F/B El Greco - Heraklion

F/B EL GRECO

Photo © Gunnar Menzer

Ship	El Greco (1979)	Building Spec.	1972 at Hayashikane, Japan N° 1165
GRT	9.562	DWT	2.931
Dimensions	140,8 x 22,38 x 5,7	Engines	2 Mitsubishi - MAN, 14.920 kW
Speed	19 knots	Passengers	1.400
Beds	870	Cars	500
Lane Metres	900	Sister Ships
Registry Port	Heraklion	Flag	Greek
Former Owners	Meimon Ferry 1972-79	Former Names	Ferry Atsuta 1972-79
New Owners	My Way 2002à	New Names
Line

Present in the Heraklion-based company for 21 years now, after bearing the name “Ferry Atsuta” when in Japanese services, the “El Greco” launched the international lines of Minoan Lines. Introduced in 1981 between Patras and Ancona with the aim of improving considerably these services, was successively joined also by the “Fedra” and “King Minos”. In 1991 she keaved for the first time her classic line, put on the new link Ancona - Corfu - Cephalonia - Piraeus - Paros - Heraklion. In 1992 is again on Ancona line, substituted on Italy - Crete line by the “Festos”, remaining there until 1995, when on the new Venice line, together with Strintzis Lines; the following year then, was on the new line licensed to Minoan, linking Thessaloniki and Heraklion three times a-week passing also by Skiathos and the Cyclades. Until 1999 the line passed once a week also by Volos. The ship is laid up and offered for sale from Autumn 2001; unfortunately the stalwart of Minoan Lines was sold in early 2002 to a new company, without name change, to operate a new line between Brindisi, Corfu, Igoumenitsa, Cefalonia and Patras… surely she’ll be the leader this year!

The “El Greco” in her earlier years, photo from Daniele Miglio’s Collection

Photo © Per Jensen

Photo from Pieter Inpijn’s collection

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