Phivos (ship)

Phivos in Piraeus
History
Name	(1980–2004): Punta Europa (2004–present): Phivos
Owner	(1980–1998): ISNASA (Islemares S.A.) (1998–2000): EuroFerrys (2000–2001): Umafisa (2001–2004): ISNASA / EuroFerrys (2004–present): Nova Ferries (Nova Ferries I Shipping Co.)
Operator	(1980–1998): ISNASA (1998–2000): EuroFerrys (2000–2001): Umafisa (2001–2004): EuroFerrys (2004–present): Nova Ferries / Saronic Ferries
Port of registry	(1980–2004): Santa Cruz de Tenerife / Algeciras, Spain (2004–present): Piraeus, Greece
Route	Piraeus – Aegina Piraeus – Methana – Poros Former: Algeciras – Ceuta / Tangier
Builder	Hijos de J. Barreras (AESA group) Vigo, Spain
Yard number	1455
Laid down	30 May 1979
Launched	1980
Completed	30 June 1980
Acquired	June 2004
Maiden voyage	1980
In service	1980
Identification	IMO number: 7825978 Call sign: SXUU MMSI number: 237808200
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class & type	Conventional Ro-Ro Passenger Ferry
Tonnage	3,437 GT 1,147 DWT
Length	99.52 m (326 ft 6 in)
Beam	17.01 m (55 ft 10 in)
Draft	4.25 m (13 ft 11 in)
Depth	10.49 m (34 ft 5 in)
Decks	3 passenger decks
Ramps	Stern vehicle loading ramps
Installed power	2 × Deutz RBV12M350 diesel engines (total 6,432 kW / 8,625 hp)
Propulsion	2 × controllable pitch propellers
Speed	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) (service) / 18.0 knots (33.3 km/h; 20.7 mph) (max)
Capacity	1,200 passengers 120 cars

Phivos is a 99.52-metre conventional passenger and vehicle ferry operated by Nova Ferries under the Saronic Ferries consortium. Built in 1980 by Hijos de J. Barreras in Vigo, Spain, she originally entered service for Spanish operator ISNASA as Punta Europa. After nearly two decades serving across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Balearic Sea—including charters with EuroFerrys and Umafisa—the vessel was acquired by Nova Ferries in 2004, undergoing a major conversion in Greece and being renamed Phivos. She currently operates high-frequency island connections in the Saronic Gulf, linking Piraeus with Aegina, Methana, and Poros.

Service

The ferry, the second of a series of four sister units, was launched on 6 November 1979 at the Hijos de J. Barreras shipyard in Vigo with the name Punta Europa and delivered on 30 June 1980 to the Majorcan ISNASA, which used it on the routes between Algeciras and Tangier, in the Strait of Gibraltar, where it operated alongside its first sister, the Bahia de Malaga. In 1998, with the birth of Baleària, the ferry and the sister ships were transferred to the latter, but in May they were chartered together with the Bahia de Ceuta to EuroFerrys, from which they were transferred to the routes between the Andalusian port and Ceuta. In July 1999, at the end of the charter, the ferry returned to Baleària, where it was laid up in Algeciras, where it remained until 2000, when it was purchased by Umafisa and put on the routes between Dénia and Sant Antoni de Portmany, in the Balearics, but was again laid up the following year.

In May 2003, after about two years of layup, the ferry was purchased together with its twin Bahia de Ceuta, which had also been laid up for about two years in Andalusia, by the Italian company TR.IS, from which they were towed in July to the shipyards of Genoa, where they were supposed to undergo some renovation works, in view of entering into service on the connections between Piombino and Portoferraio. However, despite the initial project, the company was unable to obtain the necessary authorisations to operate the connection and, following its bankruptcy, which occurred shortly afterwards, EneRmaR, which took over the activities of TR.IS, decided to abandon the intentions of the previous management and put the two ferries up for sale, which were then purchased on 7 July 2004 by Lefakis, owner of Nova Ferries. Following this, the two twins were then transferred to the Drapetsona shipyards, where they underwent further renovations, during which they were renamed Phivos and Athina respectively. On 8 July 2005, upon completion of the renovations, the ferry finally began service on the routes between Piraeus, Aegina, Methana, Poros and Hydra, where it was joined shortly after by its sister ship.

In 2007, following the sale of Athina, the ferry's service was limited to the route between Piraeus and Aegina only, before being extended to the other islands the following year. In 2014, with the establishment of the joint venture Saronic Ferries, in which Nova Ferries also took part, the ferry was transferred to the latter, for which it continued to operate the connections between Piraeus, Aegina, Methana and Poros.

Sister ships

• Ilha Azul
• Princess Victoria
• Don Candido