Ferrying in July 2018, part 10 on Prince

Thursday 19th July 2018

Plumbago - so hard to grow at home

Along the 'pavement'in Igoumenitsa


Here in Igoumenitsa, after breakfast in a nearby quayside cafe, we collected the hire car, and headed up a road leading to Patras on a mountainous route. Soon though we stopped and parked safely under some trees at a viewpoint, as tonight's ship ASTERION II was heading towards Igoumenitsa, just below us in the beautiful water. What wonderful views of her as she came round the headland and into the channel and towards the port!

Bari and Prince in Igoumenitsa

Asterion II below us

Asterion II again

Asterion II again

What a line up


We finally left Igoumenitsa (again) and this time we are on our way to Patras on the amazing motorway over the mountains. I have since read that it was opened less than a year ago (5th September 2017) by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and was one of the most challenging construction projects. The Ionia motorway (known as Ionia Odos) took 11 years to complete and connects the northern town of Ioannina via the western mainland coastline with Patra via the Rio-Antirrio Bridge.

There was very little traffic on this route over the bare mountains, and it made for awe-inspiring views. We stopped for a break at a motorway petrol station/cafe; the outside heat was almost unbearable and the air-conditioned facilities inside felt wonderful. Then we were off again and gradually we noticed that the elevation was dropping and our surrounding landscapes were not as bare-rocked as they had been for the last few hours.

Nearing Patras we could start to see part of the route ahead, and then the top of the amazing Rio-Antirrio Bridge. It felt a little odd to approach it by road this time, as we have always previously sailed into the port of Patras on the other side of the bridge. The construction of the Bridge, which is the world's longest fully suspended cable-stayed bridge, began in 1998. I remember seeing the huge base constructions in the water there, many years before anything more was done. It was inaugurated on 7th August 2004, a week before the opening of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Previously that southern part of Greece was only reached by the road and rail bridge over the Corinth Canal, or by sea.

Once we reached the environs of the bridge we ignored the road signs directing us onto it, and headed instead for the little ferry port nearby. We were directed onto the PROTOPOROS XIV and soon realised we were heading across the water to the city of Patras.

Protoporos XIV

Looking up

Looking ahead


She was newly built and finished this year, and started service only in May. Ahead of us we could see many other small ferries, all moored at the quayside, and above us we could see the huge new bridge as we sailed along in parallel.

The Bridge beside us


Once ashore again we headed for the new Ferry Terminal but almost unbelievably all 20 luggage lockers were "out of service" and we were unable to leave our belongings safely until we could board our ship.

Out of the terminal again it was still daylight so we could drive back into the city and locate where we had to return the hire car but for now we had to find somewhere for a meal and hope that we could park nearby and lock our luggage safely away in the car. This we did but with some difficulty and in the end we took our baggage with us, for peace of mind until we could go back to the terminal and check in.

We returned the hire car and then took a taxi to the ferry terminal; our ship had arrived so we could check in and then board ASTERION II.

Asterion II

Grand Spring name visible under her current one


Lots of us foot passengers had to wend our way across the embarking lorry lanes in the darkness, but finally we climbed the ramp and could head for the cabins on this big ship.

She was built as ISHIKARI in 1991 by Mitsubishi in Kobe, Japan, and delivered to Taiheiyo Ferry for use in Japan, at 31,084 gross tons. In March 2011 she was sold to Golden Spring Enterprise, Panama, and became GRAND SPRING, which was the name we could see imprinted under her current one on the hull near the stern. A year later she was sold on, and then sold again in March 2018 to be managed by ANEK lines. Her name was changed again to ASTERION II and she has kept many of her original Japanese features for this new Patras to Venice service. Although some changes have been made, she has also suffered from delays due to loading and unloading through her original Japanese stern-door.

A deck plan

Japanese styling

Lovely

ANEK advert.

Main Bar

Comfortable seating to one side

A spacious shop, with more seating on the other side of the Bar

This was the locked entrance to an old cinema


I was delighted to find a spacious outside original Japanese-built cabin.

