Blue Star Ferries
Blue Star Ferries is a Greek passenger and vehicle ferry brand serving mainland Greece and more than 20 Aegean destinations.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Blue Star Ferries is the principal ferry brand of Blue Star Maritime S.A., a Greek maritime company operating within Attica Group. Its business is centered on scheduled passenger, vehicle and freight ferry services linking the Greek mainland with the Aegean islands and Crete. The network is especially important for connections from the port of Piraeus to the Cyclades, Dodecanese and Northeast Aegean, combining transport for residents and commercial supply chains with substantial seasonal tourism demand. The business traces its origins to Strintzis Lines, established in 1965 by the Strintzis family of Lixouri on Kefalonia. The company developed through conventional ferry operations and later became part of the Attica corporate structure. Attica Enterprises acquired a 48 percent interest in 2000, after which the operation was rebranded as Blue Ferries; the Blue Star Ferries name subsequently became the principal consumer-facing identity. The brand is a sister operation to Superfast Ferries and operates alongside Hellenic Seaways within Attica Group. A significant part of the fleet consists of large conventional ferries designed to carry both foot passengers and vehicles. The ships provide accommodation, seating, restaurants and other onboard services while also supporting roll-on/roll-off vehicle transport. The fleet has included vessels with service speeds broadly ranging from about 23 to 30 knots. Important newer additions included Blue Star Delos, delivered in 2011, and Blue Star Patmos, delivered in 2012, both built by Daewoo Shipbuilding in South Korea. These ships strengthened the brand's capacity on major island routes and became associated with high-volume Cycladic and Dodecanese services. Blue Star Ferries' route portfolio includes services from Piraeus to Paros, Naxos, Ios, Santorini, Amorgos and other Cycladic islands; long-distance services through the Dodecanese to Rhodes and other islands; and routes toward Chios, Lesvos, Limnos, Samos and Kavala in the Northeast Aegean. The exact fleet and timetable change over time, and vessels have moved between the Blue Star and other Attica Group operations. The company also acquired DANE Sea Lines in 2006, expanding its position in the Dodecanese market. The brand's public profile extends beyond transport operations. One of its vessels served as the fictional Princess Myrto in the Greek television series Θα Σε Δω Στο Πλοίο, broadcast by Alpha TV from 2000 to 2002. Blue Star Ferries also became the subject of intense public and legal scrutiny after the September 2023 death of a passenger at Piraeus involving the ferry Blue Horizon. The incident led to arrests of the captain and crew members implicated in the episode and became a major safety and conduct controversy for the company and the wider Greek ferry sector.
History
Blue Star Ferries developed from Strintzis Lines, a ferry company founded in 1965 by the Strintzis family of Lixouri on Kefalonia. Its early business was based on maritime links serving the Greek islands, with the company gradually building a fleet of conventional ferries capable of carrying passengers, cars and other vehicles. The Strintzis operation formed part of the development of regular ferry connectivity between the Greek mainland and the Ionian and Aegean island communities. The company entered a new corporate phase around 2000, when Attica Enterprises acquired a 48 percent stake. Following that investment, Strintzis Lines was rebranded as Blue Ferries. The Blue Star identity was then established as the principal commercial brand, operating through Blue Star Maritime S.A. The reorganization placed the ferry business in the same broader corporate family as Superfast Ferries and, later, Hellenic Seaways. The relationship with Superfast Ferries included cooperation on selected routes and fleet arrangements. Fleet renewal became a central part of the brand's development. In 2000, the company took delivery of two roll-on/roll-off ferries built by Van der Giessen de Noord in the Netherlands. These vessels supported the company's combined passenger and vehicle model. Blue Star Ferries also expanded its geographic position through the 2006 purchase of DANE Sea Lines, a Dodecanese ferry operator. That transaction strengthened the brand's presence on routes linking Piraeus with islands including Rhodes and other destinations in the southeastern Aegean. A later investment program produced two purpose-built vessels from Daewoo Shipbuilding in South Korea. Blue Star Delos was delivered in October 2011, followed by Blue Star Patmos in July 2012. Blue Star Delos became associated with the Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Ios–Santorini service, while Blue Star Patmos operated on routes serving the Dodecanese and other Aegean destinations. Their introduction reinforced the image of Blue Star Ferries as a modern, high-capacity operator rather than only a legacy island shipping company. The network has included routes from Piraeus through the Cyclades, including Paros, Naxos, Ios, Santorini, Amorgos and smaller islands; long-distance Dodecanese services reaching Rhodes, Kos, Patmos and other ports; and Northeast Aegean routes serving Chios, Lesvos, Samos, Limnos and Kavala. Ships and schedules have changed over time, and some vessels formerly associated with the brand have moved to other operators or sister companies. Reference material describes the fleet as consisting of roughly ten to twelve modern ferries, depending on the date and counting method. Blue Star Ferries also received cultural exposure when one of its vessels was used as the setting and fictional vessel Princess Myrto in the Greek television series Θα Σε Δω Στο Πλοίο, shown by Alpha TV from 2000 to 2002. The brand's reputation was seriously challenged by the Blue Horizon incident at Piraeus on 5 September 2023. A passenger trying to board was pushed from the ship's ramp by crew members and drowned in the vessel's propeller turbulence. The ship initially continued its voyage, but after video footage emerged it was ordered back to port. The captain and crew members identified as responsible were arrested by port police. The episode became a prominent public controversy concerning ferry safety, crew conduct and emergency response.
- 2023
Blue Horizon death at Piraeus
[1]A passenger dies after being pushed from the vessel's loading ramp, prompting arrests and a major public controversy.
- 2012
Blue Star Patmos delivered
[1]Blue Star Patmos joins the fleet and is used on services serving the Aegean and Dodecanese.
- 2011
Blue Star Delos delivered
[1]The first of two Daewoo-built ferries, Blue Star Delos, is delivered and assigned to a Cyclades route.
- 2006
DANE Sea Lines acquisition
[1]Blue Star Maritime acquires the Dodecanese ferry company DANE Sea Lines.
- 2000
Attica investment and rebranding
[1]Attica Enterprises acquires a 48 percent stake and the company adopts the Blue Ferries identity, later becoming Blue Star Ferries.
- 2000
Roll-on/roll-off fleet additions
[1]Two roll-on/roll-off ferries built by Van der Giessen de Noord are delivered to the company.
- 1965
Strintzis Lines is founded
[1]The Strintzis family establishes the ferry company that later develops into Blue Star Ferries.
Products and positioning
A large-scale Greek island ferry operator positioned around dependable mainland-island connectivity, broad Aegean coverage, passenger comfort and combined passenger-and-vehicle transport.
Passenger and vehicle ferry
Conventional passenger ferries
The core Blue Star Ferries offering consists of conventional ferries carrying passengers, private cars, motorcycles, trucks and other vehicles. Ships provide scheduled accommodation and onboard services while linking Piraeus with island ports. They are designed for both resident mobility and seasonal tourism, and their routes may include multiple intermediate island calls.
Freight and vehicle transport · 2000
Roll-on/roll-off ferry services
Blue Star Ferries has operated roll-on/roll-off vessels and provides vehicle and commercial transport as part of its scheduled ferry network. This capability supports the movement of cars, buses, trucks and supplies between mainland ports and island communities, alongside ordinary passenger traffic.
Passenger ferry · 2011
Blue Star Delos
Blue Star Delos is a Daewoo-built ferry delivered in 2011. It became associated with the Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Ios–Santorini corridor, one of the brand's prominent Cyclades services. The ship represents the company's investment in newer, higher-capacity vessels for heavily traveled island routes.
Passenger ferry · 2012
Blue Star Patmos
Blue Star Patmos was delivered in 2012 from Daewoo Shipbuilding in South Korea. It has been used on routes serving the Dodecanese and other Aegean islands, including services connecting Piraeus with destinations such as Patmos, Kos and Rhodes.
Controversies
2023
Blue Horizon passenger death
On 5 September 2023, a passenger attempting to board Blue Horizon at Piraeus was pushed from the ship's loading ramp by crew members and drowned in the water. Video footage contradicted the initial account that the passenger had simply slipped. The vessel continued toward Crete before being ordered back, and the captain and implicated crew members were arrested by port police. The incident triggered widespread criticism of crew conduct, the handling of a person in the water and the company's initial response.
Brand decisions
2012
Introduction of Blue Star PatmosProduct launchBackground
Blue Star Ferries continued its fleet renewal program with a second new vessel ordered from Daewoo Shipbuilding.
Action taken
Blue Star Patmos was delivered and deployed on Aegean routes.
Aftermath
The ship added modern capacity to services associated with the Dodecanese and Northeast Aegean.
2011
Introduction of Blue Star DelosProduct launchBackground
The company sought newer vessels for its high-volume Aegean routes.
Action taken
Blue Star Delos was delivered from Daewoo Shipbuilding and placed into service.
Aftermath
The vessel strengthened the company's Cyclades capacity and became associated with the Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Ios–Santorini route.
2006
Acquisition of DANE Sea LinesM&ABackground
DANE Sea Lines was a ferry company serving the Dodecanese market.
Action taken
Blue Star Maritime acquired DANE Sea Lines.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Blue Star Ferries' position in Dodecanese services.
2000
Adoption of the Blue Ferries identityStrategyBackground
After Attica Enterprises acquired a 48 percent stake in the Strintzis ferry business, the company entered a new corporate and brand structure.
Action taken
The operation was rebranded as Blue Ferries, with the Blue Star Ferries identity becoming its principal commercial name.
Aftermath
The rebranding established the identity now associated with Attica Group's major Greek island ferry network.
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