Ferries Update: ANES,
SAOS, Blue Star &
Dodekanisos Seaways

The saga between ANES and SAOS Ferries for the subsidised Dodekanese routes carries on and it seems that the dispute will now be settled in court. SymiGreece.com has followed the developments with regular updates (see 8th January, 1st December and 30th November news reports). In summary, the original tender by SAOS Ferries was declared invalid because it wasn't submitted on time with a certificate from the shipyard confirming the boat's speed. The company filed an appeal to the Rhodes Port Authority and after various procedural complications the Appeals Committee agreed to discuss the dispute on the 17th of January 2007.

According to the statement issued by the Appeals Committee, SAOS Ferries' appeal has been rejected unanimously on all grounds. Specifically the statement says that SAOS Ferries' tender was correctly declared invalid as the document relating to the speed of its boat "SAOS II" was submitted after the deadline for tender submission. In its statement the committee agrees that it's in its discretion to ask for post-tender clarification of "legally submitted" documents but it claims it cannot accept "replacement documentation" or documentation that was not "legally" submitted (i.e. before the deadline expired) in the first place. The Committee's statement goes on to say that irrespective of its overdue submission, the document is not in accordance with the terms of the Tender which clearly states the need for evidence of the boat's trials speed issued by the shipyard where the boat was constructed, confirming the boat's maximum speed under "calm-sea conditions, without current, and wind force up to 4 Beaufort".

Following the rejection of its appeal, SOAS Ferries issued a statement last night saying that the committee's decision was "to be expected" and that the Tender had been a sham as the outcome was "apriori decided". SAOS Ferries accuses the committee of "carefully planning" the exclusion of their company from the competition by doing "everything in their power" to stop SAOS Ferries and its 6 years-old boad "SAOS II" from winning the subsidised route so that the route would continue to be served by "a specific company and a 34 year old boat". They claim that the committee had rejected a "complete tender" by using a "pretext" claimiming their boat could not reach a speed of 20 knots per hour, which according to them is untrue. They also make fun of the whole procedure claiming that the reason the Rhodes Port Authority had initially rejected their appeal was because the document "was not addressed to the committee's President". In their strong-worded statement SOAS Ferries express their regret that the islanders and the route's users in general were not given the opportunity to be served by a young and modern boat. They also claim that the decision of the Appeals Committee is against the Ministry of the Aegean and Island Policy's attempt to put out to tender a large number of the "barren routes" in order to attract new and modern boats. SAOS Ferries' statement concludes by declaring that the company will now go to court over the dispute and against everyone who in violation of their duty has damaged the company's interests.

It is likely that the dispute will now be heard at the State Council, the highest Greek Court, however it is unclear at this stage how quickly a final decision can be made as legal proceedings at the State Council can be quite lengthy. In the meantime, sources within ANES have indicated that PROTEUS will carry on with the subsidised routes (Rhodes-Symi-Tilos-Nisiros-Kos, and Rhodes-Kastellorizo) at least until March, although they hope for PROTEUS to continue on the same route throughout the summer while legal proceedings are ongoing. ANES February timetables (including both subsidised and non-subsidised routes) are now expected next week.


According to the Rhodes "Proodos" newspaper, Mr Giorgos Spanos, the owner of "Dodekanisos Seaways" is still in talks regarding the sale of the company's two boats, the "Pride" and "Express". According to the newspaper, a couple of days ago representatives of the Iranian company who have expressed an interest in buying the boats and their appointed "broker" came to Rhodes and "inspected" the two boats.

However, and at the same time as the supposed sale of the boats is being discussed, the company is "preparing" the boats for the start of new season by (a) seeking to employ the necessary personnel and (b) deciding to take the boats to Piraeus in early February for the necessary yearly inspection/repairs. According to our sources, and assuming that a deal with the Iranians will not be made before that, Pride and/or Express will start scheduled sailings across the Dodekanese by mid-March 2007.

Let's hope that any thoughts of selling the company and its boats will at least be postponed for the time being now that the start of the tourist season is rapidly approaching.


Despite early reports that Blue Star "Diagoras" may include Symi in its (successful) bid for the subsidised (by the Ministry of Mercantile Marine) route from Pireaus to the "hard-to-reach" Dodekanese Islands, SymiGreece has learned today that it is highly likely that Diagoras will not include Symi in its new route after all.

Our sources from within the company have said that, starting in February, Diagoras will be stopping at Tilos and Nisiros on a weekly basis but it will miss off Symi. This is mainly to do with the difficulty for a boat the size of Diagoras to enter, manouvre and securely dock on Symi (especially under high winds) but also with the provision in the invitation to tender for the successful bidder to "guarantee" the transportation of people from Symi to Rhodes within two hours in case the boat cannot enter Symi harbour (while sailing have not been prohibited by the Port Authority).

However it seems that the decision only relates to the subsidised route for Diagoras and Blue Star is not ruling out for either another ferry to include Symi in its (non-subsidised) route during the summer months or even for Diagoras to start stopping at Symi in the summer when there is high demand and the weather permits. So, there may still be some hope for a fast and reliable connection with Pireaus in the summer!