{{Short description|Greek shipping company}} {{Update|date=May 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = ANEK Lines | logo = Anek lines logo.svg | logo_size = 250px | image = | slogan = | founded = {{Start date and age|1967|04|10|df=y}}<ref name="gemh">{{cite web |title=ANONYMI NAFTILIAKI ETAIREIA KRITIS AE |url=https://publicity.businessportal.gr/company/121557860000 |access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref> | fate = Merged with Attica Group<ref name="merger">{{cite web |title=ΟΛΟΚΛΗΡΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΥΓΧΩΝΕΥΣΗΣ ΜΕ ΑΠΟΡΡΟΦΗΣΗ ΤΗΣ "ΑΝΩΝΥΜΗ ΝΑΥΤΙΛΙΑΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ ΚΡΗΤΗΣ Α.Ε." ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ "ATTICA A.E. ΣΥΜΜΕΤΟΧΩΝ" |url=https://www.attica-group.com/attachments/article/6418/OLOKLHROSH_THS_SYGXONEYSHS_ME_APOROFHSH_THS_ANEK_APO_THN_ATTICA.pdf |access-date=4 December 2023 |language=el}}</ref> | traded_as = {{Athex|ANEK}} | hq_location_city = Chania | hq_location_country = Greece<ref name="gemh" /> | key_people = Georgios Katsanevakis '''(President)'''<br />Yannis Vardinoyiannis '''(CEO)'''<ref name="gemh" /><ref name="board">{{cite web |title=ΑΡΧΕΣ ΕΤΑΙΡΙΚΗΣ ΔΙΑΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΗΣ |url=https://www.anek.gr/el/company-profile/fundamentals-of-corporate-governance/ |website=ANEK Lines |access-date=11 December 2023 |language=el}}</ref> | industry = Shipping<br />Transport | founder = Irineos Galanakis<ref>{{cite web |title=Metropolitan Irineos Galanakis |url=https://www.venizelos-foundation.gr/en/metropolitan-irineos-galanakis/ |publisher=Eleftherios Venizelos Foundation |access-date=5 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724175805/https://www.venizelos-foundation.gr/en/metropolitan-irineos-galanakis/ |archive-date=24 July 2024 |location=Chania |date=2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> | products = Commercial, Passenger Transport and Cargo | revenue = €149.99 million | revenue_year = 2021<ref name=frep21>{{cite web|url=https://www.anek.gr/en/pdf_read/?file=https://www.anek.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/%CE%91%CE%9D%CE%95%CE%9A_2021_ANNUAL_FINANCIAL_REPORT.pdf|title=2021 Annual Financial Report|website=anek.gr|access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref> | operating_income = €17.04 million | income_year = 2021<ref name=frep21/> | net_income = €(40.70) million | net_income_year = 2021<ref name=frep21/> | assets = €280.91 million | assets_year = 2021<ref name=frep21/> | equity = €(40.48) million | equity_year = 2021<ref name=frep21/> | area_served = Adriatic Sea<br />Crete<br />Aegean islands<br />Italy<br />Aegean Sea | num_employees = 670 | num_employees_year = 2021 | owner = | subsid = {{Unbulleted list|Aigaion Pelagos Thalassies Grammes Shipping Company|ANEK Holdings (99.32%)|ANEK Lines Italia (49%)|ETANAP (31.9%)|Lefka Ori (48.24%)}}<ref name="ANEK-Group">{{cite web |title=ANEK Group |url=https://www.anek.gr/en/company-profile/anek-group/ |website=ANEK Lines |access-date=11 December 2023}}</ref><ref name=frep21/> | website = {{URL|www.anek.gr}} | footnotes = source for financial figure:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.anek.gr/en/pdf_read/?file=//www.anek.gr/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/%CE%91%CE%9D%CE%95%CE%9A_2017_ANNUAL_FINANCIAL_REPORT.pdf|title=2017 Annual Financial Report|website=anek.gr|access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref> }}

'''ANEK Lines''' ({{lang|el|Ανώνυμη Ναυτιλιακή Εταιρεία Κρήτης}}, ''Anonymi Naftiliaki Eteria Kritis'', Anonymous Shipping Company of Crete) is one of the largest passenger shipping companies in Greece.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anek Lines S.A. (ANEK) {{!}} Complete Financial Reports 2024 |url=https://financialreports.eu/companies/anek-lines-sa/ |access-date=6 May 2025 |website=financialreports.eu |language=en}}</ref> It was founded in 1967 as a community-based company by residents of Crete.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} It operates passenger ferries, mainly on the Piraeus–Crete and Adriatic Sea routes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=Attica and Anek shareholders approve merger |url=https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1147400/Attica-and-Anek-shareholders-approve-merger |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=Lloyd's List}}</ref>

In December 2023, ANEK Lines was acquired by Attica Group,<ref name="merger"/> continuing operations as the fourth cruise line subsidiary of Attica Group.

