{{Short description|Greek ferry}} {{Use dmy dates|date = March 2019}} {{Infobox ship | display_title = ital |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Asterion II.png | image_caption = ''Asterion II'' entering Patras port in 2018. }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = Cyprus | flag= {{shipboxflag|Cyprus}} | name = *''Ishikari'' (1990–2011) *''Grand Spring'' (2011–2018) *''Asterion II'' (2018–Present) | namesake = Asterion of Crete | owner = Alphaglobe Shipping Ltd, Limassol, {{flag|Cyprus}} | operator = *ANEK Lines (2018–2022, 2024-) *Superfast Ferries (2022–2024) | registry = *1991–2011: Nagoya, {{flag|Japan}} *2011–2016: Panama City, {{flag|Panama}} *2016–2018: Freetown, {{flag|Sierra Leone}} *2018 onwards: Limassol, {{flag|Cyprus}} | route = Piraeus–Heraklion | ordered = | builder = Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe, Japan | original_cost = | yard_number = 1183 | laid_down = 3 July 1990 | launched = 8 November 1990 | sponsor = | christened = | completed = 18 March 1991 | maiden_voyage = March 1991 | in_service = 1991 | identification = *Call sign 5BYX4 *{{IMO Number|8922163}} *{{MMSI|209262000}} | fate = | status = In service | notes = }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | type = Ro-pax ferry | tonnage = {{GT|31804}} Summer {{DWT|6368}} | length = {{convert|192|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|27|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|6.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | draft = | depth = | decks = | deck_clearance = | ramps = Three (one in the stern, two on the starboard side) | ice_class = | power = | propulsion = | speed = {{convert|23|kn}} (max) | range = | endurance = | capacity = | crew = | notes = | draught = {{convert|6.6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} }} }} '''MS ''Asterion II''''' is a Greek ferry and is currently operated by ANEK Lines.

''Asterion II'' is a ro-ro/passenger ferry, built in 1991 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Kobe, Japan, and put into service by ANEK in 2018 (previously operated under different names and owners). She holds a total of 720 passengers,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://agonaskritis.gr/%ce%b4%ce%b5%ce%bd-%ce%b5%ce%af%ce%bd%ce%b1%ce%b9-%ce%ba%ce%ac%cf%80%ce%bf%ce%b9%ce%bf-%cf%80%ce%bf%ce%bb%cf%85%cf%84%ce%b5%ce%bb%ce%ad%cf%82-%ce%be%ce%b5%ce%bd%ce%bf%ce%b4%ce%bf%cf%87%ce%b5%ce%af/|title=Agonas Tis Kritis article for Asterion II|last=|first=|date=2018-07-25|website=Αγώνας της Κρήτης|language=el|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-05-26}}</ref> 840 cars and 117 trucks and has 451 beds for passengers. She has two 14-cyl MAN-B&W-Mitsubishi 14V52/55B engines,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/ishikari_1991.htm|title=M/S ISHIKARI (1991)|website=www.faktaomfartyg.se|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> with combined power of 18,460&nbsp;kW<ref name=":3" /> and reaches speeds of up to 22 knots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anekitalia.com/en/asterion-2-en/|title=F/B Asterion II|website=Anek Lines Italia|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-06-13}}</ref> She was named after Asterion of Crete, a mythical king of Crete and has the flag of Cyprus, making it the only ship of the fleet with a non-Greek flag. It also features 3 Daihatsu 6DL-28 electric engines of 1,800 ps each (5,400ps) and 3 1500KVA FEK55E-10 generators.<ref name=":2" /> The ship belongs to the Sing-Lloyd class.<ref name=":2" />

== History ==

=== 1990–2011: construction and first years === The ship was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe, Japan. She was launched on 8 November 1990. The ship was originally named ''Ishikari'' after a river in Hokkaido and had to replace an older ship named Ishikari, who was sold in Strintzis Lines by 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/ishikari_1974.htm|title=Faktaomfartyg|last=|first=|date=|website=www.faktaomfartyg.se|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref> 7. Delivered on 18 March 1998 at Taiheiyō Ferry (Pacific Ferry Co). She was routed on the line Nagoya - Sendai - Tomakomai, but was also used as a cruiser on the Ogasawara islands.<ref name=":1" />

=== 2010–2018: Weihai Ferry=== In March 2011, she was sold to Golden Spring Enterprise, Panama and Chinese Wanfang International Shipmanagement and renamed to '''''GRAND SPRING''''' for an amount of $8 million.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://flashnews.gr/post/356733/ksekina-taksidia-sthn-adriatikh-to-asteriwn-ii-ths-anek-binteo|title=Asterion II starting trips in the Mediterranean.|last=|first=|date=|website=Flashnews.gr|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-06-13}}</ref> After its purchase, modernization and maintenance works took place.<ref name=":4" /> At this time, she was routed on Wehai-Pyoengtaek line, connecting China with South Korea, before moving to Great Promise Industrial HK, Panama in February 2012. In 2015, she was laid up in Weihai, China and in February 2016 she raised the Sierra Leone flag, with Freetown being its homeport. At this time, South Korean Gwangyang Line planned to route her in the Gwangyang-Shimonosheki line, connecting South Korea with Japan. However, the project failed and the ship was completely abandoned.

=== 2018–present: Cyprus=== In March 2018, she was sold to Alphaglobe Shipping of Limassol, Cyprus, with management by ANEK Lines and renamed ''Asterion II'', before being repaired and refurbished by Naval Works Voudouris at Perama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voudourisgroup.gr/en/projects/asterion-ii|title=Asterion II - VoudourisGroup.gr|last=|first=|date=|website=www.voudourisgroup.gr|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-06-01}}</ref> Once most of the work was completed, the ship was drydocked and painted in the ANEK LINES livery. On 18 June the ship departed for the port of Patras where for a few days, the retrofit continued. On 28 June, after a few postponements, it went into service replacing Asterion, which was chartered from Brittany Ferries, and Elyros.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://nautilia.gr/eidiseis/aktoploia/asterion-kateplefse-ston-pirea/|title=Asterion II arrival in Piraeus|last=Roussos|first=Spyros|date=2018-04-24|website=Nautilia.gr|language=el|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-05-19}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://ellinikiaktoploia.net/parousiasi-asterionii/|title=Asterion ΙΙ article from Elliniki Aktoploia|last=|first=|date=2018-06-29|website=Ελληνική Ακτοπλοϊα|language=el|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://seazoom.org/2018/04/22/%cf%83%cf%84%ce%bf-%cf%80%ce%ad%cf%81%ce%b1%ce%bc%ce%b1-%ce%ad%cf%86%cf%84%ce%b1%cf%83%ce%b5-%cf%84%ce%bf-asterion-ii/|title=ASTERION II arrival in Perama|last=|first=|date=|website=|language=el|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-06-13}}</ref>

== Route == right|thumb|Asterion II as Ishikari in Japan (2006).|alt= ''Asterion II'' serves the ferry line Piraeus-Heraklion.

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|IMO 8922163}} *[https://www.anek.gr/en/vessel/fb-asterion-ii/ F / B ASTERION II at Anek Lines]

Category:Ferries of Greece Category:1990 ships Category:Ships of ANEK Lines Category:Ro-ro ships Category:Ships built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries