Nick the Greek

Norbay βλεφαριάσωμεν, άφιξη στο Δουβλίνο τον Ιούνιο του 2019 από το συνθηισμένο του δρομολόγιο του Λίβερπουλ. Πολύ στιβαρό σκαρί, για κάποιο λόγο μου αρέσει πολύ.

Όχι κολοκυθιά. Όποιος ξέρει κάτι σίγουρα ας πεί.

Σήμερα πάμε σε ένα πλοίο μεταφοράς αργού πετρελαίου, δεμένο σε dolphins στο Rotterdam. Είναι το Al Khtam (IMO 9823534) που όπως μαρτυρά το όνομά του είναι Αραβόφωνης πλοιοκτησίας και πιο συγκεκριμένα της κρατικής εταιρείας πετρελαίου των Ηνωμένων Αραβικών Εμιράτων, της ADNOC. Καθελκύστηκε πέρυσι σαν Maersk Silvia, δε νομίζω όμως πως ταξίδεψε ποτέ με αυτό το όνομα. Προιόν του Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co Ltd με αριθμό P113K-1 και μηχανή MAN B&W.

Μιά ακόμη άποψη του ταχύπλοου Super Flyte (IMO 8867947) δεμένο στο Capri. Δε του φαίνεται ίσως αλλά είναι ναυπήγηση του 1992 από το ναυπηγείο WaveMaster International στο Fremantle της Αστραλίας, που έλεγε και η Γεωργία Βασιλειάδου. Δύο κύριες μηχανές MTU τύπου 16V396TE74 για υπηρεσιακή 28 κόμβων. Δεν έχει αλλάξει ποτέ όνομα.

Σωραίοοοςςςς! Όσον αφορά το Volcan de Tinamar, στην ουσία μιλάμε για το ίδιο περίπου configuration που έχει και το Bahama Mama απλά σε μικρότερη κλίμακα. Η διαφορά τους σε μήκος είναι συνολικά 20 μέτρα. Η βασική διαφορά είναι πως στο Bahama Mama αντί για διώροφο εστιατόριο, το επάνω ντέκ είναι σαλόνι. Το πρυμνιό σαλόνι του Volcan de Tinamar όπως είδαμε παραπάνω είναι σκάλες ανώτερο από το αντίστοιχο του Bahama Mama.

Να το δούμε και με την τελευταία έκδοση των σινιάλων του, άφιξη στη Δουνκέρκη τον περασμένo μήνα. Ωραιότατο βαπόρι.

Το ταχύπλοο SNAV Alcione που ήδη έχουμε στην gallerie σε μια λίγο διαφορετική φορεσιά την οποία και βλέπουμε εδώ, τον Μάιο του 2016 στη Napoli. Και σε διαφορετική άποψη με καλύτερο ήλιο την επόμενη χρονιά και πάλι στη Napoli.

Απόψε έχουμε ένα MR2 που βλέπουμε δεμένο στο Rotterdam, είναι το Advantage Point (IMO 9327384). Ναυπήγηση 2006 στη Hyundai Mipo(0439) με μία μηχανή MAN B&W. Μοναδικό του προηγούμενο όνομα το Baltic Force και τωρινός του πλοιοκτήτης η τουρκική Geden Lines. Δεύτερη συνάντηση μαζί του αργότερα την ίδια ημέρα και ενώ αυτό πλέει πρός την ανοιχτή θάλασσα.