==History== thumb|257x257px|F/B ''Elyros'' thumb|257x257px|H/S/F ''Hellenic Spirit'' After the Typaldos Lines car ferry {{SS|Heraklion}} capsized due to negligence on 8 December 1966, protests broke out in Crete. The ship sank on her way from Chania to Piraeus, resulting in the death of more than 200 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=SS Heraklion (+1966) |url=https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?58849 |website=Wrecksite |publisher=Adelante EBVBA |access-date=3 February 2025 |location=Affligem, Belgium }}</ref> In the aftermath, several hundred Cretans—including traders, freelancers, pensioners, and farmers—founded a multi-shareholder shipping company following a proposal by the Association of Economists of the Chania Prefecture, supported by the Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selino, Irineos Galanakis.<ref name=name/>{{failed verification|date=August 2016}}

ANEK Lines was founded on 10 April 1967, with its head offices in Chania; initially, only native Cretans were permitted to hold stock in the company.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} The company's first ferry, ''Kydon'', began serving the Piraeus–Chania route in 1970. This was followed in 1973 by the ferries ''Candia'' and ''Rethymo'', which sailed on the Piraeus–Heraklion route. In 1978, the ferry ''Kriti'' began daily service on the Piraeus–Chania route.<ref name=name/>

The company expanded its fleet and routes throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. In 1987, the ferry ''Aptera'' began serving the Piraeus–Chania route, and a new route between Crete and Thessaloniki was briefly established.<ref name="aegean.altervista.org">{{cite web|url=http://aegean.altervista.org/anekeng.html |title=ANEK Lines - Chania, Crete Island |website=Aegean.altervista.org |date= |access-date=31 December 2015}}</ref> In 1989, the ferries ''Lato'' and ''Lissos'' began serving the Patras–Corfu/Igoumenitsa–Ancona route,<ref name=name/> and a new blue-yellow corporate identity was introduced as the ferry ''Kydon'' was sold. The company's new flagship, ''El. Venizelos'', began serving the Greece–Italy route in 1992, while ''Talos'' served the Patras–Trieste route. Although a Patras–Igoumenitsa–Bari route was opened in 1994, it ceased operations the following year.<ref name="aegean.altervista.org"/> In 1997, ''Kriti I'' and ''Kriti II'' began a new non-stop Patras–Ancona service.<ref name="aegean.altervista.org"/>

In 1998, ANEK Lines increased its share capital and initiated an initial public offering (IPO).<ref name=name>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.anek.gr |title=ANEK Lines - Official Web Site |website=Anek.gr |date= |access-date=31 December 2015}}</ref> The company's stocks began trading on the Athens Stock Exchange on 21 January 1999. During this period, the ferry ''Sophocles V'' began operating the Patras–Trieste route. The company also expanded through acquisitions, purchasing 50% of the share capital of LANE (Ag. Nikolaos) and assigning the ferry ''Talos'' to it; merging with Rethymniaki to integrate the ships ''Prevelis'' and ''Arkadi''; founding ANEK Lines Italia s.r.l. with a 51% stake; purchasing 16.5% of NEL Lines;<ref name="nel.gr">{{cite web |date=28 August 1995 |title=NEL LINES &#124; Ναυτιλιακή Εταιρεία Λέσβου |url=http://www.nel.gr/index.asp?a_id=120 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213403/http://www.nel.gr/index.asp?a_id=120 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=31 December 2015 |website=Nel.gr}}</ref> and founding ANEN with a 20% stake.<ref name="aegean.altervista.org"/>

thumb|260px|right|F/B ''Lefka Ori'' thumb|260px|right|F/B ''Kriti II'' By 2000, ANEK Lines had increased its shares in DANE to 41.9%, bought 50% of ETANAP, and acquired 62% of Lefka Ori A.B.E.E. The ferry ''Lefka Ori'' was purchased, renovated, and deployed on the Patras–Ancona route. That same year, ANEK signed a contract with the Norwegian shipyard Fosen Mek to build two new vessels. The first, ''Olympic Champion'', was delivered in 2000, reducing the travel time for the Igoumenitsa–Ancona route to 15 hours. The second, ''Hellenic Spirit'', was delivered in 2001. Consequently, ''Kriti I'' and ''Kriti II'' were redeployed to the Patras–Trieste and Ravenna–Catania routes,<ref name="aegean.altervista.org" /> and later to the Piraeus–Heraklion service in 2002.<ref name="aegean.altervista.org" /> ANEK also established online booking connections and set up a RO-RO operation, ANEK Cargo, in 2003.<ref name="aegean.altervista.org" />