Japanese writing in the bathroom, on the toilet roll holder


Ahead of us we had two nights on board to explore and enjoy, sailing through the Adriatic on our way up to Venice in Italy.

Ships seen: Prince, Bari, Agias Theodora, Agias Spirydon, Protoporos XIV, Asterion II, Ana Chora II, Cruise Europa, Kerkyra Express, plus about 12 non-Bridge ferries at Patras


To be continued...

Ferrying in July 2018, part 9 Prince

Thursday 19th July 2018
I was up and about at 6 a.m. this morning, still at sea on PRINCE. My first call was to the bar for a cappuccino and croissant, and all was well with my world.

Superfast XI heading towards Igoumenitsa

The bell (but for whom does it toll...?)

Looking forward

View from the deck

Looking astern, at ships and mountains

Looking ahead towards the channel where we head to port and Igoumenitsa


We went to Reception and had a pleasant chat with the Chief Steward about the ship. He says the bell is from PRINCE but we are not so sure it is, as different letters seem to be engraved on what we photographed this morning in daylight. We told him about our trip two years ago on the previous PRINCE, when we met the Captain. He said that the captain had retired (which we knew) but that he had brought PRINCE down from Denmark. I said we had met him and he had told us about that and invited us onto the Bridge. The Chief Steward said if and when we came on the ship again we could visit the Bridge. We thanked him very much.

I asked how they had managed to move the lorry that was stuck on the ramp last night and his first reply with a smile was the one word 'Magic'. He then said they had other means, which worked. It was a shame about such a long delay on the first trip of the new ship.

We all shook hands and thanked the Chief Steward and said our goodbyes to him.

The hot sun was blazing down out on deck as we started to head into the narrow channel that would take us into the Greek port of Igoumenitsa. I can still recall one of my first visits there many years ago: that was when we arrived at the unearthly hour of 3.30 a.m. because we needed to connect with another ship sailing from the port early that morning. I put my turquoise-coloured pashmina down on a concrete bench in the terminal, put my head on it and stretched out my body and was instructed to 'go back to sleep for a few more hours'. I did that very easily, as I fell asleep wondering just what on earth I was doing with these new ferry friends...

Calm waters as we neared the quay


Today however we sailed into Igoumenitsa about 7.30 a.m. and disembarked, and walked to sit in the shade of the terminal building facing the harbour. We wanted to wait and see the next arrivals and if we had entered the terminal we could only exit on the far side and not get back onto the quaysides. As usual it was very hot, but the swifts were flying gracefully and tweeting gently over our heads.

Prince, after we had disembarked


Whilst we waited for the BARI to arrive, we watched vehicles disembarking from PRINCE; most of them struggled and we realised that, like last night, the ship's stern ramp is far too short.

Bari arriving, with Cruise Europa further out

Bari turning, ready to come astern

Cruise Europa arriving

Kerkyra Express

Stern view of Bari


Ships seen: Prince, Bari, Kerkyra Express, Cruise Europa, Superfast XI


To be continued...

Ferrying in July 2018 - Part 8, Prince

18th July 2018, p.m.
At the beach near Brindisi

We had booked a local taxi for late afternoon to take us, reluctantly, to the new ferry terminal here at Brindisi. This evening we are to embark on the ship PRINCE; not the one we have sailed on last year, but the ship we knew originally as CESME back in 2007. She was built in 1974, and her gross tonnage is shown as 13,336.

Prince

Her new name

Stern view


She was in port, in her new colours for the Arkoumanis family, the European Seaways owners. She looked freshly painted and gleamed in the sunlight as we checked in. She was previously used as an accommodation ship (WIND AMBITION) and her use on this new service on 12th July from Greece had been delayed due to faulty fuel. As my friends said, with new fuel on board this much-travelled veteran did depart Igoumenitsa the previous evening, and our booked crossing actually became her first departure from Italy. We were happy to be the first passengers on board.

