she is now being converted in Perama in order to begin service on the Saronic Gulf as the ANTIGONE.
Another view of the POSEIDONAS, now known as the ANTIGONE, before she began her conversion under Saronic Ferries.
As we began to approach the port of Paloukia in Salamina, I then spotted the fleetmate of the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII, namely the GLYKOFILOUSA V, heading towards Perama.
Built in 2017, hence two years before the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII, the impressive GLYKOFILOUSA V became one of the largest and most modern double-ended ferries in Greece. She has been on the Perama-Salamina line since she was delivered to Panagia Glykofilousa NE.
The GLYKOFILOUSA V on her way towards the port of Perama.
The GLYKOFILOUSA V en route towards Perama. As I stated it earlier, her livery is completely different from that of the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII, but almost the same as that of the GLYKOFILOUSA IV.
The impressive port of Paloukia in Salamina, which features dozens of docked double-ended ferries.
Another view of the port of Paloukia in Salamina, featuring several other double-ended ferries.
I notably saw the SPYRIDON S of Sofras NE, which was built in 2016. She is now operating on the Rion-Antirrion line, having moved there in 2020.
I then went on to see the ANNA MARIA of Gavanozis Shipping (on which I had traveled exactly a year and seven days before my trip with the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII, while heading from Oropos to Eretria via the South Evoian Gulf) and the PROKOPIOS M of Dimitrios P NE.
Next to them was the double-ended ferry THEOLOGOS V II of Evia Ferries, which was built in late 2018, and she was therefore spending her first-ever summer on the Perama-Salamina line.
The GLYKOFILOUSA V after having passed by her. She is seen heading towards Perama.
One last view of the GLYKOFILOUSA V as she heads towards the port of Perama.
At the North side corner of the port, I saw a trio of double-ended ferries, namely the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV of Feidias NE, the GLYKOFILOUSA IV (the other fleetmate of the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII) and the APOSTOLOS M of Athinais Lines.
A view of the AGIOS ELEFTHERIOS IV. Built in 2002, she began her career on the Rion-Antirrion line, where she remained until 2004. She then moved to the Perama-Salamina line, where she has been remaining since, except during the 2017 season, when she was sent to operate on the Arkitsa-Aidipsos line on the North Evoian Gulf. She then returned back to Perama-Salamina line.
A view of the PROKOPIOS M, which is the third and youngest ship of Dimitrios P NE, as she was built in 2003. She has spent her entire career on the Perama-Salamina line, except in 2014 and since 2020, when she has been operating on the Rion-Antirrion line.
The PROKOPIOS M seen in Salamina, as the GLYKOFILOUSA VIII is about to dock in the port of Paloukia, at around 17:30. This therefore marked the end of the short but eventful trip.
The beautiful and impressive GLYKOFILOUSA VIII seen leaving Salamina for Perama thirty minutes after I had completed my trip with her.
And this therefore marked the end of the very nice trip that I had with the newly-built GLYKOFILOUSA VIII. She is by far one of the most original double-ended ferries in Greece, as she has numerous amenities dedicated to the environment, thus making her one of the most eco-friendly ships in the Greek coastal service. She really appeared like if she was a floating garden, and her trip was very smooth and without a single vibration. I managed to see several ships operating on the Perama-Salamina line, as well as others that were docked in Salamina for other purposes. Overall, I was very satisfied to make my first trip on the line in recent memory with this wonderful and modern ferry.
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