Kissamos (ship)

The Kissamos is a ferry operated by the Greek company ANEK Lines. Built between 1991 and 1992 at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Shimonoseki for the Japanese company Highashi Nihon Ferry, it was originally named Hercules . Entering service in April 1992 on routes connecting the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu via the Sea of Japan, it was transferred in 1998 to operate from the Pacific coast. Sold in 1998 to ANEK Lines and initially renamed Kriti V, it entered service in July 2000 between Greece and Italy under the name Lefka Ori. Placed on the charter market in 2012 due to a crisis affecting Greek shipping lines, it operated in South Korea during this period before returning to Greece in 2013. Transferred in 2014 to Hellas 2 Leasing Maritime Co., it was subsequently chartered by Blue Star Ferries, which operated it between Piraeus and Crete from April 2015 to February 2024 under the name Blue Galaxy. Returning to the ANEK Lines fleet in February 2024 following its acquisition by the Attica group, it was renamed Kissamos''.

History

Origins and construction

In the late 1980s, the Higashi Nihon Ferry company considered opening a new route connecting Hokkaido Island to Niigata Prefecture via the Sea of Japan. To this end, the shipping company planned to put two identical vessels into service in the early 1990s.
Based on the design of the sister ships Varuna and Victory, which entered service in the late 1980s on Pacific Coast routes, the future vessels boast impressive dimensions, measuring 192 meters in length and 13,000 GT. Like the Pacific fleet, their design revolves around a vast, two-level garage spanning four decks and capable of accommodating 180 trailers and approximately 100 vehicles. Designed to carry 700 passengers, particular attention will be paid to the comfort of the facilities, which extend across three decks in total. These include numerous private first- class cabins, as well as amenities such as a restaurant, a bar, and traditional public baths.
Just like its sister ship, the Hermes, the construction of the second vessel was entrusted to the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Shimonoseki. Named Hercules, in reference to the hero of Roman mythology, its keel was laid on July 26, 1991. Launched on November 22 of the same year, it was then delivered to Higashi Nihon Ferry on April 8, 1992.

Service

Higashi Nihon Ferry (1992-1999)

The Hercules entered service on April 15, 1992, between Jōetsu and Hokkaido. It initially operated two round trips per week to Iwanai and one to Muroran. Joining its sister ship, the Hermes, which had entered service two years earlier, its arrival allowed for three crossings per day on each of the two routes.
In the late 1990s, Higashi Nihon Ferry realized that its Sea of Japan routes were operating at a loss. In September 1998, to maintain its presence between Kyushu and Jōetsu, the company decided to combine this service with the Hokkaido route by extending the itinerary to Muroran. This new route was served by the sister ships Rainbow Bell and Rainbow Love, which replaced the Hermes and Hercules. With the arrival of the new Varuna on the Iwanai route in November, both ships were left without a specific assignment. While the Hermes was sold to the Greek company ANEK Lines, the Hercules was temporarily transferred to the Pacific coast routes between Oarai and Muroran before being sold to ANEK Lines in 1999.

ANEK Lines (since 1999)

Upon delivery to its new owner, the ship was renamed Kriti V. In 1999, it left Japan for Greece. Arriving at the Perama shipyards, it underwent some modifications, including the refurbishment of its facilities. New cabins were added, and a section was constructed at the stern, allowing for the creation of a bar/lido with a swimming pool. Following the work, in June 2000, the ship was renamed Lefka Ori. The car ferry entered service on July 3rd on ANEK Lines' Adriatic routes between Greece and Italy. It joined its sister ship, the former Hermes, previously acquired by ANEK and renamed Sophocles V.
During September 2007, it was chartered by the Algerian National Navigation Company and in this capacity made some trips between Algeria and France.
In the early 2010s, Greek shipping lines were hit hard by a crisis triggered by rising fuel prices. To minimize operating costs for its fleet, ANEK Lines decided in February 2012 to withdraw the Sophocles V and its sister ship from service and offer them for charter.
Initially laid up in Patras, the two ships were chartered in June by the South Korean shipping company Jeju Cruise Line. After leaving Greece at the beginning of the month, they arrived in South Korea on June 26. Intended to operate between Shanghai, Jeju Island, and Kitakyushu, the project never materialized, despite the ships being painted in the company's colors. Consequently, the ship remained laid up in Busan until November 2013. During this period, it was unofficially named Antonio L. Upon its return to Greece, it was laid up in Perama. In August 2014, its ownership was transferred to Hellas 2 Leasing Maritime Co.
Laid up since 2013, the ship was chartered by Blue Star Ferries on February 18, 2015, and renamed Blue Galaxy. In preparation for its entry into service, it underwent some renovations, including repainting in Blue Star Ferries' colors. Its interior decor was also modernized. Once the work was completed, it began service on April 24 between Piraeus and Crete.
At the end of 2023, ANEK Lines was acquired by the Attica Group, owner of, among others, Blue Star Ferries. This event led to a reorganization of the fleets of the shipping companies owned by the group. Scheduled to return to the ANEK fleet, the Blue Galaxy initially had its hull repainted white in November . Operated by Blue Star Ferries until February 2024, it then joined the ANEK Lines fleet. Renamed Kissamos for the occasion, it resumed its crossings to Crete on February 7 .

