F/B
PENELOPE A
Photo from the site AGOUDIMOS LINES
|
Ship |
Penelope A (1992) |
Building Spec. |
1972 at Arsenal National de la Marine, Brest, France,
N°2 |
|
GRT |
5.590 |
DWT |
1.014 |
|
Dimensions |
117,5 x 19,8 x 4 |
Engines |
2 De Bretagne - Pielstick, 9.885
kW |
|
Speed |
19,5 knots |
Passengers |
1.400 |
|
Beds |
118 |
Cars |
256 |
|
Lane Metres |
450 |
Sister Ships |
Express
Apollon Express
Artemis |
|
Registry Port |
Piraeus |
Flag |
Greek |
|
Former Owners |
Sealink
U.K. 1972-84 Sealink
British Ferries 1984-90 Sealink
Stena Line 1990-92 |
Former Names |
Horsa 1972-90 Stena Horsa 1990-92 |
|
New Owners |
M.F.D.
Hellas Ferries 2000ŕ |
New Names |
Express
Penelope 2000ŕ |
|
Line |
|
||
Second
one of three sister ships, she started her career in 1972 as “Horsa” for
Sealink. Mainly serving the Dover - Calais line, in 1984 entered the Sealink
British Ferries fleet, founded by the joint venture between Sealink and
Seacontainers, on the service from Folkestone to Boulougne together with the
“Hengist”. In 1990 Sealink merged with Stena Line and this ship took the name
“Stena Horsa”. At the end of 1991 the company decided to cease this service and
selling the “Stena Horsa”. About the purchase of this ferry I saw a tale on the
book “Greek Ferries” by John May: Agoudimos Lines was searching for a bigger
ship to replace “Kapetan Alexandros” on Rafina line: Mr Agoudimos was a guest
on final voyage of New Year’s eve 1991 and was so well impressed by this ship
to decide her purchase. Not many refitted, the ship remained in Agoudimos
ownership till November 1999, when purchased by Minoan Flying Dolphins and
renamed “Express Penelope” to run on the same line: Rafina - Andros - Tinos -
Myconos - Paros - Naxos. The three sisters are now serving the same operator,
but before of their purchase by Hellas Ferries always served at least in pair
for the same operator or operators of the same family: from 1992 to 1993 the
“Express Penelope” and “Express Artemis” for
Agoudimos Lines and G.A. Ferries; from 1993 to 1996 “Express Artemis”
and “Express Apollon” for Ventouris Sea Lines; the same two from 1996 to 2000
for the two Agapitos family companies: the first one for Agapitos Lines, the
second one for Agapitos Express Ferries.
SEALINK F/B Horsa photo by courtesy of Micke Asklander
SEALINK BRITISH FERRIES F/B Horsa photo by courtesy of Micke Asklander
SEALINK STENA LINE F/B Stena Horsa photo by courtesy of Micke Asklander
M.F.D HELLAS FERRIES F/B Express
Penelope photo © Pieter Inpijn