Images of Ferry MV ‘Panagia Tinou’ listing in Port of Piraeus

In late April 2016, while docked in the Port of Piraeus (Gate E4), ferry boat MV ‘Panagia Tinou’ started listing to its starboard side due to ingress of water. The vessel was under arrest at the time of the listing at the request of the creditors due to outstanding bad debts.

Following pictures were taken in early June 2016, showing that the vessel is getting lower into the water as compared to original pictures from late April 2016 when water first started ingressing. In very close vicinity, several ferries are continuing their business and their voyages to the Greek Islands, when seafarers and Port of Piraeus employees are not on strike, that is… As unsafe as it may be to tow the vessel to a repair dock in the Port of Piraeus, one can only wonder what would happen if MV ‘Panagia Tinou’ suddenly sinks or capsizes in its present location in the main port, the potential risk to vessels in vicinity and the also the repercussions from the closure to several docks in the Port of Piraeus or how long will take to lift the vessel from the bottom of the port… Security personnel from the Port of Piraeus were observed to smoke furiously by the cordoned area around the vessel, thus we can surmise that the situation is under someone’s watchful eye.

The ferry MV ‘Panagia Tinou’ is named after the famous shrine of the Virgin Mary on the Island of Tinos, in Cyclades. The vessel used to served the Islands of Tinos, Paros, Naxos and Santorini most of her time while plowing Greek waters, and has been boarded by and graced the memories of many a tourist, while from Greece or overseas.

The ferry MV ‘Panagia Tinou’ was built for Sealink as MV ‘Hengist’ in 1972 in France at Arsenal de la Marine National Francaise with the intend to serve the routes of Dover / Folkestone and Calais / Boulogne along with her sisterships MV ‘Horsa’ and MV ‘Senlac’. Sealink in 1984 was acquired by Sea Containers and in 1990 to Stena to create Stena Sealink. In 1992, the vessel was acquired by Clients of Agoudimos (GA Ferries) in Greece for US$ 5.2 million and re-named MV ‘Romilda’, while in 1993, she was sold for the first time to Ventouris Sea Lines for $11.9 million; subsequently, Ventouris Sea Lines acquired the sistership MV ‘Senlac’ and brought her to Greece as ‘Apollon II’. In 1996, she was sold to Agapitos Group (Agapitos Lines) for US$ 10.5 million. In 1999, she was sold to Minoan Flying, and in 2004, she was sold for the second (and last time) to Venturis Sea Lines, whose house colors are presently painted on the smokestack.

More information on the vessel MV ‘Panagia Tinou’, in Greek, can be found on Ships at Port of Piraeus website.

MV ‘Panagia Tinou’ (Ex-name: Agios Georgios)
1,620 Passengers / Car (Ro-Pax) / Ferry built in 1972

VESSEL DESCRIPTION: Ex-names are Agios Georgios, Panagia Ekatontapyliani, Express Artemis, Panagia Ekatontapyliani, Apollon Express 2, Romilda, Stena Hengist, Hengist. Call Sign SWXF, IMO Number 7205063. Built at D.C.A.N., Greece Flagged, Length Overall of 117.50 m., Length Between Perpendiculars of 110.20m., Draught of 4.40 m., Beam of 19.20 m., Moulded Depth of 6.17 m., Tonnage of 2,610 International Net and 1,033 Dwt (long), Gross Tonnage of 5,120, Speed of 19.50 kts, Marine Diesel Oil, Horsepower of 15,000 BHP.

OWNER / MANAGER DETAILS: Ventouris Sea Lines, 2, Kapodistriou Street &, Akti Possidonos, Piraeus, Greece.

SPECIALIZED DETAILS: Vehicle Capacity of 217 Cars, Lane Length of 450.00 m., 1 Stern Ramp(s). Total number of Passengers 1,621, 110 Passenger Berths.
Additional Information

MAIN ENGINE: 2 x Diesel – Pielstick 16PC2.2 – 4-stroke 16-cyl. 400mm x460mm bore/stroke 11,032mkW total at 500rpm.

AUXILIARY ENGINES: 3 x Aux. Diesel Gen – 4-stroke 1,680mkW total driving 3 x AC generator(s) at 1,680ekW total, (2,100kVA total) 415V, 1 x Emergency Gen – 4-stroke 150mkW total driving 1 x AC generator(s) at 150ekW total, (188kVA total) 415V.