Minoan Lines

Minoan Lines To Propose Three-For-One Issue

Greek passenger shipping firm Minoan Lines' board will propose a one-for-three bonus share issue to shareholders at its upcoming annual general assembly. The bonus shares will arise from capitalization of around $52.4 million out of a total $198.1 million share premium reserve, company officials said. The board will also propose the distribution of a 100 drachma ($.29) dividend per share for fiscal 1999, a total of 5.3 billion drachmas ($15.4 million), which is around 13 percent higher than the total 1998 dividend.

Minoan Flying Dolphins Acquires Five Ferries

Minoan Flying Dolphins Acquires Five Ferries Minoan Flying Dolphins, a subsidiary of Minoan Lines, has acquired five used ferries that service routes linking the port of Piraeus with islands in the Saronic Gulf. The ferries are F/B Nefeli, F/B Georgios, F/B Saronikos, F/B Eftyhia and F/B Express Danae. "The move implements part of the company's business plan in the Saronic routes, a market of about three million passengers annually," a Minoan Flying Dolphins spokesperson said

Minoan Mulls Route Expansions

Greek ferry operator Minoan Lines said on Monday it plans to expand into new sea routes linking the ports of West Italy with Malta and Tunisia and later expanding to French ports in the Mediterranean. The company's statement on its plans was issued after Minoan's chairman Costas Kleronomos announced the decision during the delivery ceremony of the operator's newest vessel, the 2,200 passenger Festos Palace, over the weekend at Fincantieri shipyards in Genoa, Italy.

Ferry Accident Blamed For Minoan's Plummeting Stock Price

Shares of ferry operator Minoan Lines fell around 11 percent in late session trade on the Athens stock exchange on Wednesday, near the bourse's 12 percent limit down, after one of its ferries sank late on Tuesday, killing 48 passengers. Traded volume was 979,939 shares. The shares were trading at 2,995 drachmas ($7.78), up slightly from its day low of 2,935 drachmas, representing a fall of more than 11 percent. But brokers said the share price loss was likely to be temporary.

Minoan Studies Adriatic Market Expansion

Minoan Flying Dolphins (MDF), a subsidiary of ferry operator Minoan Lines, is looking into deploying high-speed ships in the Adriatic market. MDF took out an option for two additional newbuildings with Austal shipyards in Australia, deliverable in 2001. The company already has three high speed vessels on order with Austal.

Minoan Subsidiary Picks Up Three More Vessels

Minoan Lines' 70 percent-owned subsidiary Minoan Flying Dolphins has maintained its very active buying spree of late with the announcement that it has acquired three ferries from the shipping family Nomikos for an undisclosed amount. The ferries are F/B Anemos, F/B Lemnos and F/B Macedon. F/B Anemos services the sea route linking the port of Piraeus with the islands of Ikaria and Samos in the Dodecannese, also making stops in the Cycladic islands

Greek Authorities Issue 32 New Operating Licenses

Greek Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis has signed 32 new operating licenses to passenger shipping firms in a bid to improve competition in the industry. "Until deregulation of sea travel in 2002, new applications submitted for licences will be examined immediately," the ministry said. "The criteria the applications will be examined upon will the public's interest, unimpeeded access to the islands and healthy competition

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.

FLAGSHIP-ISEMS Delivers Integrated Ship To Shore Incident Response

FLAGSHIP, the pan-European maritime transport project part funded by the EU, has developed an integrated, ship to shore system, for the control and monitoring of passenger safety functions on board ship utilising both fixed and mobile assets.  Called FLAGSHIP-ISEMS (Integrated Safety and Emergency Management System), the system enhances the onboard ability to handle emergencies while also making full use of real-time communication between the ship and onshore facilities

FLAGSHIP-iCAS: Optimum Situation-Awareness In An Emergency

FLAGSHIP, the Pan-European maritime transport project part funded by the EU, has successfully developed software that enables comprehensive suppression of audible warnings in order to avoid large cascades of alarms on the bridge and in the engine room. Called iCAS (intelligent Central Alarm System),  the system is designed to provide a precise overview of the situation on board as it develops while freeing up staff to address the situation and follow the vessel’s routines without