Blue Star Ferries

Blue Star Ferries is a brand name of Blue Star Maritime S.A. The company operates ferry services from the Greek mainland to the Aegean Islands.

Blue Star Ferries
Founded2000
HeadquartersAthens, Greece
Area served
Aegean Sea
ServicesPassenger transportation
Freight transportation
ParentAttica Group
Websitewww.bluestarferries.com

Blue Star Ferries is the biggest ferry company in Greece, serving more than 20 destinations. Their fleet is composed of modern ferries whose course speeds range from 23 to 30 knots.

History

Blue Star Ferries was founded in 1965 as Strintzis Lines by the Strintzis family from Lixouri, Kefalonia. The company was rebranded as Blue Ferries in 2000 following Attica Enterprises' acquisition of a 48% stake in the company.[1] Blue Star Ferries is a sister company of Superfast Ferries, as both are part of the Attica Group and have had partnership in some routes, such as Rosyth to Zeebrugge and presently Piraeus-Heraklion.

In 2000 the company took delivery of two Ro-Ro (roll on/roll off) ferries built at the Dutch shipyard Van der Giessen de Noord.

In 2006 Blue Star Maritime S.A. purchased the Dodecanese ferry company DANE Sea Lines.

Blue Star Ferries ordered two ferry-type ships at Daewoo Shipyards in Korea. The first ferry, named Blue Star Delos, was delivered in the first 10 days of October 2011, and the second, Blue Star Patmos, in July 2012. Blue Star Delos is currently on the route Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Ios–Thira, and Blue Star Patmos on the route Piraeus–Chios–Mytilini (Lesvos).[2]

Fleet

Blue Star Ferries currently operates a fleet of 12 vessels.[3]

Conventional Ferries
ShipFlagBuiltEntered
service		Gross tonnageLengthWidthPassengersVehiclesKnotsPhoto
Blue Star 12000200029.415 GT176,1 m25,7 m1,89078028
Blue Star 22000200029.415 GT176,1 m25,7 m1,85478028
Blue Horizon1987200027.320 GT187,1 m27 m1,48878023
Blue Star Paros2002200210.438 GT124 m19 m1,47424024
Blue Star Naxos2002200210.438 GT124 m19 m1,47424024
Diagoras199020069.834 GT141,5 m23 m1.46227421,1
Blue Star Delos2011201117.550 GT145 m24 m2,40043025,5
Blue Star Patmos2012201217.550 GT145 m24 m2,00043025,5
Blue Galaxy1992201529.992 GT192 m27 m1,74078024
Blue Star Myconos2005202014.717 GT141 m21 m1.91541825.5
Blue Star Chios2007202014.717 GT141 m21 m1.71541828.0

Ro-Ro Cargo Ship
ShipFlagBuiltEntered
service		Gross tonnageLengthWidthPassengersVehiclesKnotsPhoto
Blue Carrier 12000201913.073 GT142,5 m23,5 m181,680 lane metres17,5

Former Fleet as Strinzis Lines
  • Kephalinia (1965-1993), scrapped as Zachara in 2005
  • Ionion (1972-1978), sank in Gramvousa, Crete in 1992
  • Ionian Star (1976-1990), scrapped as Tian Kun in 2001
  • Ionian Glory (1981-1989), scrapped in 2012 at Alexandria, Egypt
  • Eptanisos (1984-2000), scrapped as Pollux 1 at Gadani Beach, Pakistan in 2004
  • Ionian Victory (1984-1986), scrapped as Jin Hu in 2004
  • Delos (1986-1997), scrapped in 2011
  • Ionian Sun (1986-2001), scrapped as Merdif in 2004 at Alang, India
  • Ionian Island (1987-2000), scrapped as Merdif 1 in 2010 at Alang, India
  • Ionian Galaxy (1987-2000), scrapped as Merdif 2 in 2011 at Alang, India
  • Ionian Fantasy (1988-1991): while serving as Ionian Sea (1991-1993), caught fire while laid up under the name Leros at Elefsina, Greece; scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey in 2001
  • Ionian Harmony (1989-1990), scrapped as Caly in 2013 at Alang, India
  • Superferry (1991-2001), serving as Mahabbah for Namma Lines since 2006
  • Superferry II (1993-2000), serving as Superferry II for Golden Star Ferries since 2011
  • Ionian Star (1994-1999), serving as Denia Ciutat Creativa for Balearia since 2016
  • Kefalonia (1995-2000), serving as Kefalonia for Levante Ferries since 2018
  • Ionian Bridge (1996-2000), serving as Duba Bridge for United Maritime Egypt since 2017
  • Sea Jet 1 (1998-2000), serving as Super Jet for Seajets since 2004
  • Ionian Victory (1998-2000), scrapped as Ionian Sky in 2020 at Aliaga, Turkey
  • Sea Jet 2 (1999-2000), serving as Seajet 2 for Seajets since 2006
  • Superferry Hellas (1999-2000), serving as Blue Horizon for Blue Star Ferries since 2000

Former Fleet as Blue Ferries, Blue Star Ferries
  • Blue Bridge (2000-2004), serving as Duba Bridge for United Maritime Egypt since 2017
  • Blue Galaxy (2000-2001), scrapped as Merdif 2 in 2011 at Alang, India
  • Blue Island (2000-2001), scrapped as Merdif 1 in 2010 at Alang, India
  • Blue Sky (2000-2004), scrapped as Ionian Sky in 2020 at Aliaga, Turkey
  • Kefalonia (2000-2004), serving as Kefalonia for Levante Ferries since 2018
  • Sea Jet 1 (2000-2003), serving as Super Jet for Seajets since 2004
  • Sea Jet 2 (2000-2006), serving as Seajet 2 for Seajets since 2006
  • Blue Aegean (2001-2002), serving as Mahabbah for Namma Lines since 2006
  • Superferry II (2000-2011), serving as Superferry II for Golden Star Ferries since 2011
  • Blue Star Ithaki (2000-2014), serving as MV Fundy Rose for Bay Ferries since 2014

Summer Period

Piraeus-Cyclades


Piraeus-Dodecanese

Piraeus-Northeast Aegean Sea

Media

One of Blue Star Ferries' boats took the role of Princess Myrto in the Greek TV Show Θα Σε Δω Στο Πλοίο (literally translated: I'll See You on the Ferry) broadcast by Alpha TV, a Greek channel, in 2000 till 2002. The majority of the filming for this series was on the boat itself except for on-location filming of the characters on holiday or on leave. This is still being broadcast in certain Greek-speaking countries, including Cyprus.

References
  1. Attica Enterprises Annual Report 2000
  2. "Launch of 'Blue Star Ithaki' on Rafina–Andros–Tinos–Mykonos line" Δρομολόγηση του 'Blue Star Ithaki' στη γραμμή Ραφήνας-Άνδρου-Τήνου-Μυκόνου (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  3. http://www.bluestarferries.com/site/content.asp?sel=641&loc=2
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