Επιστροφή Κυριακής σήμερα από τη Μύκονο και για βραδυνά δρομολόγια ξεκινάμε με το Superexpress που έριξε καταπέλτη στην 4 του Τούρλου στις 1903 προερχόμενο από Σαντορίνη και Πάρο. Έβγαλε περί των 150 επιβατών με προορισμό τη Μύκονο μαζί με 1 ΙΧ. Η φόρτωσή του ήταν τουλάχιστον 250 επιβάτες μαζί με 60 ΙΧ. Σημειώνω πως στους αριθμούς επιβατών που δίνω, δεν συμπεριλαμβάνω τους οδηγούς των αυτοκινήτων. Οπότε εδώ μιλάμε για 300+ επιβάτες και 60 ΙΧ, πάρα πολύ καλά νούμερα. Απόπλους στις 1920 για Τήνο - Ραφήνα με 20 λεπτά καθυστέρηση από την προβλεπόμενη ώρα απόπλου. Δεύτερο και τελευταίο δρομολόγιο επιστροφής γι απόψε το πρώην Νήσος Μύκονος προερχόμενο από το σιδηρόδρομο της Καβάλας και με πρόσδεση στην 1 της Μυκόνου στις 1933. Αποβίβαση καμιάς 50αριάς επιβατών που μπλέχτηκαν αρχικά με τους περίπου 120 που επιβιβάζονταν επί του καταπέλτη, όχι καλή εικόνα. Βγήκαν επίσης και 13 δίκυκλα, 44 ΙΧ και μία βάρκα ενώ δεν κατάλαβα γιατί δεν έπεσε καταπέλτης επιβατών και ο κόσμος μπήκε από το γκαράζ. Ο έλεγχος έγινε στην πόρτα του γκαράζ πρός το κομοδέσιο με συνέπεια συνωστισμό και καθυστέρηση της φόρτωσης για πλέον των 10 λεπτών ώσπου να δημιουργηθεί χώρος στο γκαράζ για να μπούν τα οχήματα. Η δε βάρκα βγήκε με τα χέρια και όχι δεμένη σε αυτοκίνητο. Δε μας έχει συνηθίσει σε τέτοια το Μύκονος. Από οχήματα είχαμε φόρτωση 23 δίκυκλα, 20 ΙΧ, 1 ημιφορτηγό, 2 μονά φορτηγά και 1 επικαθήμενο. Συνολικά παρέμεινε 30 λεπτά στη Μύκονο και απέπλευσε λίγο μετά τις 2000 για Τήνο, Σύρο και Πειραιά με πάνω από 40 λεπτά καθυστέρηση από την προγραμματισμένη ώρα απόπλου(1920). Απόψε είχαμε και το SuperStar στις προερχόμενο από Ραφήνα, Άνδρο και Τήνο. Έριξε καταπέλτη στην 1 στις 2140. Απεβίβασε καμιά 40αριά επιβάτες, 7 δίκυκλα, 38 ΙΧ, 1 μονό φορτηγό και 1 επικαθήμενο, εντυπωσιακός ο αριθμός των ΙΧ αν αναλογιστεί κανείς πως ακολουθεί και το Θεολόγος Π. Επιβίβασε καμιά 10αριά επιβάτες και 7 ΙΧ για την Πάρο, για την οποία απέπλευσε στις 2147.

