F/B APTERA

Photo © Georges Pop

 

 

 

One of the biggest ANEK ships, extensively rebuilt before of entering Greek service. You can notice down a postcard of a Japanese ferry, name unknown: I think she is the “Pegasus”, the actual Aptera. This because of her funnel, which seems identical, and for the Aptera’s bow and stern appearance, in my opinion built on original structure of the postcard. Compare it with the above Aptera’s bow photo and my stern photo of 1994. Always used on Piraeus - Crete routes, mainly on Piraeus - Chania link, from 1997 is on Piraeus - Heraklion route together with F/B Rethimnon. I apologize very much but, in ten years which Daedalus is in Greek seas I never noticed that she was a sister of Aptera: surely with the ships in the actual appearance it’s very difficult to link the two ships without comparing the hull dimensions, especially after Aptera’s recent (2000) refit which added lateral sponsons on the ship, and/or a photo of them under Japanese flag, however the other two members of the family are the Minoan Flying Dolphins’s Ro/Ro “Sea Trailer” and a ship in Philippines Islands services, the “St. Ezekiel Moreno”. Apart of her short service in Autumn 2000 on Piraeus – South Peloponnese – Kasteli line replacing the “Mirtidiotissa”, the “Aptera” left Heraklion Line only in 2002, being in service to Rethimnon together with “Prevelis”. Although she is one of the oldest ANEK ships and surely the less modern and comfortable of all the fleet, having heard rumours of her imminent sale (the last time to a Mexican Company), she still serves the Chania-based company; for how many time again?

 

F/B Pegasus ? Postcard from Pieter Inpijn’s collection.

 

Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Piraeus Port, 02/09/94

 

Photo © Daniele Miglio

 

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