HSC Aeolos Kenteris

The ship was built in 2000 at the French shipyard Alstom Leroux Naval S.A. She was one of the three "super-highspeed" passenger-vehicle ferries ordered by NEL. The other two were the Aeolos Express II (later Aeolos Kenteris II) and the Aeolos Express (Later Aeolos Kenteris I). Upon receipt, the ship became the flagship of the company and was then considered the fastest ship operating in the Aegean. She was launched on the Piraeus-Chios-Lesvos line. Although initially considered successful, the first problems, such as coastal damages and losses from wastewater and problems with Pielstick engines, began to appear. Although a French team came from France to repair them, the problems remained. Frequent accidents due to floods were the reason, even to warn the bathers of the beaches of Halkidiki and the Aegean for its crossing, while after a relevant complaint it was decided that when passing through beaches to move at a distance of 10 miles from them and with lower speed. In 2006, her engines were replaced, and so the ship, after receiving the nickname "Jewel of the Aegean", was launched on the Piraeus-Paros-Naxos-Santorini line. In 2007 it was decided to sell her, together with the HSC Panagia Parou, to Pictor Shipping SA for $85 million, while they were chartered in the Red Sea by the same company, while the two remaining vessels "Aeolos Express" and "Aeolos Express II" received her name ("Aeolos Kenteris I" and "Aeolos Kenteris II" respectively.). Renovation work began there, but it was delayed, resulting for the ship to be seized for debts of 5,000,000 euros. today, the ship remains partially submerged in Augusta, Italy. Efforts to remove her from the port have so far been fruitless. == References ==