Piraeus: last voyage for the «LEFKA ORI»

The passenger-vehicle ferry «LEFKA ORI» has completed its commercial career in Greek coastal shipping, following its final sailing. Departure took place on Sunday 14 September 2026, and the ship docked in Piraeus on the afternoon of Tuesday 15 September 2026, at around 15:30, at Gate E2 of the port. According to a report by pireaspiraeus.com, “the curtain falls on one of the most recognisable ships in Greek coastal shipping.” After its arrival, the ship will head to the Elefsina Shipyards, before being handed over to its new owners in Cyprus. This arrival marks the end of a long presence for the ship at Greek ports, a moment followed closely by passengers, shipping workers and local residents, as the vessel passed through the gates of the port that hosted it for decades for the last time.

The «LEFKA ORI» is a 39-year-old ship, with 28 years of service in Greek coastal shipping. It is 187.1 metres long, has a passenger capacity of 1,488, offers 580 berths, and a garage with a capacity of 1,863 linear metres for vehicles. Before arriving under the Greek flag with the name «LEFKA ORI», the ship had sailed under the names «BLUE HORIZON» and, originally, «SUPERFERRY HELLAS». In general, the Greek coastal fleet periodically goes through renewal phases, during which older ships are withdrawn from the domestic market and sold to foreign companies, while newer vessels join the routes serving the Greek islands. This practice is a common trend in the industry internationally and does not concern a specific company or route exclusively, as ships that have completed long service often change flag and ownership before continuing to operate in other markets in the Mediterranean or elsewhere.

Piraeus remains the main home port of Greek coastal shipping, a point of departure and arrival for dozens of ships connecting Attica with the islands of the Aegean and the rest of the country. The final arrival of a ship with 28 years’ presence on Greek routes is of particular interest to the local community, as the port functions not only as a transport hub but also as a point of reference for thousands of workers in the shipping industry, from crews to port service staff. Every departure of a ship that has become familiar to passengers and residents reflects, at local level, the constant movement and renewal that characterises the fleet serving the coastal connections around the capital. The port of Piraeus, as one of the largest passenger ports in Europe, constantly records such changes in the fleet serving it, without this affecting the overall operation of the routes to the islands.

After its arrival in Piraeus on Tuesday 15 September 2026, the «LEFKA ORI» will head to the Elefsina Shipyards, where it is expected to remain before its final handover. The ship will then be handed over to its new owners in Cyprus, thus completing its life cycle in Greek coastal shipping. It has not been announced which route or routes the ship was sailing on during the final years of its service, nor the company that operated it before its withdrawal. Also not disclosed are the shipyard where it was built, the sale price, the name of the new owner in Cyprus, or the future name under which the ship will continue to sail. Until official information is provided on these details, its departure from Piraeus is recorded as the final chapter of its presence in Greek waters.