PROTEUS (ΠΡΩΤΕΥΣ)
-ΑΝΕS Ferries
Built in 1973 (age 52). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: None (laid-up in Drapetsona)
The legendary conventional ferry PROTEUS was built in 1973 in Greece, having been ordered by the then-newly-established company Tyrogalas Ferries which was based in Zakynthos. She began service on the Kyllini-Zakynthos line on the Ionian Sea, and in the process she became the second-ever conventional ferry to operate there. At the time of her introduction and during the first years of her career, her large size, her speed and her spacious indoor areas made her a very popular ship on the Ionian Sea, and her success led to the further growth of the company, which went on to acquire the IONIS (currently operating for Triton Ferries) in 1993, followed by the IONIAN STAR (today the MARE DI LEVANTE of Levante Ferries) in 2003. Beginning in 2001, the PROTEUS also began to operate on the Kyllini-Kefalonia line. In 2005 she served the Kyllini-Zakynthos-Kefalonia line. In 2006, after 33 successful years on the Ionian Sea under Tyrogalas Ferries, she was sold to ANES Ferries. She was inserted on the inter-Dodecanese service, namely on the Kos-Nisyros-Tilos-Symi-Rhodes-Castellorizon line. In 2011 her service was restricted to the Rhodes-Symi line. With ANES Ferries facing significant economic issues and clashes with local authorities and the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy, the company stopped operating on the Dodecanese in 2013, with the PROTEUS being instead assigned on the Volos-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos line on the Sporades. Her entry to service proved to be very successful. In 2014 she was deployed on the Volos-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos-Mantoudi line, where she remained until 2022. With ANES Ferries once again experiencing financial issues, the ship remained inactive for the entire 2023 season, being instead laid-up in Salamina and then in Drapetsona. This therefore ended a historic streak for her, as she had been operating in the Greek coastal service for 50 consecutive seasons, which is the longest-ever streak recorded for a conventional ferry in Greece (in addition to this being the longest streak for a conventional ferry under the same name). She remains laid-up in Drapetsona, with her future remaining uncertain and attempts to have her sold at auction having all failed so far.
PHOTOS (2022):
The PROTEUS seen in Salamina, where she was spending her annual winter refit, following the completion of her historical fiftieth consecutive summer season of operations in the Greek coastal service, which makes her the first and only conventional ferry to have ever achieved this feat in Greece. However, she was not reactivated the following year due to her company's financial issues, thus having her streak snapped. She was later laid-up in Drapetsona (11/2022).