VENTOURIS FERRIES

The story

VENTOURIS FERRIES

Routes:

Bari - Igoumenitsa - Bari

Bari - Corfu - Bari

Bari - Corfu – Bari

After a couple of years when two of the four companies of the Ventouris family (Ventouris Lines & Ventouris Sea Lines)

were in financial troubles, Ventouris Ferries had increased their capacity and schedules for 2001.

The "POLLUX" was chartered from Strintzis Lines to serve together with the "IONIS" on the route between

Italy and Albania.

Ventouris Ferries was also entering the high-speed ferry industry with a long term charter of two 78 m wavepiercing Incat catamarans.

Both operated on the 122 nautical miles route between Igoumenitsa, Greece – Corfu, Greece – Brindisi, Italy.

Built as "STENA SEA LYNX II" (InCat 033) and "CAT-LINK 1" (InCat 035), the cats were respectively renamed "THUNDERCAT 1" and "THUNDERCAT 2".

In preparation for its new career InCat 033 returned to Incat Australia's Hobart, Tasmania, facility for a

major mechanical overhaul while InCat 035 proceeded direct to Greece from Charleston, USA.

During the summer season Ventouris Ferries offered up to three daily high speed departures from both Italy and Greece.

In addition, from July onwards Ventouris would also incorporate a regular service to Albania.

The new high speed service complemented seven conventional ferries operated by Ventouris on routes between

Greece, Italy and Albania.

The "THUNDERCAT 1" and "THUNDERCAT 2" could carry up to 600 passengers and 150 cars and they offered

a three-hour service between Greece and Italy, at the end of 2001 they were laid up at Malta.

Actual fleetlist Ventouris Ferries:

Italy-Greece:

M/v "POLARIS" 1991-

M/v "VENUS/ SIREN" 1989-

Italy-Albania:

M/v "ATHENS EXPRESS/ ATHENS" 1986-

M/v "IONIS" 2001-

Former ships of Ventouris Ferries: