Greek Ferry Giant Attica Sends Another RoPax Dinosaur to the Boneyard
Kriti I, one of the doyens of the Greek ferry industry, is set to be recycled at Aliaga
21 May 2025
After more than four decades of faithful service across the Mediterranean, the storied ropax vessel Kriti I has embarked on its final voyage — not to another port of call, but to the scrapyards of Aliaga, Turkey, where its steel will be repurposed and its legacy etched into maritime history.
The 27,200-gt Kriti I, built in 1979, is the latest ageing vessel to be retired by Greek ferry heavyweight Attica Group. Operated through its subsidiary ANEK Lines, Kriti I has been a workhorse of Greece’s ferry industry for nearly 30 years, transporting countless passengers and vehicles between mainland Greece and the country’s island destinations.
With its distinctive profile and reputation for reliability, Kriti I has become something of an icon for regular ferry travellers and maritime enthusiasts alike. Its retirement, while inevitable, marks the end of an era for a generation of seafarers and island residents who have depended on it for decades.
Kriti I began its career in Japan in 1979 under the name New Suzuran, serving on domestic routes. The vessel was acquired by ANEK Lines in the late 1990s, reflagged under Greece, and renamed Kriti I. Since then, it has plied routes such as Piraeus–Heraklion and Patras–Venice, playing a critical role in both domestic and international ferry services.
What makes Kriti I particularly remarkable is the longevity of its service — 46 years in operation, almost entirely under just two owners. In an industry where vessels are frequently bought, sold, and repurposed, this stability is both unusual and a testament to the ship’s robust construction and the consistent demand for its service.
“It’s always sad to see a ship like this go,” said a veteran ANEK Lines officer who served aboard Kriti I for over a decade. “But she gave everything she had, and then some.”
Earlier this week, Kriti I departed the port of Piraeus for the final time. Its destination: the Aliaga ship recycling yards in Turkey, one of the largest centres for ship demolition in the Eastern Mediterranean. The yards at Aliaga are known for dismantling old commercial vessels in compliance with international environmental and labour standards, though the practice remains controversial among environmentalists.
Attica Group’s decision to send Kriti I to the breakers comes as part of a broader fleet modernisation strategy. The company, which merged with ANEK Lines in recent years to consolidate its grip on the Greek ferry market, is phasing out older tonnage in favour of newer, more environmentally efficient vessels that comply with increasingly strict emission regulations imposed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the European Union.
In this context, the recycling of Kriti I is both a business decision and a regulatory necessity.
The Greek ferry industry has seen significant transformation over the past decade. Consolidation, rising fuel costs, stricter emission regulations, and a renewed focus on sustainability have forced operators to rethink their fleets. Ships like Kriti I — once the backbone of Greek ferry transport — are now viewed as costly and outdated, despite their proven reliability.
Attica Group, which operates well-known brands such as Blue Star Ferries and Superfast Ferries in addition to ANEK Lines, has been at the forefront of this shift. With an eye on the future, it is investing in dual-fuel vessels, shore-power-ready ships, and technologies aimed at reducing carbon footprints. As the industry shifts toward greener operations, vessels like Kriti I simply no longer fit the operational mould.
Though her career may now be over, Kriti I remains a symbol of a bygone era in Greek maritime history. It served faithfully through times of economic turmoil, tourism booms, and technological change — adapting when it could, enduring when it couldn’t.
As it makes its final stop in Aliaga, dismantled piece by piece, Kriti I joins the ranks of maritime legends whose legacies live in scrap metal and the memories of those who sailed aboard her.
“She was more than just a ship,” said a former passenger recalling childhood summers on the ferry. “She was part of the journey.”
