At last... a boat for Gavdos!

A solution to the problem of the coastal connection with Gavdos seems to have been found as ANENDYK Ferries announce work is in progress to adapt the ship "Samaria I" as per the latest European Safety Directive.

The "Samaria I", which can carry 320 passengers, 45 cars and 8 x 15 tonne trucks, is undergoing refitting and ANENDYK Ferries announced that the vessel will be deployed by June 15, 2011 but they don't exclude the possibility that the ship may be ready by May 1st, 2011.

According to the company announcement, the ship will run on the following routes and exact timetables will be confirmed in the next few weeks:

Sfakia - Gavdos: 4 to 5 times a week, departing at 9.30 am. The ship will stay up to five hours in Gavdos and return at 6.30 pm.

Paleochora - Gavdos: 2 times a week, departing at 8.30 am, the ship will stay up to three hours in Gavdos and return at 7 pm.

ANENDYK President, John Braoudakis, stated "after the discussions and the actions we have taken and consultations with the ministry, we are satisfied that the issue is solved and we've decided to publicize what we intend to put into practice. The date we gave, June 15, concerns the situation should we have problems with bureaucracy. But we are hoping to launch the route sooner."

Gavdos Island was left without a major ferry connection last summer as the "Samaria I", which was adapted to the EU safety directive in 2006, was pulled from the Gavdos route in July 2010 when it's safety certificate was up for renewal. The most recent European Directive 9818 requires that the ship be further adapted to meet this directive.
Translated from www.enet.gr