Maritime Company of Lesvos

Maritime Company of Lesvos S.A.

Company type	Passenger ferry company
Founded	1972
Defunct	2015
Fate	Bankruptcy
Successor	Blue Star Ferries Hellenic Seaways
Headquarters	Mytilene , Greece
Footnotes / references Bankruptcy in 2015

NEL LINES (Greek: Ναυτιλιακή Εταιρία Λέσβου, Naftiliaki Eteria Lesvou) was established in 1972, as a company of popular base with shareholders the residents of Lesvos island and primary aim the purchase of a liner vessel for the Mitilini-Chios-Piraeus route. Since then, the company has expanded, serving most of the Aegean sea destinations.

More specifically, with high-speed and conventional passenger-ferry boats executes intra-Cyladic itineraries connecting Syra and Lavrion with Eastern, Central and Western Cyclades, Lavrion with Psara and Mesta of Chios, Heraklion and Rethimno with Santorini and Thessaloniki and Volos with the Sporades complex.

With passenger-ferry boats NEL LINES also executes itineraries between Piraeus, Chios and Mitilini and connects the islands of Northern Aegean with Thessaloniki, Kavala and Lavrion.

In 2015 Nel lines declared bankruptcy and ceased operations, citing the financial crises and losing subsidized routes rival to rival operators.

Former Fleet

• Sappho (1973-2002) scrapped as Santori in Alang, India in 2004
• Arion (1975-1981) When the ship was in Haifa with 250 passengers on board, a bomb exploded on board. The ship was towed out and sunk outside the harbor in 1981. The ship then towed and laid-up in Elefsina and then sold for scrap in Barcelona, Spain
• Homerus (1977-1993) scrapped as Veesham IX in Alang, India in 2003.
• Alcaeos (1981-2002) scrapped as Sochi Express in Aliaga, Turkey in 2004.
• Odysseas Elytis (1982-1985) scrapped as Safa in Alang, India in 2005.
• Agios Rafael (1989-2001) sank in 2013 near China when she went for scrapping.
• Mytilene (1990-2015) Laid up from 2015 to 2022. Sold for scrap as Lene in Aliaga, Turkey in 2022.
• Theofilos (1995-2015) Laid up from 2015 to 2022. Sold for scrap as Ilos in Aliaga, Turkey in 2022.
• Taxiarchis (1999-2015) laid-up in Lavrio from 2015 to 2018. Laid-up in Salamis since 2018. Sold for scrap in September 2023.
• Aeolos Kenteris I (2000-2011) laid-up in Salamis since 2011. Sold to Anen Lines in 2019 and renamed Aspasia T in 2022.
• Aeolos Kenteris II (2001-2011) laid-up in Salamis since 2011.
• Aeolos Kenteris (2001-2011) partially sunk in Augusta, Italy since 2018.
• Panagia Tinou (2007-2009) caught up fire in Tripoli, Lebanon in 2016 and sold for scrap in Aliaga, Turkey in 2016.
• Panagia Hozoviotissa (2007-2010) scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey in 2010.
• Panagia Thalassini (2007-2015) sold to Idomeneas Lines as Kalli P but is laid-up in Perama since 2015.
• Panagia Parou (2007-2018) partially sank in Algeciras port in 2017, towed up and went for scrap in Aliaga, Turkey in 2018.
• Aqua Jewel (2010-2014) as Aqua Jewel for Seajets since 2017.
• European Express (2010-2019) scrapped as Express in Aliaga, Turkey in 2019.
• Colossus (2010-2013) scrapped in Alang, India in 2013.
• Mykonos (2010-2013) as Talos for Creta Cargo Lines since 2014.
• Alkioni (2010-2019) as Cat I for Magic Sea Ferries since 2019.
• Ippotis (2010-2014) scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey in 2014.
• Cyclades Express (2010-2016) as Naxos Jet for Seajets since 2016.
• Aqua Maria (2010-2016) laid-up in Drapetsona as Alexandra L since 2019.
• Olympus (2010-2017) Scrapped in Alang, India in 2017.
• Aqua Hercules (2010-2017) partially sank in Iskenderun since 2021.
• Aqua Spirit (2010-2015) as Northern Sea Wolf for BC Ferries since 2017.
• Ionian Sky (2013-2020) scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey in 2020.