Aeolos Kenteris: What is the former jewel of the seas like today? – 2024-09-19 21:06:06

It was once the jewel of the seas, but today it lies half-submerged in Sicily, awaiting its fate. The reason for the “Aeolos Kenteris”, the speedboat that came to change the map in the interconnection of the Greek islands by making trips faster.

However, his course was not the same due to the many problems created by his disabilities. So, after changing ownership, today it reached the point of being in a tragic state.

An explorer entered its rusted carcass and recorded footage of the condition inside.

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@kylesthenix The Jewel of the Aegean, the fastest high speed ferry of its time, reached speeds of 43 knots and created waves so large that it would injure nearby beachgoers. Its prolific history was plagued with omens, and it reached its final resting place in Augusta Bay, Sicily, after NEL Lines went bankrupt and the ship was seized for a debt of 5 million euro. #abandoned #aeoloskenteris #cruiseship #ferry #tragedy #shipwreck #documentary #kylesthenix ♬ ICARUS – Orchestral Version – Tony Ann

The story of Aeolos Kenteris

The ship was built in 2000 at the French shipyard Alsthom Leroux Naval SA. It was one of three passenger-ferry “super-fast ships” ordered by NEL. The other two were Aeolos Express II (Later Aeolos Kenteris II) and Aeolos Express (Later Aeolos Kenteris I).

Upon its receipt, the ship became the flagship of the company and was then considered the fastest ship operating in the Aegean. It was routed on the Piraeus-Chios-Lesvos line. Although at first it was considered successful, eventually the first problems began to appear, such as coastal damage and losses from stormwater and problems from the Pielstick-built engines.

Although a crew came from France to repair them, the problems remained. The frequent accidents caused by the currents, were the reason even to warn the bathers of the beaches of Halkidiki and the Aegean about its passage, while after a related complaint it was decided that when it passes by beaches it moves at a distance of 10 miles from them and with a lower speed. In 2006, its engines were replaced, and thus 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 it, together with the E/G – O/G T/X Panagia Paros, to Pictor Shipping SA for 85 million dollars, while these were chartered in the Red Sea by the same company, while the two remaining high-speed ships “Aeolos Express” and “Aeolos Express II” were named after him (“Aeolos Kenteris I” and “Aeolos Kenteris II” respectively.). The ship was renamed Red Sea I while operating on the Safaga-Jeddah route, operated by Namma Lines, connecting Egypt with Saudi Arabia.

In 2016, and while it had returned to Greece and returned to its original name, the ship was chartered in Italy, in order to connect Augusta with Valletta, Malta. Renovation work began there, but was delayed enough, as a result of which the ship was seized for a debt of 5,000,000 euros. Today, the ship remains semi-submerged in Augusta, Italy, moved from Salamis. Efforts to remove it from the port have so far been fruitless