Sunday, May 29th, 2022 It's been more than a month since the last update but to my defense, for anyone who's working in shipping and is not just dicking around in social media, it's a super busy period with an unprecedented amount of uncertainties and challenges, all happening at the same time. Of course the same principles apply to the Greek ferry sector so let's review what has happened over the last month or so, always with a critical and unconventional eye. This review turned out to be a longish one, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy: - Picking it up where we left from, it was a great Easter for the ferry companies with very good load factors and without disruptions in the services. Even in the case of the Superexpress hitting the rocks in Tinos, the disruption was minimal. If bunker prices had been in normal levels, we would be talking about a fantastic start to the season, as it is though the bunker cost is eating into the profit of the ferry companies. The fact that even the usually full ships of the Heraklion route are killing their rpm, is a measure of how bad things are. Still though, there is optimism for the summer and it looks highly likely we will see in action even the most expensive fast craft to operate, in other words the WC Jet and Tera Jet. The intra-Cycladic passenger figures are also looking very healthy, baring some escalation of the war in the Ukraine or some incident with the Sultan Erdogan, it looks like it will be a great summer in Greece. - Talking about the fast ferries, Seajets looks as if they will come out with all guns blazing. The odd ship out looks to be the Superspeed Jet, at the same time though there are question marks around the acquisition of the Speedrunner III(TBR Speedrunner Jet). The talk of the town is that Seajets have masterfully placed Aegean Speedlines between a rock and a hard place. Apparently, Seajets have agreed on an MOA with Aegean Speedlines and have remitted 10% of the agreed purchase price. Problem is that for the remaining 90%, their deadline is the end of June. And until that time, not only Aegean Speedlines cannot use the ship, not only Seajets have taken over all their existing bookings, but also Aegean Speedlines have submitted a request to the Ministry for the ship not to be any longer considered for active duty. For the life of me, I do not know how as a seller you agree to this. Amateuristic is the least I can say about how Aegean Speedlines have handled this sale. It's as if they were absolutely desperate to sell. What will happen from now on? My personal guess is that with Seajets holding all the cards, close to the sale date they will come back citing seemingly valid arguments in order to re-negotiate the sale price, downwards obviously. And Aegean Speedlines will succumb to the inevitable. It looks as if the master plan of Aegean Speedlines was to sell the Speedrunner III off and replace her with the Ekaterini P, as discussions have taken place with Fast Ferries on the subject. Unfortunately for Aegean Speedlines, the Theologos Panagiotakis-led Fast Ferries, are not willing to let their ship go at a price which Aegean Speedlines are willing to pay. All in all, not looking good for Aegean Speedlines. Not good at all. - More on Seajets with a mention that over the last 2 weeks they have faced 4 incidents of engine trouble or other technical issues on the Aqua Jewel, Sifnos Jet, Power Jet and Champion Jet 1. As ever with them, keeping their ships running is most probably the biggest challenge come the summer season. On to success stories for them, the Sporades Star is shaping up to become one. It looks as if she's been very positively received from the local communities in the islands she's serving and is gaining popularity and income. She's nicely renovated in terms of her interiors(you can see it here) but she's still a 44-year old ferry. This is saying more about how unhappy the local communities were from the existing ships if you ask me, rather than how happy they are with the Sporades Star. At the same time the SuperStar(former Superferry II) has also commenced sailings between Rafina - Andros - Tinos - Mykonos and Paros. I sailed on her and she looks in top shape, offering a nice alternative. You can see photos and videos of her. Last but not least, related to the owner of Seajets, Marios Iliopoulos is the recently published book Dead In The Water, by Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel. You can find some interesting links about this case also here, I won't do a spoiler. - Something extremely interesting which is coming out of the Greek press has to do with the preliminary findings around the tragedy of the Euroferry Olympia. According to that press therefore, the cause of the fire was a short circuit. Not coming from the lorries on board the ship though, but from faulty equipment/cabling which belonged to the ship. If this turns out to be true, it will mean that the ship and her owner Grimaldi Lines is to blame for the incident and the tragic loss of life. With all the legal consequences that follow, as well as the tarnishing of their image. - You will have seen by now the sad scenes of the departure of the former Theofilos and Mytilene in order to be scrapped in Aliaga. Let alone the ferry enthusiasts, even the local communities have very fond memories of these two ships and their demise was news everywhere. They represented the golden years of NEL Lines in the 90s, when the company was strong and profitable and when nobody could predict that within only a few years would be practically bankrupt. I wish someone would write a book for them at some point, from the moment the decision was taken to build the 3 fast ferries the company turned out to be a shipping management textbook of how NOT to manage a company. - An unsurprising development is the Olympus being awarded the subsidized sailings