Flying Dolphins

Minoan Flying Dolphins To Order Three Ferries

Minoan Lines subsidiary Minoan Flying Dolphins will reportedly order three more high speed ferries at a cost of $150 million, bringing its total newbuildings to eight. The three new ferries will have a cruising speed of 30 knots and are expected to be delivered in Summer 2001, doubling the company's fleet of high speed ferries. Each of the ferries will be 459 ft. (140 m) long and have a capacity of 1,800 passengers and 250 cars, or 40 trucks and 100 cars.

Minoan Buys Four Ferries

Minoan Flying Dolphins acquired four ferries operating on routes to the Cyclades islands and the Argosaronic gulf. The vessels, which link the port of Piraeus with Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini with route extensions to Sikinos, Astypalea and Folegandros are expected to contribute about $7.9 million in revenues to the firm's total turnover. The latest purchases bring the company's total fleet to 67 vessels.

Minoan Lines Expects 58% Profit Increase In 1999

Minoan Lines expects its group 1999 profit to grow 58 percent to $49.4 million. Company officials said that revenues from its Greece to Italy routes in the first 10 months of the year were up 15.1 percent to $71.9 million. Total revenues in the same period from its international routes were up 9.5 percent to $90.9 billion. "Based on the 10-month results, Minoan Lines managed to achieve significant revenue growth despite the Kosovo crisis which affected the first half results

Greek Ferry Exec Plunges To His Death

A senior executive at the shipping company which owned a Greek ferry that sank in September killing 80 people, plunged to his death from the sixth floor of his office building on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Police said Pantelis Sfinias, vice president of the board of directors of Minoan Flying Dolphins, a subsidiary of Minoan Lines, was seen by passers-by and employees stepping off the building in the port of Piraeus

Minoan Ferry Sinking Cited as Worst Maritime Disaster in 35 Years

Rescuers pulled bodies from the Aegean sea on Wednesday as the death toll from Greece's worst maritime disaster in 35 years climbed to at least 62. The ferry Express Samina ran into a rocky islet off the holiday isle of Paros and sank in gale-force conditions late on Tuesday. Hundreds of Greek and foreign passengers were hurled into the rough waters. Twenty-nine people were missing, the Greek Merchant Marine Ministry said.

New & Notables

Derecktor Delivers Catamaran Ahead Of Time Derecktor Shipyards delivered its 299 ft. (91 m) high speed catamaran, Flying Cloud, to Woods Hole & Martha's Vineyard Steamship Authority. Completed one week ahead of schedule, the vessel will be used for year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Attaining an excess of 39 knots during sea trials, Flying Cloud demonstrated high stability and ride comfort due to its dynamic ride control

DFDS Seaways Orders Fast Rescue Boat

Danish ferry operator DFDS Seaways has ordered Dolphin Safe Rescuer for their fleet of RoRo passenger vessels from Sea Safe Boats Sweden. DFDS has selected the Dolphin Safe Rescuer, which meets all IMO requirements coming into force prior to July 1, 2000, for its maneuverability, quick and safe rescuing, and superior protection for crew and rescued passengers. Approved by Lloyd's Register of Shipping, Dolphin Safe Rescuer meets requirements as a combined fast rescue boat/lifeboat for 18 persons

HFD to Get Another Austal Fast Ferry

Austal Ships today announced a contract to build an 85 metre vehicle-passenger ferry for Greek operator Hellas Flying Dolphins (HFD). The catamaran is the fifth fast ferry HFD has ordered from Austal Ships, demonstrating ongoing confidence in Austal’s capabilities. HFD is Greece’s largest domestic ferry operator, transporting approximately 7 million passengers, 200,000 trucks and 800,000 cars every year. Due for delivery for the 2005 European summer and to be named “Highspeed 5”

Navy Donates Research Sub to San Diego Maritime Museum

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs The U.S. Navy officially transferred the decommissioned research submarine ex-Dolphin (AGSS 555) to the Maritime Museum of San Diego (MMSD) during a donation contract signing ceremony Sept. 18 in Washington. The ceremony took place in the Washington office of U.S. Rep. Susan Davis. Ex-Dolphin was decommissioned in 2007 after more than 30 years of service supporting naval research activities from her homeport in San Diego.

Veripos Wins Norwegian Positioning Contract

Aberdeen-based Veripos, a world leader in the provision of GNSS positioning facilities to the offshore oil and gas industry, has been awarded a contract by Dolphin Geophysical AS of Bergen, the newly-formed Norwegian seismic exploration contractor, for the supply of services aboard its recently-commissioned 3D seismic vessel, Polar Duke.   The purpose-built flagship vessel, which is currently working on behalf of a major global geoscientific data products and service organisation