Coastal shipping industry ready for “battle” in the Aegean

Whether Greeks will travel this year is the bet that the coastal shipping industry is placing for the summer season of 2023, as last year the traffic was satisfactory but below the levels of 2019.

The latest estimates of coastal shipping circles indicate that the passenger traffic to and from the ports of Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina to the Aegean Sea was reduced by 13% compared to 2019, in contrast to transported cars which show an increase in traffic by 4% and trucks an increase by 9%. As reported by the same circles, especially traffic to the Cyclades from and to the three major ports of Attica shows a decrease of 12% to 18%, but fewer routes. However, intra-Cycladic routes showed a more positive image mainly due to foreign tourists moving from island to island.

Increased competition in 2023

In 2022, tourists were  the main users of coastal ships in the Cyclades, as Greeks did travel this summer, but not to the extent that the cruise lines would like, who expect the picture to improve in 2023.

According to what has been known so far, in 2023 a particular intensity of competition is expected on the lines of the Western Cyclades, where three conventional ships will be launched this year compared to one last year, but also on the lines from Crete to the Cyclades, where new high-speed ships have also been announced.

In the Western Cyclades, two new conventional ships acquired by the coastal shipping companies in the last period, both from Norway, will be launched. In particular, Aegean Sea Lines (formerly Aegean Speed Lines) of the Eugenidis Group bought the conventional passenger ferry “Rosella” from the Norwegian Viking Line for 11.25 million euros. The Rosella, which will raise the Greek flag and be renamed “Anemos”, will be launched in the Western Cyclades, where before the Evgenidis Group had a presence with speed ferries. Rosella was built in 1980, is a very well maintained ship and can accommodate 1,530 passengers and carry 340 cars.

“Anemos” will compete with Zante Ferries’ “Dionysius Solomos” which has been a permanent presence on the line for the last few years and also another contract that SeaJets is said to have acquired, the “Color Viking”, which operated in Norway. It was built in 1985 and SeaJets plans to launch it in the Western Cyclades to fill existing gaps. The ship is 134 meters long, 24.6 meters wide, 5.65 meters draft and can travel at a speed of 19.5 knots. It accommodates 1720 passengers and can carry 170 vehicles.

At the same time, high-speed ferries will be launched on the Western Cyclades line during the summer months, as every year.

The line to Crete

Another fierce naval battle is expected in the Crete-Cyclades line that extends to Piraeus. In particular, Fast Ferries will launch in 2023 the high-speed ferry Thunder on the line Heraklion-Thera-Ios-Paros Mykonos-Syros-Piraeus and Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Paros-Ios-Thera-Heraklion instead of the line Piraeus-Syros-Mykonos-Naxos- Mykonos – Syros – Piraeus.

The ship will operate “complementarily” with the “Santorini Palace” of Minoan Lines, which, as in previous years, runs on the route Piraeus – Syros – Mykonos – Paros – Naxos – Thira – Heraklion – Thira – Naxos – Paros – Mykonos – Syros – Piraeus. On the day that Santorini Palace will leave from Heraklion for Cyclades and Piraeus, Thunder will be casting off from Piraeus to Heraklion and vice versa.

SeaJets, which has also been present on this line in previous years, will continue with Power Jet and Naxos Jet while also adding the Rapidlink Jet on the Rethymno – Thira – Rethymno line.

Also on the Heraklion Santorini line high-speed ferry Santa Irini is launched by Panellenic Lines, in which the Karatzi group, the businessman Dimitris Charitidis and KTEL Heraklion are main investors, , which as it is said cannot be ruled out to connect with other neighboring islands such as Anafi, Folegandros, etc.

Santa Irini was purchased in mid-May, built in 1997 and after undergoing the necessary refits she recently raised the Greek flag. It can carry 750 passengers and 180 cars.

Finally, on the Rafina line, another ship purchased in 2022 will be launched. This is the Andros Queen of Golden Star Ferries which, as the company announced, will join Hellenic Coastal Shipping in April 2023. on the afternoon routes Rafina-Andros-Tino-Mykonos , in April. The ship was purchased in Japan in March 2022 and is currently in Perama. When ready, the Andros Queen will have a capacity of 1,400 passengers (106 berths) and 380 cars or 70 trucks.