the Prevelis has been performing till date. A scandal if you ask me. Granted the owners of the Olympus submitted the lowest bid, at the same time we are talking about a company with an extremely limited track record and a ship which was very nearly auctioned-off due to their debts during the winter. You gotta live your myth in Greece though, you can bet your bottom dollar that some people involved in this from the State's side, will spend a luxurious summer. On top of that, anyone who's familiar with the ports she is supposed to be calling and the technical characteristics of the ship are expressing serious doubts about how this will go, especially in challenging weather conditions. We'll be here to comment on that too, the ship is expected to commence sailings in the latter part of June. As for the Prevelis? She is up for sale by ANEK, even though one can consider a number of possibilities for further employment for her. - Another unfortunate ship is the Cat I, despite an entire year(or even more) of preparations she has apparently become the victim of a very serious technical issue(rumour is crankshaft) which pushed back her debut in the Agios Konstantinos - Skiathos - Skopelos route by at least a month. I have my doubts even for that. Same story for the Nissos Aegina from which allegedly most of the crew has been signed off and her summer sailing schedule is still pending approval. There's a bit of a mystery around her, her owners are not the most reliable ones either. Once again too much social media hoo-ha over something clearly difficult, has never done anyone any good. - A fair amount of discussion is taking place around the Smyrna di Levante and the imminent(?) opening of the Thessaloniki - Izmir route. The debate has to do both with whether the -extremely tense nowadays- relations between Greece and Turkey will adversely affect the venture and also with what is the real target of Levante Ferries in terms of traffic. Is it the lorry traffic between Greece and Turkey, is it the transit lorry traffic towards Italy or are they aiming at creating passenger and car traffic between two emblematic cities in the two countries? Is there a subsidy somewhere in play? These are all question marks at this point and everyone's curious to see how things will pan out. Levante had expressed their intention to open this route since they took over the ship, so they had a good 3 years to prepare for this. So in my humble opinion, no excuses if they get it wrong. - From the Greece to Turkey connection, to the Greece to Cyprus one. Finally the contract was awarded, you can see the who is who here. The sailings ought to start in 3 weeks from now with the former Japanese ferry Daleela, a very strange choice indeed. The ship has been dry-docked in Egypt and is now getting ready to cross the Suez Canal towards the Med. She will be a very interesting ship to sail on and obviously it remains to be seen whether the Cyprus politicians were visionaries who will bring tons of extra tourist traffic to their island, or -as I am suspecting- this is another few million thrown out of the window in a service which makes no commercial sense. They do seem determined though to proceed with a similar subsidy for a service with one of their eastern neighbours. - Attica has been fairly quiet over the last month or so, except from the slight damages the Nissos Samos suffered in Chios as a result of bad weather. Unfortunately for Attica this happened during the day and in plain sight so there was no option for them but to concede the happening. It's a great laugh if you read the official announcement from the Coast Guard about the incident, the ship is described to "have touched the quay ever so slightly". This type of expression is unheard of in Hellenic Coast Guard-speak and demonstrates their perplexity about the fact they had to write something unpleasant about Attica. Corruption and lack of guts in plain sight. One extra piece of news is that the Hellenic Highspeed will most probably not be sailing in Greece this year, rumour has it she will be chartered to African Morocco Lines for service between Algeciras and Tanger Med. - The former Almudaina Dos has now become the Santa Irini as you have read in previous updates, a takeover crew is already on board in Almeria and before the end of June she will have sailed to Greece. A very interesting development for the reasons i have mentioned in my previous blogs. - Several of our members have now reported near misses or dodgy handling in terms of managing the traffic in Piraeus by part of the Piraeus Traffic Service of the Hellenic Coast Guard. Examples of that in the recent past have been visible and I have the feeling it won't be long before our fears are proven true. - Last but not least over the last month or so, in our gallerie we have seen every single ship that has been talked about in Greece and several from abroad. I would encourage you to browse through it, I am highlighting just the Theofilos and the Cenk T. Our YouTube video gallery also has a number of new and interesting additions. Take care and enjoy the summer ahead, Nikos, Piraeus.

Και τώρα μάλλον είναι έτοιμο να περάσει το Κανάλι πρός τη Μεσόγειο, με τις κούτες των Marlboro στοιβαγμένες στο chart room .

Τελευταίο στίγμα του πλοίου στη Napoli το 2018, έκτοτε αγνοείται η τύχη του. Ποιός ξέρει αν υπάρχει ακόμη στη Λιβύη ή αν έπεσε θύμα των εχθροπραξιών. Εμείς ας το θυμηθούμε -ή για τους περισσότερους εξ' υμών, γνωρίσουμε- στο λιμανάκι του Monte di Procida πίσω στην άνοιξη του 2016. Ομολογουμένως η εμφάνισή του και η γενικότερή του κατάσταση δεν εμπνέει και πάρα πολύ εμπιστοσύνη. Βετεράνος των Νορβηγέζικων φιόρδ με μοναδικό του προηγούμενο όνομα το Dalsfjord, ήταν μόλις το yard number 2 από το ναυπηγείο Hasund Smie & Sveiseverk AS του Ulsteinvik. Δύο κύριες μηχανές Winchmann, μήκος 39.5 μέτρα, και γκαράζ για περίπου 29 ΙΧ.