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I'm amazed, that with few exceptions, the bulk of the Greek ferry fleet is comprised of all the ferries that Japan, northern Europe and just about everyone else no longer considers viable.
On a brighter note, I am heartened to see an influx of 80's tonnage which means they are operating ferries from the last two decades of the last century.
What an amazing industry!
Tim
Pam
quote:Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale: all the ferries that Japan, northern Europe and just about everyone else no longer considers viable. they are operating ferries from the last two decades of the last century. What an amazing industry!Tim
all the ferries that Japan, northern Europe and just about everyone else no longer considers viable.
they are operating ferries from the last two decades of the last century.
You should also look at the BC ferries fleet and their ferries age Yeah, I know its not US company but there arent any ferries in US so i couldn´t give a better example
quote:Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale:I was glad to see that the great Greek tradition of pressing anything that floats into service as a ferry is alive and well. Tim
Here!!! Another Ferry!!! Hurry!!!
I must say that after looking through Finnish eyes of the whole Greek ferry scene during the years, I still can't be any other than amazed of some of the "material" they buy years after years... A good example is the PANAGIA SOUMELA, ex-LADY OF MANN, built in 1976. Surely the only country in Europe who wants a ferry so old is Greece. Other options are North Korea for service and Aliaga & Alang scrapyards.
I could understand it, if they used her 'as is', but the Greeks always want to do a proper conversion, which usually takes some 10 months... I just keep wondering, how all this is financially possible and rational. The yards in Perama, for example, must be really cheap and that is why the conversions always take a long time. If the same conversion of Lady of Mann was done at a Finnish yard, it would take a max three months, in my estimation. I'm not saying all this in a negative meaning, quite the opposite, because I love the old vessels they buy and that's why I keep returning there again and again! And we must remember that there have been some purchases of newer ships, like ALKYONI, THEOLOGOS P. and THESSALONIKI... So some obvious development can definitely be seen!
Brgds,Aleksi
Aleksi - special thanks as it was all of your photgraphs that sparked this recent fascination.
With the way that cruise industry can not stop building new and larger ships and the way that the Northern Europeans continually renew their tonnage, the Greek scene is utterly fascinating.
There doesn't seem to be a vessel they won't buy and as Aleksi mentioned, put through a "thorough" conversion.
When you think about it, it's truly ingenious especially given the fact that most of this is done at backwater docks with no proper shipyard facilities. Hearkens back to the days of the old Chandris conversions when creativity and ingenuity were greater assets than currency!
Ernst-at last sighting, Finnjet was laid up in Freeport as she has finished her charter in Baton Rouge at the beginning of June.
quote:Originally posted by Ernst:Thanks for the reply. It would be funny to see the Finnjet as a Greece ferry. Has anyone pictures from Freeport?
Considering she can be had for about $15 million, I wouldn't be surprised to see Louis pick her up. That would make her the ULTIMATE in Greek ferries!
quote:Originally posted by AJL: Other options are North Korea for service and Aliaga & Alang scrapyards.
Do not the Greeks do a good sideline in chartering the more ancient vessels to rather dubious N African and Red Sea operators?
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