Crete-based Minoan Lines appears to be in the center of a shake up in Greece's coastal shipping sector. Last month, the activity of the Minoan shares on the Athens Stock Exchange, and subsequent press stories, has led most to believe that Attica Enterprises (Superfast Ferries and...
Attica Holdings (Superfast and Blue Star Ferries) announced late last month that it had reached an agreement with an Italian company, represented by Romano Artioili, for the acquisition of more than 6.7 million shares of Minoan Lines. The purchase represents 9.51% of the share...
After several years in the doldrums, Hellas Flying Dolphins seems to have pricked the interest of Greece's major coastal shipping companies. Last month, under its new managing director, Gerasimos Stintzis, HFD announced an agreement whereby it would purchase two new vessels. And...
Greek coastal shipowners have taken the bull by the horns and come hell or high water will attempt this year to settle the waters after almost three years of rough seas. For example, last month the Greek Coastal Shipowners Association issued an open threat to the Merchant Marine...
After the sale of four of its first-generation super-fast ferry vessels, Attica Enterprises reportedly has its eyes on foreign shipyards for the construction of new vessels within the framework of a new investment program. This time, however, the new vessels concern its coastal...
Attica Enterprises announced last month that Atlantic Navigazione of Grimaldi Group, Napoli, has entered into an agreement with its wholly owned subsidiary Superfast Ferries to acquire the fast ferry Superfast I.
Blue Star Ferries managed to increase passenger traffic on the Piraeus-Chania route by some 43% during the month of July when compared with traffic on the route in July of last year. Its vessel Blue Star 2, which was placed on the route this year for the first time, covered...
Within the new liberalized framework of Greek coastal shipping, Strintzis Lines (Blue Star Ferries), expands its routes. As of this month, the Greek ferry line is at the forefront with three brand new ships on the Cycladic Islands' routes, the Blue Star 1 in the Dodecanese on the...
Superfast IX, for the moment the newest vessel in the Attica Enterprises' fleet, last month began service on the new Germany-Sweden route between the port of Sodertalje, in the greater Stockholm area and the port of Rostock, Germany. The new service represents the second stage of...
Superfast XII slid gracefully down the slipway of the yard into the waters of the Baltic Sea last month. Attica Enterprises, the holding company for Superfast Ferries, said its newest super-fast vessel is due for delivery from the Flender Werft shipyards in Lubeck, Germany, in...
Talk around the Piraeus harbor area these days centers on a plethora of meetings being held in a general effort to form new coastal shipping alliances and merges, such as the rumored alliance between Attica Enterprises (Superfast Ferries) and Minoan Lines. Then there's the merger...
Attica Enterprises, the holding company for Superfast Ferries, and cruise company Costa Crociere, owned by Carnival Cruise Lines, signed signed a letter of intent to create two joint ventures in cruise and ferry operations.
The first of two new ultra modern ferry vessels for the Cyclades routes slid gently into the waters outside of the Daewoo Shipyards in Korea last month. Christened Blue Star Paros, the first vessel now undergoes its inside dressing stage with some of the most luxurious...
Coastal shipping companies are expected to ask Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis to consent to fare hikes of up to 20 percent. They also called on him to extend the increased summer-season fare schedule into the winter. Ferry operators say higher insurance premiums are...
Although both Superfast Ferries and partner Strintzis Lines (Blue Star Ferries) increased sales and market share during the first half of this year, profits for both are down. When Attica Enterprises, owners of Superfast Ferries, last month announced its first-half financial...
The roll-on, roll-off ferry vessel Superfast XI last month was slid gracefully down the slipway of the Flender shipyard in Lubeck, Germany, into the waters of the Baltic Sea launched at. The 200-meter-long Superfast XI, built for Superfast Ferries' holding company, Attica...
Attica Enterprises, the holding company for Superfast Ferries accepted delivery of its newest ferry, the Superfast VIII, last month. This is the second of a series of four sister vessels built at Howaldtswerke shipyard in Germany and the fourth delivery from the same yard this year.
Greek Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis last month took the first major step for the deregulation of the domestic passenger-shipping sector. With the issuance of new exploitation permits for island routes, the ministry breaks up the near-monopoly some larger ferry lines...
Superfast Ferries announced last month that it had won a Scottish state tender to ply routes to northern ports on continental Europe from 2002. Forty two companies took part in the international tender to run a service between Rosyth in Fife, Scotland and the Continent.
