Blue Star Delos
IMO 9565039
Built 2011, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd Okpo, South Korea
Tonnage 18 498 GT
Length 145,90 m
Width 23,20 m
Draught 5,90 m
2 400 passengers
116 berths
450 cars
600 lane metres
4 MAN-B&W diesels, combined 32 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thruster
Speed 26 knots
Blue Star Patmos
IMO 9565041
Built 2012, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd Okpo, South Korea
Tonnage 18 498 GT
Length 145,90 m
Width 23,20 m
Draught 5,90 m
2 400 passengers
116 berths
450 cars
600 lane metres
4 MAN-B&W diesels, combined 32 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thruster
Speed 26 knots
Nissos Chios
IMO 9215555
Built 2007, Elefsis Shipyards, Greece
Tonnage 7 864 GT
Length 136,70 m
Width 21,00 m
Draught 5,20 m
1 800 passengers
252 berths
418 cars
530 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 31 680 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thruster
Speed 27 knots
Nissos Mykonos
IMO 9208679
Built 2005, Hellenic Shipyards Scaramanga, Greece
Tonnage 7 882 GT
Length 136,70 m
Width 21,00 m
Draught 5,20 m
1 800 passengers
146 berths
420 cars
530 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 31 680 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thruster
Speed 27 knots
So, two pairs of sister ships are the subject today.
The older pair, Nissos Mykonos and Nissos Chios, are owned by Hellenic Seaways and have a very complex history. Although completed in 2005 & 2007, respectively, the pair were ordered way back in 1999. The original orderer was Strintzis Lines, and apparently the original plan was to name them Superferry Mykonos and Superferry Chios. The constuction of the ships was a protracted affair, as they had been ordered from local Greek shipyards that had limited experience in building passenger ships. During construction Strintzis Lines introduced the name Blue Star Ferries, and as a result the projected names were changed into Blue Star Mykonos and Blue Star Chios. Originally the first ship was to be delivered in 2001, but this was delayed when the orderers decided that cabins should be added to the ships, which pushed back the delivery to spring 2002. This date came and went, and in summer of the same year the orderers abandoned the contract. By this time the first ship had only been completed up to deck 5. The pair laid abandoned until 2004, when Hellas Flying Dolphins purchased them. The ships were completed 2005 (Nissos Mykonos) and 2007 (Nissos Chios), respectively, at which point Hellas Flying Dolphins was a part of Hellenic Seaways. On delivery the ships were placed on various services from Piraeus to the Greek archipelago. Since April 2014 the Nissos Chios has been under charter to Balearia, used on domestic routes within Spain and on services from Spain to Morocco. The Nissos Mykonos remains in Greek service.
In comparison the history of the second pair is much more simple. The Blue Star Delos and Blue Star Patmos are Blue Star Ferries' latest newbuildings to date, and the last large new ferries ordered by a Greek ferry company before the currently ongoing economic crises. The former was delivered in October 2011 and placed on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Ios-Thira -route, while the latter followed in June 2012 for the Piraeus-Chios-Mytilene -route.
The photographs below show the four ships tied up together at the port of Piraeus on 10 November 2013. Why they were there is a question I cannot answer. The fact that they are tied to each other could suggest they were laid up, as does the fact the same bunch were there (if I remember correctly) ten days later, when we returned to Piraeus. But I could also be wrong, and if anyone can shed further light on this matter, it would be much appriciated.
As always, click on the images to see them in larger size.
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| The Blue Star Ferries pair are particularly good-looking, I think. Well, they were designed by the Knud E. Hansen maritime architects, who often come up with rather splendid designs. |
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| If anyone wants to get a big-resolution version of this image for a magazine cover, just email me. ;) |
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