Significant restructuring occurred in 2005. ANEK sold its 16.5% stake in NEL Lines to Edgewater Holdings and sold the ferry ''Aptera''.<ref name="ANEK Lines SA, 2005 annual report">ANEK Lines SA, 2005 annual report</ref> A Patras–Venice route was added,<ref name="name" /> and the company relocated its administrative services to a new company-owned facility in Chania.<ref name="name" /> In 2007, a new establishment was inaugurated in Piraeus.<ref name="name" /> Throughout 2008, new vessels entered service: ''Prevelis'' on the Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Ios–Santorini line, ''Lissos'' between Piraeus and Chios–Mytilini, and ''Elyros'' between Piraeus and Chania. In December 2008, Lloyd's List awarded ANEK "The Best Passenger Line of the Year 2008".<ref name="name" />

In April 2010, ANEK established a subsidiary, Aigaion Pelagos Thalassies Grammes Shipping Company, to operate East Aegean routes. On 1 June 2011, ANEK formed a joint venture with Attica Group (Superfast, Blue Star Ferries) named ANEK-Superfast for the Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona and Piraeus–Heraklion routes.<ref name="name" /> Under this agreement, ''Olympic Champion'' was redeployed to Heraklion. In subsequent years, ''Lato'' and ''Ierapetra L.'' were deployed on the Bari–Durrës line. A major fire occurred on ''Ierapetra L.'' in November 2014, causing substantial damage. During the 2014 Libyan conflict, ''Elyros'' housed the Libyan House of Representatives off the coast of Tobruk.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldhammer|first1=Zach|title=On the Greek Ferry Housing Libya's Government|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/09/on-the-greek-ferry-housing-libyas-government/380145/|access-date=14 September 2014|agency=The Atlantic|date=13 September 2014}}</ref> In 2015, ''El. Venizelos'' was used to transport Syrian refugees arriving in Chios and Lesbos.

In 2023, ANEK Lines was acquired by the Attica Group.<ref>Attica Group swallows ANEK Lines ''Ships Monthly'' October 2023 page 7</ref>

==Fleet== The ANEK Lines fleet is composed of six motor Ro-Ro/passenger ferries, of which three are in use, two on long-term charter, and one is laid up.

{| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" style="width:130px;" | Ship name !! scope="col" style="width:30px;" | Flag !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Built !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Entered Service !! scope="col" style="width:80px;" |Gross tonnage!! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Length !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Width !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Passengers !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Vehicles !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Knots !! scope="col" style="width:200px;" | Image |- | rowspan="2" | ''Asterion II'' || {{flagicon|CYP}} ||align="Center" | 1991 || style="text-align:Center;" | 2024 ||align="Center" | {{GT|31,804}} ||align="Center" | 192 m ||align="Center" | 27 m ||align="Center" | 1,020 ||align="Center" | 840 ||align="Center" | 21.5 || 200px |- | colspan="12" |Former ''Ishikari'' and ''Grand Spring'', transferred from Superfast Ferries. |- | rowspan="2" | ''Kissamos'' || {{flagicon|GRC}} ||align="Center" | 1992 || style="text-align:Center;" | 2024 ||align="Center" | {{GT|29,992}} ||align="Center" | 192 m ||align="Center" | 27 m ||align="Center" | 1,790 ||align="Center" | 780 ||align="Center" | 24 || 200px |- | colspan="12" |Former ''Blue Galaxy'', transferred from Blue Star Ferries. |- | rowspan="2" |''Elyros''||{{flagicon|GRC}}|| style="text-align:Center;" | 1998 || style="text-align:Center;" | 2007 || style="text-align:Center;" | 33,635 GT || style="text-align:Center;" | 192 m || style="text-align:Center;" | 27 m || style="text-align:Center;" | 1,880 || style="text-align:Center;" | 620 || style="text-align:Center;" | 24 ||200px |- | colspan="11" |Rebuilt ferry, originally built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki, Japan, for the Piraeus–Chania route. Named after Elyrus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/sun_flower_tsukuba_1998.htm|title=M/S SUN FLOWER TSUKUBA (1998)|website=www.faktaomfartyg.se|access-date=21 March 2019}}</ref> |}