Wind Ambition name on a sign, with an interesting font


They also said she would be instantly recognisable to anyone who knew her as either Norway Line (or Color Line)'s VENUS or DFDS's KING OF SCANDINAVIA. We will be sailing overnight from here in Brindisi over to Igoumenitsa, the coastal port in north-western Greece. It is also across the water from the island of Corfu, with frequent ferries sailing between the two.

It was good to look around this little ship and admire the way the money has been spent to make the newly decorated insides of the ship look good, but there were many reminders of her previous name and use.

Buddha Bar

Buddha

Another part of the lounge

In another part of the lounge was this, what I called a definite 'trip hazard'


All was well until we realised that sailing time had come and gone and the reason was a lorry that was stuck on the stern ramp, half in and half out of the ship. She has the original narrow stern door and we thought that the ramp was in fact too short for the angle needed to get vehicles on to the car deck. It took over an hour to get the lorry on board - goodness knows how!

A life ring out on deck

The funnel

Builder's plate

On the forward deck

The bell

I turned round and this was the view

Beside me was this forward section

A few steps ahead brought this sunny view

Another view of the funnel

Along to the stern


Once we realised we were not going to sail for some time, we headed for a bar and hoped for something alcoholic; that proved to be a problem as the Barman apologised but said that drink supplies had been ordered but had not been put on board. Ah well, it will have to be fruit juice or cola again. Instead we headed for the self-serve restaurant and discovered there was pasta to eat, which didn't immediately look appealing.

We eventually sailed at 9.30 p.m. from Brindisi, heading for Igoumenitsa, here on PRINCE.

Ships seen in Bari: Rigel II, GNV Azzurra
Ships seen in Brindisi: Prince, Eurocargo Catania


To be continued...

Ferrying in July 2018 Part 7, Rigel II

Wednesday 18th July 2018
Last night we were indeed lulled to sleep on the RIGEL II but after that the ship made heavy weather of the sea and waves and I woke early feeling glad that the night was over. The bed was comfortable, the linen was lovely and the bathroom facilities fine, but I was glad to be up and able to go and see the Panorama Bar in daylight and get a coffee and croissant to start the day.

Part of the Panorama Bar in daylight

I liked this decoration


We are approaching Bari in Italy, and after arrival in hot sunshine again we disembarked and could photograph the ship. Then it was time to queue for Passport Control and leave the port security area.

Stern of Rigel II

Another view

The Visby name can just be seen under the current name


Once outside the fencing we could see that RIGEL II's sister ship GNV AZZURRA was entering the port, as she is on a similar route and timing. We walked round to the terminal where she was heading and could take photographs of her arrival.

Reminder of when trains ran into the port

GNV Azzurra arriving

2 sisters together again


As she turned and backed up it was interesting to compare the similar funnels but different hulls. GNV AZZURRA's forward loading bow doors were visible.

Look at those bow doors

Looking back at Rigel II


We bought cold drinks in the nearby little quayside cafe and enjoyed sitting outside in the shade to drink them; nearby was what I know as a 'stop me and buy one' ice-cream seller and I think he was inside the cool cafe buying something for himself. It was certainly very hot again today under this cloudless Italian sky.

A "Stop me and buy one" - a memory from my UK childhood



It was time to continue with today's schedule and get the free port bus to Bari Station and buy train tickets back to Brindisi. We are sailing from there this evening, but have the day at leisure first.

In Brindisi we took the bus from the train station to the airport,

Seen at the airport


and then took a taxi to a nearby beach we had discovered. It was the Lido Granchio Rosso, Brindisi Beach, which had cabins and amenities for families and others, with a very casual atmosphere. It is open daytime only, with an excellent cook in the back of the cafe, and a very satisfying menu and well-stocked ice-cream fridge. We were there for a good part of the day, enjoying the heat, sight and sound of the sea, and good food; I sat in the shade on my steamer chair, occasionally reading or resting my eyes, quite involuntarily as I recall.

Part of the beach - a strong wind prohibited swimming today


To be continued...