Ferry Timetables in the Nick of Time

[Adriana]

ANES has now updated its website with the new ferry schedules...

Meanwhile Dodecanese Seaways' website, says it is 'Under Construction'

[Anthony]

[quote="Adriana"]

Dodecanese Seaways' website, says it is 'Under Construction' :evil:
[/quote]
:evil: :evil: Indeed - though I do rather like their 'Under Construction' symbol. :D :D

Frances has just e-mailed me to say that there is still no afternoon Dodecanese boat from Rhodes - and on Wednesday week ANES have nothing to offer until early evening, when one is spoilt for choice: the hydrofoil leaves at 6.00 and the Symi at 6.30!

If there is a logic behind these timetables, it beats me! :(

[Mille]

It looks like that is the schedule for the entire season

[Richard]

OK with me. I always enjoy that 6:30 trip, reaching the Harbour as dusk falls. I always thought the Aegli was too much like a hairyplane, which I suppose she is.

[Adriana]

There's just one snag. ANES has just informed us that as the Symi is past her 'sell by date' she cannot transport both vehicles and passengers simultaneously so although she does day trips with passengers only (and no vehicles), the routes listed on the schedule she can only take vehicles, plus a maximum of 12 passengers i.e drivers of the vehicles.

So, to cut a long story short, if you fail to make the Aegli at 18.00 you are doomed to spend the night in Rhodes while the Symi trundles along, empty except for 12 passengers... :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Mille]

HUH??
Geeez, it's really "The Greek Way" isn't?

(- what a completely environmentally beep up, think about all the co2 )

[Adriana]

You can send your car on a mini cruise from Rhodes to Kastellorizon and back on Friday...

[Andy W]

Looks like Symi's 6 hour each way Rhodes to Kastellorizon and the Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday truck-only trips are stopgaps while Proteus is on annual overhaul- after the first week in June Proteus reappears and Symi's sailings disappear from the on-line timetable.
Still gives no Wednesday evening passenger ferry, just the Aegli, though. Perhaps someone could persuade ANES to use Symi II if the demand is enough by high season?
Of course the Aghios Nektarios might finally make it to the Dodecanese, but I'm not holding my breath!

[Richard]

Or bring back Symi I from Souda Bay. Nothing wrong with the Proteus. I like the Proteus. Isn't she rated at Force 9? Quite handy if the trip is a bit bouncy.

[Kojak]

Wednesday is still the major changeover day so it will be ridiculous if only the Aegli runs in the evening. I'm sure the Mayor must be aware of the effect this will have on tourism.

[Jan]

Not sure that Symi I is any longer at Souda. We didn't spot her last June from the bus - we should be passing again in early June en route to/from the White Mountains so will have another look. There are some sad and sorry sights rusting away in the commercial dock backwaters - do hope she isn't amongst them.

[Kon]

Have they stopped using the Symi 2. I thought it was back in action.

[Andy W]

Symi II is very much in use, Kon, but only in the daytime - she does the traditional Rhodes-Panormitis-Yialos run in the morning, returning direct in the afternoon, starting this week. In practice they've been using her as a daytrip boat for several weeks now, but its the first time this year she's appeared in the published timetable and single tickets can be bought as well as day returns. If ANES want to run a large-capacity ferry on Wednesday evenings for non-day-trip passengers, she's all they've got because Proteus is normally in Kos on a Wednesday evening, and Aghios Nektarios has yet to appear in the area.

[Adriana]

Tonight's Aegli was already sold out by 4 p.m :cry: and we have been told that they will probably have to do a double run... :o

Meanwhile some flights are delayed due to the Olympic strikes. :(

Welcome to summer :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Mille]

[quote="Adriana"]

Tonight's Aegli was already sold out by 4 p.m :cry: and we have been told that they will probably have to do a double run... :o

Meanwhile some flights are delayed due to the Olympic strikes. :(

Welcome to summer :evil: :evil: :evil:
[/quote]

It's bad for business, I tell ya!

[Kojak]

This is totally ridiculous. I was talking to one of the ANES crew last year. In addition to limited capacity, the Aegli is also much heavier on fuel per passenger than the other ferries. If ANES don't sort themselves out quickly I can see Dodekanisos Seaways cleaning up in a big way.

[Adriana]

Dodecanese Seaways are currently only running one boat themselves and it doesn't stop at Symi every day on the current schedule.

[Andy W]

Dodekanisos Seaways won't clean up on Symi traffic with the timetable they're advertising up to the end of June (as far as is out yet).
Just one boat in service, based on Rhodes, and calling at Symi 4 days a week, northbound at 9.20 in the morning, southbound at 5.45 in the evening. Now their website is working again Anthony's point is all too clear.

Does anyone know how many crew members the Aegli carries compared to Symi II or the car ferries? Maybe this is something to do with the fondness for hydrofoil sailings - or perhaps it is the understandable wish to have the fastest craft in the fleet overnighting in Symi in case a medical evacuation is needed.

[Adriana]

The Symi came in, empty bar vehicles and a handful of drivers, just before 9 and the Aegli has just arrived with its second load of passengers.

So much for carbon off-sets!

[Richard]

I clicked on the Symi on the ANES site and the Nektarios appeared. Is she now in service? ANES say that she carries 1000 passengers and 100 cars. That should make life a little easier.