===Laid up=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" style="width:130px;" | Ship name !! scope="col" style="width:30px;" | Flag !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Built !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Entered Service !! scope="col" style="width:80px;" |Gross tonnage!! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Length !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Width !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Passengers !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Vehicles !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Knots !! scope="col" style="width:200px;" | Image |- | rowspan="2" |''Prevelis''||{{flagicon|GRC}}|| style="text-align:Center;" | 1980 || style="text-align:Center;" | 2000 || style="text-align:Center;" | 15,354 GT || style="text-align:Center;" | 142.5 m || style="text-align:Center;" | 23.5 m || style="text-align:Center;" | 1,300 || style="text-align:Center;" | 310 || style="text-align:Center;" | 19 ||200px |- | colspan="11" |Rebuilt ferry, originally built by Imbari Zosen, Imbari, Japan. Named after the Monastery of Preveli. Laid up in Elefsis waiting for demolition. |}

===On long-term charter to foreign companies=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" style="width:130px;" | Ship name !! scope="col" style="width:30px;" | Flag !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Built !! scope="col" style="width:80px;" |Gross tonnage!! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Length !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Width !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Passengers !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Vehicles !! scope="col" style="width:60px;" | Knots !! scope="col" style="width:200px;" | Image |- | rowspan="2" | ''El. Venizelos''||{{flagicon|GRC}}|| style="text-align:Center;" | 1984 || style="text-align:Center;" | 38,261 GT || style="text-align:Center;" | 175.5 m || style="text-align:Center;" | 28.5 m || style="text-align:Center;" | 2,257 || style="text-align:Center;" | 850 || style="text-align:Center;" | 21 ||200px |- | colspan="11" |Former ''Kydon II''; large rebuilt ferry, with hull built in Stocznia im, Komuny Paryskiej, Gdynia, Poland, completed in 1992 at Perama, Piraeus, Greece, for Piraeus–Crete routes. Similar to Stena Line's ''Stena Vision'' and ''Stena Spirit'', as well as the unfinished ''Regent Sky''. Now on bareboat charter to Algérie Ferries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/el_venizelos_1992.htm|title=M/S EL. VENIZELOS (1992)|website=www.faktaomfartyg.se|access-date=21 March 2019}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | ''Kydon'' || {{flagicon|BHS}} ||align="Center" | 1990 ||align="Center" | {{GT|29,991}} ||align="Center" | 192 m ||align="Center" | 27 m ||align="Center" | 1,672 ||align="Center" | 780 ||align="Center" | 25 || 200px |- | colspan="11" |Former ''Sophocles V''. On bareboat charter for Ferries del Caribe from 2017.<ref>{{csr|register=E|id=8916607|accessdate=2025-03-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=M/F Klydon |url=https://www.ferry-site.dk/ferry.php?id=8916607&lang=en |website=The Ferry Site |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref> |}

==Former fleet== * ''Kydon'' 1968–1989 (scrapped) * ''Candia'' 1973–2000 (scrapped in 2011 as ''Jabal Ali 1'') * ''Rethymnon'' 1973–2000 (scrapped in 2009 as ''Jabal Ali 2'') * ''Zakros'' 1977–1985 (scrapped) * ''Kriti'' 1978–1996 (scrapped in 2004 as ''Express'') * ''Aptera'' 1985–2005 (scrapped in 2011 as ''Morning Sun'') * ''Lato'' 1987–2015 (scrapped in 2018 as ''Talaton'') * ''Lissos'' 1987–2011 (scrapped in 2011 at Alang, India) * ''Talos'' 1995–1999 as ''Ierapetra L'' 2008–2015 (as ''Aqua Blue'' for Seajets since 2016) * ''Kriti I'' 1996–2025 (sold for scrap in 2025) * ''Kriti II'' 1996–2025 (sold for scrap in 2025) * ''Arkadi'' 1999–2002 (sank as ''Pella'' for Arab Bridge Maritime Company in the Red Sea in 2011) * ''Olympic Champion'' 2000–2023 (as ''Superfast III'' for Superfast Ferries since 2024) * ''Hellenic Spirit'' 2001–2024 (as ''Superfast IV'' for Superfast Ferries since 2025) * ''Coraggio'' 2012–2013 (as ''Athena Seaways'' for DFDS Seaways since 2013) * ''Forza'' 2012–2016 (as ''Forza'' for Acciona Transmediterranea since 2016) * ''Audacia'' 2013–2014 (as ''Rizhao Orient'' for a Chinese company since 2014) * ''Norman Atlantic'' 2014–2014 (caught fire on 28 December 2014 near Corfu. Laid up for 4 years in Bari; scrapped in Aliaga in 2019) * ''Asterion'' 2016–2018 (as ''Connemara'' for Brittany Ferries since 2018)