Facilities

The Kissamos has 10 decks. While the ship actually spans 11 decks, one is absent in the car deck area to allow the ship to carry cargo. Passenger quarters occupy all of decks 6 and 7 and part of deck 8, while the crew is housed at the front of deck 8. Decks 3 and 4 contain the car decks.

Common areas

During the ship's Japanese period, passengers had access to a restaurant and a cafe-bar on deck 8, two public baths and two game rooms on deck 7, as well as a cinema and a shop on deck 6.
Since the transformations carried out by ANEK Lines, the ship is equipped with an ice cream parlor, a veranda and a lounge bar on deck 6, a lounge and an outdoor bar on deck 7 and a restaurant and a self-service restaurant on deck 8. Until 2015, there was a swimming pool at the rear at the level of the outdoor bar but has since been removed.

Cabins

On board the Hercules, the cabins were located on decks 6 and 7. The ship was thus equipped in 1st class with 28 double cabins and 24 four-berth cabins in Western style, 25 four-berth cabins in Japanese style, 48 2nd class berths distributed in 14 twelve-berth cabins and five dormitories for a total of 232 places.
Today, the ship has 178 private cabins on decks 7 and 8 for a total of 650 berths. All cabins have private bathrooms including shower, toilet and sink.

Features

The Kissamos is 192 meters long and 27 meters wide. Its original tonnage was 13,403 GT, before being increased to 29,429 GT during its 2000 refit and finally to 29,992 GT in 2015. In its initial configuration, it could carry 700 passengers and 100 vehicles in a spacious garage that could also accommodate 180 trailers, accessible via two side ramp doors, one at the bow and the other at the stern on the starboard side, and a central rear door. Following the 2000 refit, the ship could carry 1,600 passengers and 1,100 vehicles. In 2015, the capacity was increased to 1,780 passengers and 780 vehicles. Its access to the garage has not been altered, although a dedicated pedestrian ramp has been added to the stern. The Kissamos is powered by two Nippon Kokan-Pielstick 12PC4-2V diesel engines, each producing 22,260 kW and driving two propellers, propelling the vessel at a speed of 24 knots. It is also equipped with two bow thrusters, a stern thruster, and a roll stabilizer. Safety equipment at the time consisted primarily of life rafts and a rigid inflatable rescue boat. Since 2000, the ship has been equipped with four large, enclosed lifeboats.

Route served

From 1992 to 1998, the Herclues sailed for Higashi Nihon Ferry on routes between Niigata Prefecture and Hokkaido Island, specifically the Jōetsu - Iwanai and Jōetsu- Muroran routes. In 1998, it was transferred to Pacific routes between Oarai and Muroran, where it remained until 1999.
From 2000, the ship served ANEK Lines routes between Greece and Italy, initially on the Patras - Igoumenitsa - Corfu - Trieste route. In September 2007, it was briefly assigned to the Algiers - Marseille route between Algeria and France under charter from CNAN.
Since 2015, it has been operating between Piraeus and Chania in Crete, initially under the colors of Blue Star Ferries and then again under those of ANEK since 2024.

Blue Star Ferries
ANEK Lines