Attica Group: The three Aero Highspeeds are the first step towards greening the fleet

The construction of the three new AERO Highspeed of the Attica Group is the first step of a process of gradual renewal and energy improvement of its fleet. The official inauguration of the ships’ new routes took place yesterday afternoon.

The first new ships built after 10 years

As the managing director of the company, Mr. Spyros Paschalis, speaking at the opening ceremony, pointed out, this day is very important for the Attica Group and for the Greek shipping family, since the three AERO Highspeeds are the first newly built ships that came to Greece to service main coastal shipping lines, 10 years after the last new-build ship for Greek shipping, the Blue Star Patmos, which Attica Group again took delivery of in June 2012.

With this investment we are implementing our business plan with careful steps in order to strengthen our leadership role and respond to the increased international demands of the sector. Over the course of a decade, an attempt will be made to replace the older ships of the company’s fleet with new ones, Mr. Paschalis added.

Attica’s investment with the local Aero Catamaran ships is an example to follow on the way to a greener shipping, said the Minister of Shipping, Yiannis Plakiotakis.

The AERO Catamarans

The three AEROs arrived from Norway in Greece on August 1, 2022 and were immediately launched on the Argosaronic lines, significantly renewing Attica fleet operating on these lines and already enjoying the preference of the passenger public.

The three AEROs were built at the Brødrene Aa shipyard in Norway. The total cost of the investment amounted to 21 million euros (7 million euros per ship) and was financed with equity and bank loans from the Norwegian lender Export Finance Norway (“Eksfin”) with the guarantee of the Norwegian Export Credit Guarantee Agency (“GIEK”) and Alpha Bank who trusted Attica and contributed significantly to our development investment.

AERO Highspeed are Catamaran-type ships, with the latest technology and modern aesthetics, designed with innovative features that completely upgrade the services offered, providing the more than 3 million passengers who travel annually on the Argosaronic lines with a new, unique travel experience. With the launch of these three ships, the transport capacity to the Argosaronic destinations was increased, thus creating the conditions for the further economic development of the islands and local communities.

Each ship has a maximum speed of 32.2 knots with a full load, an overall length of 36 meters, a width of 9.7 meters and a carrying capacity of 150 passengers, while the interior layout and in general their innovative design aims to offer a high level of comfort and service to the passenger. Indicative:

• Comfortable travel even in conditions of high waves, which is ensured by innovations both in the hull of the boat and in the navigation systems

• Spacious passenger cabins with large windows for a full view and abundant natural lighting

• Luggage storage above the seats but also in specially designed spaces

• Special care to facilitate reduced mobility passengers

• Special areas for the transport of bicycles

• High standard areas for transporting pets.