==ANEK-Superfast== On 7 June 2011, ANEK Lines and Superfast Ferries created a joint venture for the Piraeus–Heraklion and the Patras–Igoumenitsa–Ancona routes. This involved two RO-PAX ships on the first route (the ANEK-owned ''Olympic Champion'' and the Superfast-owned ''Superfast XII'') and three on the second route (the ANEK-owned ''Hellenic Spirit'' and the Superfast-owned ''Superfast VI'' and ''Superfast XI'').<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.anek-superfast.gr/ |title=ANEK Lines Online Booking |website=ANEK-superfast.gr |date= |access-date=31 December 2015}}</ref>

==Routes== * Greece domestic{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} ** Piraeus–Chania (''Elyros'' and ''Kissamos'') ** Piraeus–Heraklio (''Asterion II'')

==Affiliates== ANEK Group comprises ANEK Lines, its subsidiaries, and companies in which it holds a minority stake greater than 10%:{{failed verification|date=August 2016}} * ANEK HOLDINGS S.A. (Greece, Crete - Chania): 99.5%, tourism, participation in other companies, consulting, etc.<ref name=name/> * ΑΝΕΚ LINES ITALIA srl (Italy, Ancona): 49%, factoring and representation of shipping companies<ref name=name/> * LANE S.A. (Lane Lines, Greece, Crete - Ag. Nikolaos): 50.11%, passenger ferry shipping<ref name=name/> * AIGAION PELAGOS - THALASSIES GRAMMES SHIPPING COMPANY (Crete, Chania): 99.90%, sailing company under Law 959/79<ref name=name/> * T.C. SAILING (Greece, Crete - Chania): 97.5% sailing company under Law 959/79<ref name=name/> * ETANAP S.A. (Greece, Crete - Chania/Stylos): 50%, production and distribution of bottled water<ref name=name/> * LEFKA ORI S.A. (Greece, Crete - Chania/Stylos): 62%, production and trade of plastic bottles and packaging products<ref name=name/> * CHAMPION FERRIES Ltd (Marshall Islands): 70%, shipping<ref name="ANEK Lines page 19">ANEK Lines, 2005 Annual Report, page 19</ref>

Former affiliates and investments: * NEL Lines 16.5% (shares sold 2005 to Edgewater Holdings)<ref name="nel.gr"/> * DANE Sea Lines 41.87% (stopped operations in August 2004 after financial difficulties)<ref>[http://www.adriaticandaegeanferries.com/daeng.html DANE Sea Lines] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127022640/http://www.adriaticandaegeanferries.com/daeng.html|date=27 January 2010}}</ref> * RETHYMNIAKI (took over and finally merged into ANEK Lines in 1999)<ref name=name/> * ANEN 19.36%{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

==Accidents and incidents== On 28 August 2018, at 23:45 (UTC+03:00), ''El. Venizelos'', a ferry in ANEK's fleet, caught fire soon after leaving Piraeus for Chania, with 875 passengers and 140 crew members on board. The ferry was able to return to Piraeus with no injuries.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/plus/koinwnia/article/1264919/megali-klisi-sto-eleytherios-venizelos-eno-oi-floges-kaine-akoma-sto-gkaraz-pics-vid|title=Μεγάλη κλίση στο "Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος" ενώ οι φλόγες καίνε ακόμα στο γκαράζ (pics & vid)|access-date=2 September 2018|language=el}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.anek.gr/ Official website] * [http://www.capital.gr/q.asp?s=%u0391%u039D%u0395%u039A ANEK Lines (ΑΝΕΚ) - Athens | (capital.gr profile)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anek Lines}} Category:Transport companies established in 1967 Category:Companies listed on the Athens Exchange Category:Ferry companies of Greece Category:Shipping companies of Greece Category:Greek companies established in 1967