On the Ferries 2: Full speed on the Pagasitic

Europe, Greece, Pagasitic Gulf, Hellenic Seaways, Flying Dolphin 10, Captain (uncut)

This is the start of a new 'people and transport' series. This time the theme is Greek ferries and the people that operate and facilitate them. The process of getting ferries ready to leave, piloting, maintaining and mooring them is covered. This start is a little nostalgic - a ferry type that's almost disappeared now from the Greek routes: the Flying Dolphin hydrofoil.
Here is Flying Dolphin #10 on its way from Ag. Konstantinos on the mainland (N-Attika) - after we emerged from the narrow straight between Evia and the mainland and skirted the Pagasitic gulf on our way to the Sporade islands. In the BG is Pelion.

Until some years ago, The Flying Dolphins were mainly operated by Hellenic Seaways (former Hellas Flying Dolphins Maritime S.A.). They were built in the former Soviet Union and are 'Kometa' (Project 342ME) class hydrofoils, which are very similar to the "Meteor" type , but with larger wings and bigger draught to manage the waves of the coastal waters. The FD #10 on display was built in 1978 and registered at the factory as Kometa C-865.

The Meteor and the Kometa were designed by the Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau and was in serial production from 1961 till 1983 in the plants of N. Novgorod, Feodosia, Poti (Armenia) and Volskij. The main engines are two Zvezda (звезда) M400 or M401A diesel engines (62 liter, V12, 1.000 HP each). The fuel consumption is 286 kg/hour (each). Some Dolphins were refitted in Piraeus with 8 Cylinder MTU Diesel engines of 1100 bhp each. The cruising speed is 64 km/h, operational range 445 km and the passenger capacity 118-130 persons. The Kometa type was very popular both in- and outside the Soviet Union - 96 units were exported. The first Russian hydrofoil was the Raketa.

"'Flying Dolphins' first appeared in Greece under the historic Ceres Flying Dolphins name (which was the first company to operate hydrofoils in Greece) controlled by the Greek shipowner Georgos Livanos. Livanos brought a new revolution to Greek sea travel by deploying two newly-built hydrofoils ahead of the Summer of 1976. These 'Flying Dolphins' originally linked Zea-Aegina-Agistri-Poros-Hydra-Ermioni-Spetses-PortoHeli-Nafplio-Tolo-Tyros-Leonidio-Kyparissia-Gerakas, serving the Saronic Gulf, the Argolic Gulf and the Eastern Peloponnese. The Ceres Flying Dolphins acquired a major part of the market share and remained unmatched for their fast and frequent service until the late 1980's." Source: here.

With the exception of one FD, they are phased out now by Helenic Seaways and replaced by Flying Cats. More passenger space, more efficiency..... FD #10 was withdrawn from the fleet in 2009, a year after we rode and captured the vessel. The end of most FD’s was not glorious, like shown: here. Just a few FD's are still used. For instance by Aegean Dolphins on their Argosaronic service.

The remarkable combination of their sleek, streamline/rocket-age design, their comfortable ride and their thunderous diesel roar (they’re easily the most noisy ships I’ve ever encountered (not from inside though) are going to be missed after the last FD will be withdrawn from service.

Taken in: Ελλάδα / North Aegean (show map)

Taken on: June 16, 2008

Tags:

Europe

Greece

Hellenic Seaways

Flying Dolphin 10

Captain

High speed ferry

Hydrofoil

Fuji F30

Kometa « less

Sets appears in: • 100+ views • Greece Summer 2008 more » • On the Ferries • Fuji F30 « less

Groups appears in: • GREECE! • Color and Colors - No computer-generated posts. more » • Ferries • Ships and Vessels • Fujifilm FinePix F10 - F11 - F20 - F30 Forum • Red Rule • Ελληνικά / Greek / Greece • Fuji FinePix F30 • Boats without privatized balconies • De Doka • Ships in Greece • Greece and the Greek Islands • Ship deck from above « less

Camera: Fujifilm FinePix F30, f/8.0, 1/550 sec, 8mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix F30
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/550)
Focal Length:	8mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	-0.67 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Windows)
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